Walberswick

Suffolk > United Kingdom

This is a coastal village south of the River Blyth. Its bird interest lies in the variety of habitats that surround it; coast, marsh, woodland, heath, gardens.

Added* by Axel Kirby
Most recent update 10 October 2020

Description

The village has areas of private gardens and open greens, which attract the usual range of garden birds. Its northern boundary is the River Blyth and bordering marshes and wet grazing, including some waders and geese. East and south, a shingle beach stretches beyond Dunwich; the shallows offshore attract sea ducks, such as Common Scoter. There's brackish marshes behind the shingle ridge which is threatened by erosion; the marshes attract resident and migratory passerines and waders, such as Bearded Tit, Rock Pipit, Dunlin, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. There will be migratory and resident hirundines, occasionally late into autumn.

The ground rises above sea level to the west and southwest of Walberswick village. In the west, there's heathland where there are Dartford Warbler and Eurasian Nightjar for patient and lucky watchers, as well as more common species. There's deciduous woodlandin the southwest with a few freshwater ponds with a variety of ducks.

The marshes and heathland are part of a National Nature Reserve.

Details

Access

Walberswick may be reached by car, bike, river ferry from Southwold or on foot. Buses serve both Walberswick and Southwold.

There are car parks on the beach side of the village and near to the ferry - a fee is required. These are likely to be full during summer season; but not during times of birding interest.

Cars, bikes and wheelchairs are restricted to the village by the terrain, so the really interesting areas will be reached on foot. There are public footpaths and visitors are required not to wander onto private land or into protected areas

Terrain and Habitat

Forest , Wetland , Lake , Beach , Mud flats , Scattered trees and bushes , Grassland , Moors/heathland , River , Sea , Reedbeds , City/village

Conditions

Flat , Sandy , Wet , No shadow , Open landscape , High water possible

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Winter

Best time to visit

Winter , Autumn migration , Spring migration

Route

Paved road , Wide path , Narrow trail , Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot

Birdwatching hide / platform

Extra info

There are toilets and refreshment places in the village. The area can take a day to explore. The beach gives views over the sea and the coastal marshes and this is one place where a scope is handy. This is an exposed location, which can make a scope difficult. The heath should be explored with patience to get the best chance of interesting sightings.