We had a brilliant guide, Neil Glenn, and had some fabulous sightings of Barn Owl, Cuckoos, Marsh Harriers, at least 18 Hobby's and 2 adult Stone Curlews with chicks. Although the day focussed on birds there were numerous dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies to see and admire. Naturetrek has to be the best nature based travel company. The guides are always first class and everything is made clear and communicated to you in detail.
J.F. Nottinghamshire, May 22



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Lakenheath Fen (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR217A relaxed day exploring this large RSPB reserve on the Norfolk/Suffolk border trying to find some shy reedbed residents, a host of summer visitors and maybe even a few migrant birds passing through.
£50
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Summary
Lakenheath is a large RSPB reserve, reclaimed carrot fields and Black Poplar plantations. The RSPB is returning the drained land to reeds and marshes and is home to many of the expected, but much sought-after, reedbed denizens such as Bittern, Crane, Bearded Tit and Marsh Harrier. The reserve straddles the border of Norfolk and Suffolk and comprises large reedbeds, an extensive washland – Hockwold Fen – and maturing scrubland. Some poplar woods remain, home to many warblers. Barn Owls hunt the grassland either side of the Little Ouse and May is the perfect time to find a Garganey dropping in on migration, graceful terns feeding on the lake and a few Hobbies often hunt the hirundines in good numbers. Lakenheath is also a great reserve for those new to dragonflies with Azure and Variable Damselflies, Four-spotted and Scarce Chasers and Hairy Dragonflies all possible species. We will explore Lakenheath slowly in order to try and see as many of the special birds here as possible. Covering around five miles over the course of the day, the walk is over easy ground which, in late spring and early summer, is normally dry. We take our time to explore the reserve thoroughly, enjoying all the species we find.
- Bittern, Crane, Bearded Tit and Marsh Harrier could be some of the day’s highlights
- 10 species of warbler breed at Lakenheath
- Migrants passing through could include Hobby, Garganey and Black Tern
- An array of beautiful dragonflies and damselflies
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Dates & Prices
2025

Tour Leader: David Walsh
David has been a keen birdwatcher since his primary school days and still has his notebooks from the early 1970s to prove it! He ran bird clubs at his schools and is very proud of the fact that several of the boys who he inspired as 11-year-olds are now working in full-time conservation; he continues to encourage young birdwatchers whenever possible. David retired from full-time teaching in 2015 but continues to do part-time maths tutoring. In his spare time he enjoys singing in various local choirs.
In 2008 he used a sabbatical to spend three months in Southeast Asia, which included a successful quest to find the endangered White-eared Night Heron in Vietnam. At home in Suffolk, he puts his love of bird songs and calls to good use, running surveys to monitor breeding birds in the spring and searching out migrant passerines in the autumn. He also co-ordinates the submission of Suffolk’s records to the national Rare Breeding Birds Panel, knowing the birding sites in the county very well indeed having lived in Suffolk since 1992.
David has guided over 90 overseas tours since his first to La Brenne in 1986. In the last 10 years he has focused on Europe, North Africa, Asia and South America and has enjoyed developing his interest in butterflies and dragonflies as well as birds. David’s boundless energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a determination to ensure that everyone in the group sees the birds, has understandably made him popular with clients! He is delighted to be joining the Naturetrek team in 2023.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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