Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Breeding waders, including redshanks and lapwings and wildfowl, such as shovelers, teals and mallards.
You may see woodland breeding birds including pied flycatchers, redstarts and wood warblers and birds of prey such as peregrines and red kites.
Take a walk in the oak woodland to enjoy the carpet of spring flowers.
Summer
Migrant waders such as green sandpipers and greenshanks, numerous dragonflies and butterflies and birds of prey including peregrines and red kites.
Autumn
Large numbers of ducks feed on the saltmarshes, including wigeons, teals, shovelers, white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. Also a good time of year to see wading birds, such as lapwings, golden plovers and curlews, and birds of prey.
Winter
Ducks and geese feed in large numbers on the estuary saltmarshes - you could see wigeons, teals, shovelers, white-fronted geese and barnacle geese. Lapwings, golden plovers and curlews and birds of prey are also present at this time of year.