SPA description
(information as published 2001)
Minsmere – Walberswick
Minsmere – Walberswick is located on the Suffolk coast south of
Southwold in eastern England. It comprises two large marshes, the
tidal Blyth estuary and associated habitats. This composite coastal
site contains a complex mosaic of habitats, notably areas of marsh
with dykes, extensive reedbeds, mud-flats, lagoons, shingle,
woodland and areas of lowland heath. It supports the largest
continuous stand of Common Reed Phragmites australis in
England and Wales and demonstrates the nationally rare transition
in grazing marsh ditch plants from brackish to fresh water. There
are nationally important numbers of breeding and wintering birds.
In particular, the reedbeds are of major importance for breeding
Bittern Botaurus stellaris and Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus. A range of breeding waders (e.g. Avocets
Recurvirostra avosetta) and heathland birds occur in other
areas of the SPA. The shingle beaches support important numbers of
breeding Little Tern Sterna albifrons, which feed
substantially outside the SPA in adjacent marine waters. The site
is also important for wintering Bitterns and raptors.
Qualifying species
For individual species accounts visit the Species
Accounts section
This site qualifies under Article 4.1 of the
Directive (79/409/EEC) by supporting populations of European
importance of the following species listed on Annex I of the
Directive:
During the breeding season;
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, 91 pairs representing
at least 15.4% of the breeding population in Great Britain (RBBP
1996)
Bittern Botaurus stellaris, 7 individuals
representing at least 35.0% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (5 year mean, 1993-1997)
Little Tern Sterna albifrons, 28 pairs representing
at least 1.2% of the breeding population in Great Britain (5 year
mean, 1992-1996)
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, 16 pairs
representing at least 10.0% of the breeding population in Great
Britain (5 year mean, 1993-1997)
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, 24 pairs representing
at least 0.7% of the breeding population in Great Britain (Count,
as at 1990)
Woodlark Lullula arborea, 20 pairs representing at
least 1.3% of the breeding population in Great Britain (RSPB, 5
year mean 95-99)
Over winter;
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, 278 individuals
representing at least 21.9% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (5 year peak mean 1991/2 - 1995/6)
Bittern Botaurus stellaris, 14 individuals
representing at least 14.0% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (Count as at 1998)
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, 15 individuals
representing at least 2.0% of the wintering population in Great
Britain (5 year peak mean, 1985/6-1989/90)
Note:
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of
a site in these pages does not imply any right of public
access.
Note that sites selected for waterbird species on the basis of
their occurrence in the breeding, passage or winter periods also
provide legal protection for these species when they occur at other
times of the year.