The time of year will make a big difference to what you see and where you should go. Estuaries can really vary as the pages of the calendar flick over; with many of the paths on unmade, dirt tracks there is the possibility that some will be inaccessible due to flooding or at least very muddy in the autumn and winter.

However, if you have the bottle to brave the mud and venture out into the cold then you can be at an advantage over summer explorers as several of our wetland species are winter visitors, such as the Great Crested Grebe and Golden Plover. The spring sees most of the birds nesting and areas such as Brading Marsh and Newtown Nature Reserve are of limited access.

The 'species index', which you'll find attached to each area page; will give you the summer/winter particulars of the species you are most likely to see and the best places in which to see them.

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