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We also saw a single male marsh harrier, two little egrets, two female pintail, four species of gulls, common and sandwich terns and a yellow wagtail.

Highlight of the day for me, however, was the group of nineteen spoonbills, the largest number I had ever seen together in Suffolk. Spoonbills are impressive birds, nearly as big as grey heron, but almost entirely white. They have a long neck and a long black bill, which is quite broad and flat and widens to a rounded tip, giving the impression of a wide-handled serving spoon. Their long legs and feet are black and if you're lucky enough to see one really close they have the most beautiful ruby red eyes.

Spoonbills often spend long periods during the middle of the day at rest, with their spectacular bills tucked in between their wings but luckily for us this group became quite active whilst we were watching them. One of the birds had a green plastic numbered ring on one of its legs and is known to have come to Havergate from the Netherlands.

Havergate arrival by Stephen Dean

We rounded off our visit with some very welcome refreshments, provided by the Woodbridge RSPB Members' Group, before making the return trip to Orford.

I should like to thank Colin Coates and all the volunteers from the Woodbridge RSPB Members' Group for all their hard work in organising the Island Adventure trips, which have raised a great deal of money for the RSPB over the last 15 years and have given literally thousands of people the chance to visit one of Suffolk's most delightful nature reserves.

How to visit the Island
If you would like to visit Havergate Island, you don't have to wait until next August to join in the Island Adventure.

From April to August trips to the reserve are available every Thursday and on the first and third weekends of each month. From September to March trips are available on the first Saturday of each month.

Arriving at Havergate Island

Boats leave Orford Quay at 10am and return from the Island at 3pm. Advance booking is essential and you can do this by contacting the RSPB's Minsmere nature reserve on 01728 648281. The cost is Β£3.00 for RSPB members or Β£5.00 for non-members and for children under 16 the costs are Β£1.50 or Β£2.50 respectively.

If you're looking for a really peaceful and relaxing day's bird watching, Havergate offers the sense of detachment that only an island can.