In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

Spring

Dartford warblers and stonechats nest on the heaths. Watch out for early butterflies and dragonflies on the trails, and spring migration of wading birds through the harbour. Newly-arrived migrant birds passing through the reserve or staying to breed include swallows and martins, wheatears, cuckoos, ospreys, willow warblers, blackcaps and chiffchaffs. Woodpecker activity is at its best - you have a good chance of seeing great spotted woodpeckers excavating their nest holes.

Summer

The heather's coming into full bloom. See if you can spot reptiles basking in the sun (you need to be quiet for a chance to see them!). Sandwich and common terns can be seen feeding offshore and nightjars 'churr' on the heaths from dusk to dawn. Silver-studded blue butterflies will be on the wing in the areas of wet/humid heath. The wood ant nests will be a hive of activity as are the RSPB nestbox cameras, including footage of the farm barn owls. The voracious green tiger beetles will be on the lookout for prey items. In late summer, early migrant waders returning to the harbour include whimbrels, greenshanks and spotted redshanks. Ospreys will be heading south to Africa during August. Keep an eye out for the amazing hobbies hunting dragonflies over the ponds.

Autumn

Wading birds continue passing through the Harbour or staying to over-winter. Watch out for increasing numbers of black-tailed godwits, dunlins, avocets and grey plovers. Late autumn migrants include redstarts, whitethroats, spotted and pied flycatchers. The sika deer rutting season peaks in October/November. Ospreys stay in the area until mid-October, while spoonbills and kingfishers are regularly seen. The European gorse comes into flower by late November. Numbers of wintering ducks build up in late autumn and are joined by large numbers of brent geese.

Winter

Winter is the best time for the harbour birds, with internationally important numbers of wildfowl and wading birds peaking at over 30,000 in the harbour. Scarcer species often seen include black-necked and Slavonian grebes, great northern and black-throated divers, long-tailed ducks, eiders and scaups. Marsh harriers are joined in the area by hen harriers and merlins, especially around the Middlebere area (on the Coombe Heath trail). Dartford warblers will be active on the heath - and look out for stonechats sitting on tops of bushes. Masses of winter thrushes and finches around the farm may include bramblings, lesser redpolls, siskins and goldfinches.