Brading Marshes RSPB reserve

Brading Marshes nature reserve is the only Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserve on the Isle of Wight, England. Situated on the east coast of the Island, behind Bembridge Harbour, it was acquired in 2001 and is a mix of lagoons and ditches, reed beds and meadows, with a fringe of ancient woodland. This marsh is the site of a wetland restoration project by the RSPB.

The land was reclaimed from the sea for agricultural use at the end of the 19th century. Today, grazing, haymaking and cutting rough vegetation encourage flowers and wetland birds.

In Spring and Summer, lapwing, heron, tufted duck and shelduck can be seen. Marsh harrier and peregrines can also be seen. During autumn and winter migrating wading birds pass through, joining ducks, geese and wading birds feeding in the pools. The reserve is also home to many insects, plants and other animals.

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Photographs of views, birds and wildlife can be seen on Facebook - search name Brading Marshes

Sightings 2011 Teal, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard, various ducks, Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Short Eared Owl, Yellow Hammer, Lapwing, Linnet, European Green Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch, Mute Swan, Raven, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterarian Gull, Herring Gull, Snipe, Woodcock, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Partridge, Cormorant, Bar Headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Widgeon, Sparrow Hawk, Kingfisher, Skylark, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting ...

Sightings during 2009 / 2010 Buzzard 3 breeding pairs Kestrel Marsh Harrier breeding pair Peregrine Falcon Long-Eared Owl Short Eared Owl Cormorant Canada Geese Coot Moorhen Grey Heron Kingfisher Pheasant Mute Swan 2 breeding pair Fieldfare Long-tailed Tit Blue Tit Great Tit Redwing Starlings Woodpigeon Song Thrush Yellow Hammer Crow Rook Raven Greater Spotted Woodpecker European Green Woodpecker Sparrow Blackbird Robin House Martin Swallow Swift Skylark Cetti's, Reed, Warbler Goldcrest Wren Grey and Pied Wagtail Barn Owl Chaffinch Wheatear Chiff-Chaff Sand Martin Yellow Hammer Linnet Duck Teal Herring Gull Mediterranean Gull Jay

Currently, visitor access is restricted to a network of footpaths from Brading Town and Bembridge Harbour, which provide attractive views across the reserve's mix of wetlands. There is much work planned to develop the reserve over future years.^{[citation needed]}