Dunlin - Peter Cairns/2020VISION
By Steve Aylward
Greenshank - Bertie Gregory/2020VISION
By Steve Aylward
By Steve Aylward
Levington Lagoon Nature Reserve
Location
OS Map Reference
TM238389
Know before you go
Entry fee
FreeParking information
Small car park close to site entranceWalking trails
Grass track on river wall to reserve viewpoint is part of local public footpath route.
Generally quite level, but can be slippery after rain
Access
Not suitable for wheelchairs
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open at all timesBest time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
Simply one of the best places for estuarine birds on the Orwell. This brackish lagoon by the River Orwell was formed as a result of a breach in the sea wall during the notorious 1953 floods, which affected much of the east coast of England. This sensitive site is a magnet for breeding, wintering and passage estuarine birds of which there are exceptional numbers and variety.
For this reason Levington Lagoon makes a fantastic bird-watching site throughout the year. Seasonal specialities include greenshank, spotted redshank, dunlin, short-eared owl and flocks of pipit. You may also be lucky enough to spot kingfisher which seem to be something of a ‘regular’ here. Saltmarsh plants include lilac drifts of sea lavender (which unlike its inland cousin has no scent) and sea purslane. Suffolk Wildlife Trust looks after this site by controlling water levels via a system of sluices to encourage wading birds.
Levington Lagoon is cared for by Suffolk Wildlife Trust on behalf of Suffolk Yacht Harbour Ltd.