The Wash Birdwatching Cruises

Why is The Wash so important?

The Wash is an incredibly important place for birds, both as a permanent residence and as a stop-off and refuelling site during migration. We may just see an expanse of mud flats, but to a bird, that’s a gourmet dining table! It’s packed with invertebrates, molluscs, and insect larvae, which the birds feed on. This importance is recognised and reflected in the numerous designations that are bestowed upon The Wash. It was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1972. The Wash SSSI occupies 63,135 hectares, and is the largest estuarine system SSSI in the UK.  It is also a SAC (Special Area of Conservation), a SPA (Special Protection Area), a Ramsar site, and a large part of it is a National Nature Reserve.

The area supports a huge number of birds in both nationally and internationally important numbers. The extensive areas of inter-tidal mud, sand flats and saltmarshes within The Wash SSSI together comprise one of the most important winter feeding areas for waders and wildfowl in Britain. The Wash is Europe’s second most important estuary for wintering waterbirds, and internationally significant numbers of migrant birds are dependent on the rich supply of invertebrate food, both in spring and autumn migration periods.

The Wash supports internationally important numbers of 16 species of birds, and nationally important populations of 30 species: nine species of waterfowl (divers, ducks and geese), three species of gulls, three species of terns and fifteen species of waders. These include pink-footed goose, brent goose, shelduck, pintail, oystercatcher, ringed plover, golden plover, grey plover, lapwing, knot, sanderling, dunlin, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, curlew and redshank

The mature saltmarsh that surrounds much of The Wash also provides valuable habitat for breeding birds. Saltmarsh is a habitat under threat: it’s thought that up to 100 hectares of saltmarsh are lost each year due in part to rising sea levels. The Wash is also an important breeding ground for Common seals, and has one of the largest colonies in the UK.

What is the geography of The Wash?

The Wash is the UK’s largest natural embayment, with four main rivers flowing into it: the Witham, the Welland, the Nene, and the Great Ouse. It is approximately 15 miles along by 15 miles across.

It is made up of a mixture of habitats, primarily intertidal mudflats, sandbanks, and saltmarsh. Owing to deposits of sediment, the coastline of the Wash has altered significantly over time: several towns once on the coast of the Wash (notably King's Lynn) are now some distance inland. Much of The Wash itself is very shallow, with several large sandbanks which are exposed at low tide.

What is the RSPB’s involvement in TheWash?

Surrounding The Wash we manage three nature reserves, totalling approximately 3,161 hectares. These are at Snettisham, FreistonShore and Frampton Marsh.  Our first land purchase came in August 1972, when we acquired Snettisham. Then the nature reserve holding at Frampton Marsh was purchased in April 1984 and FreistonShore came next, developed as part of The Wash Banks flood defence project. Managed realignment of flood defences was required to ensure the sustainability of the sea defence. The final engineering work took place in summer 2002, and helped shape the reserve we see today.

The managed realignment of the coast at Freiston Shore also presented an exciting opportunity to recreate saltmarsh, which is not only a valuable wildlife habitat but will also provide invaluable protection to the flood defences by absorbing wave energy and reducing bank erosion.

THE CRUISE

Our cruises provide interest for all; from the avid birder to anyone with a general interest in nature and likes the idea of cruising down the river into the Wash. Each cruise is lead by local guides who help with bird identification and also point out places of local historical interest.

Each cruise lasts 4 ½ to 5 hours. We board the Boston Belle at SluiceBridge on the river Witham in Boston. After negotiating the lock we travel down river to the Witham mouth and out into The Wash for about a mile or so.  Our return journey takes us along the river Welland, which is bordered on both sides by saltmarsh, including RSPB Frampton Marsh reserve. Here we usually get good sightings of marsh harriers and have seen both barn owl and short-eared owl in this area. Common seals can also be seen hauled out on the exposed mudbanks along the river Welland.

THE BOAT

The Boston Belle is well equipped, with seating both outside and in the lounge at the rear. We limit the number of people on our cruises to 50, which is well below the maximum the boat can accommodate. The crew serves delicious refreshments from the galley, including hot and cold drinks and freshly made sandwiches and snacks, including bacon rolls on the morning trips! The boat is also licensed to serve something a little stronger for those wishing to keep out the cold!

There is a toilet on board.

Do not worry about seasickness - we have not had one case so far!

Unfortunately the boat is not suitable for wheelchairs, as the boarding and disembarking can be quite steep depending on the water level in the river Witham.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

1. Choose the trip date(s) you require

2. Check availability by phoning us on 01205 280057

3. Fill in your details as requested on the booking form (downloadable pdf file)

4. Send the form with your payment (cheques only) to the address as shown, together with a S.A.E. for your tickets

Telephone reservations must be confirmed and paid for within 7 days

Payment by cheque only made payable to South Lincs RSPB

RSPB members      Adults £11.50   Child £6.00

Please quote membership number on form

Non-members        Adults £14.00   Child £7.00

In the event of a cruise being cancelled by us a full refund or an alternative date will be offered.

If a reservation is cancelled within 6 weeks of the cruise date a refund will be made only if the tickets can be resold.

For group bookings of between 30 and 50 people please contact us for more details on 01205 280057. NB. Other dates than those stated may be available.

Where to meet

Sailing times for 2008

June 28         Saturday         depart 11.15 FULLY BOOKED

July 26          Saturday         depart 09.45 FULLY BOOKED

July 29          Tuesday          depart 13.45 FULLY BOOKED

August 9         Saturday         depart 9.45

August 23     Saturday         depart  08.30 FULLY BOOKED

Sept 6             Saturday         depart  08.15

Sept 21         Sunday           depart  08.15 FULLY BOOKED

October 5      Sunday           depart  07.45

October 8     Wednesday    depart 10.45

We would advise you to allow plenty of time to reach the departure point, as the traffic on the approach roads into Boston can be heavy.

Please arrive 30 minutes before the departure time. These times are based on the tides therefore weare not able to wait for latecomers.

If you require parking details please mark booking form accordingly.

LIST OF BIRDS SEEN IN 2007 ON THE CRUISES