Our Suffolk birdwatching tours commence with arrival at the hotel on the evening of Day 1, where we gather for an informal get-together in the bar around 7.00pm prior to enjoying dinner. The next two days are spent in the field, with packed lunches and flasks of tea and coffee available on demand. We return to the hotel each evening in time for a delicious dinner, followed by the day’s log call over coffee and the chance to relax and chat informally about the day’s events. After enjoying a final morning of guided birdwatching and packed lunch in the field on Day 4, the break concludes back at the hotel at around 2.30pm for farewells and departure for home.

Destinations will be chosen from the following outline programme to ensure your visit is both worthwhile and rewarding. We leave the final choice of places to visit to the discretion of the Limosa guide, according to the weather, local conditions and what’s about at the time.

BIRDS & PLACES
The Westleton Crown is the perfect base for our birdwatching tour, offering comfortable rooms, great food and being close to local heathlands and coast. Indeed, we have lots of wonderful habitats right on our doorstep, with little driving required.

North of nearby Dunwich village are the extensive reedbeds of Dingle and Walberswick. Marsh Harriers and Bitterns are resident and the old windmill in the reeds is one of the best places to get views of moustachioed male Bearded Tits. Water Rails squeal from deep within the marsh and the shingle beach not only hosts numerous Skylarks but is a protected area used by nesting Ringed Plovers and Little Terns - often with young about in September.

Our days will be varied and include a relaxed boat trip from the quay at Orford – overlooked by the iconic castle, built by Henry II in 1165 – across to Havergate Island. Now owned by the RSPB, Havergate is famous for the Avocets that breed there, having returned to the island in 1947 after 100 years of absence. Nowadays, it is also known locally for its Spoonbills, Sandwich Terns and the shorebirds that gather to feed and roost on the secluded lagoons. In autumn, the Havergate can be teeming with waders - from passage Dunlins and spangled juvenile Grey Plovers, to hook-billed Whimbrels and Curlew strutting about the pools. There are hides on the island, bushes for migrants and the whole area has something of a timeless and forgotten feel.

Nearby is another ‘forgotten’ village, Shingle Street, where Marsh Harriers quarter the fields and the bushes can hold a host of migrants. A walk north to the new reserve at Hollesley Bay is always productive and the 'managed retreat' here can be good for shorebirds, including Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Little Stints and perhaps even a rarity – you just never know! Turtle Doves have bred and are worth looking out for in the fields and hedgerows.

Tides and weather conditions on the day will all have a bearing on the number and location of the birds, of course. But in addition to those species mentioned above, we should see Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwits and grey autumn Red Knot; Redshank and Greenshank linger on the pools and the adjacent freshwater scrapes might host Curlew Sandpiper.

Our visit to Minsmere is sure to be busy! From the visitor centre, we head out past the north fields, bushes and bank, watching for the dashing Hobby and listening for the cut glass 'pinging' of parties of Bearded Tits. Scanning the fields we may be lucky to spot a Stone-curlew squatting on the ground. Dragonflies (and sometimes Adders) bask in the warm September sun as we turn south past the old tank blocks, relics from the Second World War, to view the hive of avian activity on East Scrape with its plethora of waders, wildfowl, gulls and terns.

In the relative calm and quiet of the reedbed, our senses may be accosted by one of the many local Cetti's Warbler, 'shouting at us' from a watery thicket. Looking remarkably owl-like, a Bittern might bound across the reeds in search of a new feeding area, and juvenile Cuckoos can often sit quietly feeding on Cinnabar Moth caterpillars.

As with all our Suffolk breaks, we may vary the above itinerary to take best advantage of the weather and other local conditions, as well as what birds happen to be about at the time of your visit. And while our guide can't promise to find you a rarity on every trip, one thing’s for certain - whenever you come and whatever we choose to do, in Suffolk there's always plenty to see!

What To Expect

Prospect for a little ‘Autumn Gold’ with Limosa - and unlock the secrets of the Suffolk coast. September birding is always exciting here: the breeding season is over and there are lots of youngsters about, while migration for many species is well underway - and regularly brings surprises! We'll visit some less well-known birding spots - including an exclusive boat trip to Havergate Island - plus of course the RSPB’s flagship reserve at Minsmere. All while enjoying great food and accommodation at the lovely Westleton Crown - and with Woodlarks and Dartford Warblers to look for on the heath nearby!

Led by Limosa’s friendly expert guides, these holidays are suitable for birdwatchers of all levels of ability, interest and experience. Just bring your bins and enthusiasm for birds - and we’ll do the rest! Our helpful guides are on hand to help you improve your identification and bird call skills.

The UK's climate is famous for its unpredictability, but extremes are rare. Expect a mix of sunshine and showers along the Suffolk coast in autumn, with September temperatures in the range of 10-19C (50-66F). It can sometimes feel cooler if there’s an onshore wind blowing at the coast.

Suffolk is one of the driest parts of the UK, but some rainfall is of course possible at any season so come prepared with rainwear and lightweight layers of clothing, just in case!

Birds

90-130 species

Accommodation

3 nights accommodation at the comfortable Westleton Crown, close to the Suffolk Sandlings heaths and Minsmere - and perfectly situated for easy exploration of the glorious Suffolk coast. All rooms are en suite. (Who knows, you might even end up in the room where Prince William and Kate stayed!)

Meals

All main meals are included in the tour price, commencing with dinner on arrival at the hotel on the evening of Day 1 and concluding with a packed lunch on Day 4.

Breakfasts and dinners will be taken at the hotel. Lunches will be picnics in the field. The hotel's restaurant has a long standing reputation for excellence.

Walking

Easy. Short walks (typically 1-3 miles) at a gentle pace over good trails and mostly flat terrain. Sturdy waterproof walking shoes or boots recommended. Wellies will be useful in wet weather and can be handy first thing when the grass is damp with dew.

Travel

Daily excursions will be by minibus.

Participants arriving in Suffolk by car will be sent a map and joining instructions for the hotel. We meet for an informal get-together in the hotel bar at 7.00pm on the first evening.

For those without their own transport, we pick up at Darsham railway station (on the Ipswich to Lowestoft line) at approx. 5.30pm on the first afternoon. We are able to drop off there again by about 3.30pm on the last afternoon (currently, the next train departs to Ipswich at around 3.50pm). There is no extra cost for pick-up and drop-off as outlined above.

Please note: if you intend to travel by rail and wish to spend an extra night or two at the hotel before or after the tour, we are unable to offer return transport to/from the station. Instead, it will be necessary for you to arrange a taxi from Darsham Station to Westleton or vice versa (a distance of approx 3 miles/10 mins by taxi).

Boat Trips

The boat trip from Orford Quay to Havergate Island, along the sheltered estuary of the River Alde, is by open boat with seating for all. It takes approx.15-20 mins each way.