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Wow factor
Accessibility
Photo potential
Radipole Lake RSPB Nature Reserve
| Directions: |
From the A354, follow the signs to Weymouth town centre. At the roundabout by the marina, turn left over the bridge. At the next roundabout turn left, then next left into the Swannery car park. There’s a visitor centre in the bottom left of the car park with access to the site. Parking fees apply. |
| Accessibility: |
Open daily, except 25 and 26 December. North Hide is open 8:30am-4pm. Most of the tracks are accessible to all users. |
| Costs: |
Free. Use of the North Hide costs £2.50 adults; concessions available. RSPB members free. |
| Best time to visit: |
Spring and winter. |
Venue information
In spring, flocks of swallows and martins gather over the water to feed on insects after their migration from Africa. In summer, hobbies can be seen flying after small birds and dragonflies, which they catch with their feet then pass to their beaks mid-air. In autumn, as the water levels are lowered in preparation for winter reed-cutting, the mud attracts wading birds such as dunlin, snipe, redshank and lapwing. This is also a good time to catch a glimpse of kingfishers, fishing near the North Hide. In winter you might see a bittern if you’re patient – they’ll fly up from the reeds occasionally to access different feeding areas, particularly around North Hide. During a cold snap, water rails become much easier to see as they seek food away from the frozen reedbeds. Long lenses are an advantage when photographing from the hide and along the reedbeds. Close to the visitor centre many birds congregate, negating the need for super telephotos.
Venue verdict: Pretty good for photography, as RSPB reserves go. You can do a lot worse that sit by the visitor centre with a wide-angle to medium telephoto zoom lens.
Ratings (out of five): 3