10 best coastal birdwatching spots

The best of Britain\'s birdwatching spots

As part of our wildlife special, we head to Britain\'s mudflats, cliffs and sandy shores - the best places to do a little twitching.

By Susie Wood

For summer migrants

Dungeness Bird Reserve, Kent

Dotted with trails, hides and swathes of shingle, this reserve offers a clear view of migratory birds arriving and leaving these shores. Masses of swallows pass by en route to warmer climes in August and September; and large numbers of little ringed plovers arrive from Africa in March - this is the place to see a ball-of-fluff little ringed plover chick picking its way along the shore behind its parents. You might also catch a glimpse of the marsh harrier pair first spotted here in 2007.

Open daily except 24-25 December, 9am-6pm or sunset (01797 320588, rspb.org.uk).

For puffins

Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington, East Yorkshire

In spring and summer, these dramatic chalky cliffs are home to 200,000 breeding seabirds, including everyone\'s favourite characterful bird, the puffin. Five clifftop viewpoints allow great views of them, all busy incubating eggs, nestling chicks or hunting food (watch for puffins with eels dangling from their beaks as they return to the nest). The puffins leave in July but autumn brings migrants, such as chiffchaffs and willow warblers.

Visitor centre open 10am-5pm, March-October; 10am-4pm, November-February (01262 851179, rspb.org.uk).

For wading birds

Snettisham Bird Reserve, Norfolk

The hides at this RSPB reserve are perfectly placed to take advantage of high tides. Thousands of wading birds retreat towards the hides, giving you views of avocets, plovers and oystercatchers to name a few. Dawn and dusk bring treats, too - in spring, barn owls hunt over the saltmarshes, and in summer, keep an eye out for avocet chicks (left) with their long legs and upturned beaks, out for walks with their graceful parents.

Open daily - call for tide times; donations welcome (01485 542689, rspb.org.uk).

For rare sightings

Isles of Scilly, off Cornwall

Being out in the Atlantic Ocean, the Scilly Isles get more than their fair share of migrants blown off course - willow warblers and chiffchaffs can turn up in spring, and autumn can see hoopoes, golden orioles and purple herons, among others, including dramatic-looking flocks of shags (left). Travel to St Mary\'s by boat or air from Penzance and take it from there.

Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Centre (01720 422536, simplyscilly.co.uk).

For sea eagles

Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides

Mull has around 300 miles of coastline, with sandy beaches and sea lochs that attract migrating waders, but the real attraction is the white-tailed sea eagle\'s nest at Loch Frisa. An RSPB hide opens from July to September (accessible via a forest track) - bring binoculars to see these glorious birds (left) and their chicks in detail.

Call for hide opening times (01688 302038); walking trails open all year. Mull visitor centre (08707 200625).

For getting kids into birding

National Wetland Centre Wales, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire

Against the spectacular backdrop of the Gower Peninsula, there are plenty of birds to see, from waders to sleek birds of prey. There\'s also a range of fun and educational activities on offer from hightide watches and a flamingo festival to wildlife photography and guided walks.

Open daily except 24-25 December (01554 741087, wwt.org.uk).

For terns and peregrine falcons

St Catherine\'s Point, Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a pleasure for birdwatchers, with firecrests and nightjars among the frequent spots. With more than 50 miles of heritage coast, the usual suspects of seabirds breed here (cormorants, left, kittiwakes, razorbills), and you might see a common or sandwich tern, too. Head for St Catherine\'s Point to see the resident peregrine falcons in action, speeding with unbelievable agility through the air.

Isle of Wight Tourist Information (01983 813813, islandbreaks.co.uk).

For gannets

Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick, East Lothian

From the Centre overlooking the Firth of Forth, as well as the 140,000-strong flock of gannets (left), you\'ll see thousands of puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, shags and more - around 300,000 seabirds breed here. Visit January to October for gannets; March/April to July for puffins.

Open daily except 25 December, 10am-4pm/6pm (01620 890202).

For ospreys

Caerlaverock Wetlands Centre, Dumfriesshire

Saltflats, green hillscapes, riverbanks and the grey Irish Sea offer the perfect setting to see ospreys soaring high before plunging to catch fish - with a wingspan of 1.7 metres, they are breathtaking. A camera in the eyrie gives live footage of the nest, and you can see similar televised views of the barn owls that breed here, too. In summer, the meadows buzz with life, and in winter it\'s likely you\'ll see peregrine falcons and merlins high-speed hunting.

Open daily except 25 December, 10am-5pm (01387 770200, wwt.org.uk).

For starlings

Marazion Marsh, near Penzance, Cornwall

The largest reedbed in Cornwall is within view of St Michael\'s Mount (left), just off the coast. Migrating warblers start arriving in spring and there are guided walks throughout summer (birdwatching beginners are welcome), when the reeds and flowers are at their most abundant. A spectacular winter sight - although it doesn\'t happen every year (call ahead to find out) - is the mass flocking of starlings. Peregrines join in, on the lookout for easy meals. You\'ll see other birds, too, including herons, chiffchaffs, water rails and little egrets.

Open daily (01736 711682, rspb.org.uk).

More for you

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