Past Events
We made the July 2023, 833 Lottery Draw on Sunday 9th July. Thank you to our hardworking Lime Kiln Cafe assistant, Alli Elliott, for pressing the buttons on the Lottery machine.
Congratulations to all our winners.
Past Events
We had another excellent talk on the afternoon of Saturday 8th July. This time from Michael Howard who is a Ranger for the National Trust and came to speak to the Friends of Rye Harbour about Winchelsea Wildlife.
Michael has worked for the National Trust in Winchelsea for 6 years and along with another member of staff and six volunteers is responsible for caring for, monitoring and enhancing the nature value of 1,100 acres of varied habitat in and around Winchelsea.
His very interesting and informative talk focused on the amazing variety of birds, mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, and bees to be found on this National Trust land and the huge task involved in working to make the area even better for wildlife and people. Michael’s stunning photography gave us an insight into the identification, and also the challenges of accurate identification, for monitoring the rare bees and dragonflies that are to be found in the area. His fantastic trailcam footage showed us aspects of wildlife and behaviour that largely go unnoticed. He has set-up several community projects, such as moth trapping in Winchelsea, a Winchelsea wildlife group, and with his group of volunteers, is involved in making and erecting various bird boxes to help with Barn Owl and Swift conservation in the local area.
Thank you to Michael for a wonderful talk and we wish him well with his future plans for the area.
Past Projects
The Friends arranged a Sound Recording Course, comprising three workshops, experimenting with a variety of commercial and improvised recording devices to capture the natural sounds of the reserve.
See the event report for more details of what went on. It is intended to repeat the course in the future.
Past Events
We have just completed our three Friends’ Sound Workshops, experimenting with a variety of commercial and improvised recording devices to capture the natural sounds of the reserve. We first concentrated on grasses and birdsong on the saltmarsh and alongside the stream, then the raucous chorus of nesting terns from Denney Hide. Finally, we listened to the recordings and looked at how they could be edited using the Audacity app.
Course leader, Mary Hooper says:
The workshops for FRHNR were a new challenge of me in terms of my work as a sound artist and I wasn’t sure who would take part or what they would expect. Having Ezra Gray leading the first session was very rewarding and great fun, and thank you Ezra for sharing so much knowledge with us.
In the second and third sessions we experimented with different microphones and shared ideas skills and knowledge and made some plans for future development.
I enjoyed every session and was inspired by all the talent and skill in the group so thank you for inviting me to lead these workshops.
We hope to plan more in the future, building up a community of expertise along with an archive of sounds.
Past Projects
The Friends asked Sam Moore of Visual Air to produce three inspirational drone films which show the reserve in a dramatic new way.
See the Reserve page to view the films.
Past Projects
The Friends commissioned two books about the Reserve:
See the Merchandise page for more details and where to buy.
Current Projects
Every month knowledgeable Friends’ volunteers spend a day in the Gooders Hide, showing members of the public the varied birdlife visible from the hide. There are binoculars and telescopes on hand for a closer look, and experts to explain what to look out for.
Some months, there will also be additional volunteers, with a telescope, outside the Discovery Centre.
Past Events
Today I had the pleasure of leading 21 Friends of Rye Harbour NR around Flat Beach to watch the newly arrived nesting birds and a couple of stopping migrants.
The number of Sandwich Terns now is slowly increasing to about 85 with 5 newly arrived Common Tern. Passing through on migration were three Bar-Tailed Godwits (2 in breeding plumage) and 2 Wheatear up near the river mouth. It was nice to see plenty of Terns bringing in fish from the Bay. Fingers crossed for a successful breeding year. Other birds of note were two Ruff and two Stonechat.
A great walk which is gaining popularity and remember all Friends are welcome!
James Tomlinson
Past Events
A fabulous start to the morning walk, so still that water perfectly mirrored the blue sky and birdsong rang out so clearly that a Mistle Thrush up at Coastguard Square could be heard right down by Nook Drain and the air over the saltmarsh was full of Skylarks. The calls of returning Avocets can be heard everywhere now everywhere now, while flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover are feeding hungrily before continuing their journey northwards. The closeness of the path to the edge of the Salt Pool gave us excellent views of these while three newly-arrived Little Ringed Plovers, scuttling along the edges to in flight allowed us to appreciate the features which distinguish them from Ringed Plovers.
While watching these waders we noticed small insectivorous migrants searching the turf: White Wagtail with a pure, pale grey back, an apricot-fronted Wheatear and a dazzling Yellow Wagtail.
Although some common birds were mysteriously missing, the variety is increasing, so that along this short route we found 56 species.
Past Events
Guide in a Hide is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund through Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT)
Discover Rye Harbour offers a range of community engagement activities, encouraging visitors to learn a little more about the special wildlife at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
The Guide in a Hide activity involves a team of volunteers, made up mainly of Friends members, sharing telescopes and binoculars with visitors, to give really close up views of the birds on the reserve, and explain a little about their behaviour and migration routes.
The event has grown in popularity since it began in August 2021, and we have now engaged with over 3400 visitors!
On 19th February, in beautiful weather, we showed 233 visitors a good variety of waders and ducks but perhaps the best sounds and views came from beautiful Brent Geese and singing Skylark, which accompanied us all day.
It’s an absolute joy to be a part of the team of volunteers and from the feedback we received, our visitors enjoy it as much as we do!
