A warm Guide in a Hide day! Coats were off at last and it was such a pleasure to welcome visitors to a proper Spring day on the Reserve. 155 people came along, including two youngsters who loved spotting the birds through our telescopes.
With a decent tide bringing in the sea and refreshing the marsh, we could show visitors migrating birds such as Bar-tailed Godwits, Knot and Grey Plover in their fabulous breeding plumage. We heard the beautiful 7-note call of Whimbrel all day, and were delighted to see a Cuckoo and newly arrived Swifts.
Add the fabulous sound of all three Terns and Skylark, flat beach really was a wonderful place to spend a Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came along.
Glorious sunshine, a partial solar eclipse, a biting wind and an amazing 222 visitors for our Guide in a Hide day today!
It was great to meet you all and show you a total of 34 species of birds including a Rye Harbour Nature Reserve special, the Sandwich Terns – over 80 of them!
A couple of our guides cleverly kept out of the wind and it was great to meet the Marylebone birders too – hope you enjoyed your day.
Members of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve had a fantastic talk on Saturday 8th March by Terry Hallahan, who is one of the leaders of the Sussex Barn Owl Group. The talk ‘Barn Owls and Barn Owls in Sussex’ was in two parts: the first covering interesting facts about the Barn Owl, plus it’s demise and more recent upsurge; the second part covering the activities of the Barn Owl Group who are committed to preservation and protection of Sussex’s Barn Owl population.
Amazingly, Barn Owls are the world’s most widely distributed land bird, and with 35 subspecies, they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Unfortunately, we are at one of their northern extremes and in some years, they struggle in our climate. Unable to hunt in wet weather, they need excellent habitat in which to find plentiful food when it is dry. In addition to the lack of habitat, and nesting sites proving challenging for them, road traffic collisions are a major problem accounting for the deaths of between 3000 and 5000 Barn Owls each year. This equates to about 65% of all reported fatalities.
To counteract the loss of traditional nesting sites, the Barn Owl Group puts up boxes and it is now estimated over 90% of Barn Owls are using boxes. This has helped to increase their numbers over the last few years.
In addition to installing boxes at suitable locations, the Barn Owl Group works with landowners and undertakes considerable monitoring, ringing and conservation activities.
Around mid-February, the wheel turns as northward migration and breeding behaviour become visible. As ten of us assembled in the car park, small birds were dashing about and songs were coming from the adjacent scrub and gardens. The sky was clear, the temperature mild and so, in spite of the muddy paths, we decided to venture over to Castle Water.
On the factory roofs, gulls were already stationed ready for nesting: mostly Herring but also a few Great & Lesser Black-backed, and we could hear Great Tits singing from all directions, more than usual attracted to feeders placed by an employee. From the recently re-opened Viewpoint, we admired the stream of silver-headed Cormorants moving from the bay to their nesting trees, the site of a chorus of hoarse crooning and growling, as a spectacular pair of Marsh Harriers cruised past. Reed Buntings had begun to sing from the lake edges as single Grey Heron, Little & Great Egret moved across the reeds and a good variety of ducks bobbed on the water.
During the last week, the crowds of northbound Common & Black-headed Gulls which speckle pastures across our area have been joined by the signature bird of spring: Mediterranean Gull. Though most stick closer to the coast but we did see a few flying over and once heard the distinctive call.
From the Halpin Hide, we had good views of Gadwall, Little Grebe, Mallard, Pochard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal & Tufted Duck on the water as Cormorants, weighed down with sticks, headed to their island nests. Flocks of Lapwings & Fieldfares moved across in front of the industrial area, a pair of Buzzards circled overhead and a Cetti’s Warbler sang half-heartedly.
Out on the fields sat a large flock of roosting Great Black-backed Gulls and the Canada & Greylag Geese were accompanied by a few hybrids – brown-faced Canadas and a Big White Goose, one of at least four in the area. From the castle battlements, a Raven watched us, reinforcing its territorial credentials with a few minor aerobatics.
On this 4th Sunday longer walk of about 4 miles, we found 59 bird species. Please be aware that the paths from the village towards Camber Castle are quite muddy and slippery at the moment.
The next Friends’ walk – a shorter one around Flat Beach – will take place on Saturday March 8th. Meet in the car park at 9am.
This February half term has once again seen Guide in a Hide volunteers from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve become ‘Guides in a Train’ on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. These old steam trains running between Tenterden and Bodiam are a fantastic part of our heritage and a wonderful way to see the amazing Kent and East Sussex countryside.
For these ‘Birdwatching specials’, children had been given birding activity sheets and many enjoyed using the sheets and spotting birds out of the train window. We had brought several pairs of binoculars with us and the children loved using these.
We saw an amazing 24 different species of birds including a lovely Red Kite – spotted by one of the young birders on the train, also Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Great, Little and Cattle Egrets plus many Lapwing and a variety of gulls and other species.
Many of the children (and adults!) were very enthusiastic and pleased with how many birds can be seen through a train window. The help from the guides really seemed to be appreciated and the journeys were enjoyed by all.
Thank you to Kent and East Sussex Railway for putting on this event and being party to inspiring both current and potential young birders. Maybe we will be seeing some of you at Guide in a Hide at RHNR!
Another wonderful Guide in a Hide event today with 172 people coming along and enjoying loads of birds and a wonderful high tide.
The birds whirled around all day. Sometimes it was difficult to see why, sometimes it was excitingly obvious; a Peregrine falcon caused mayhem, a Merlin caused panic and a Marsh Harrier caused a bit less of both!
The guides really enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm and excitement of our visitors. One lady was delighted to see a Merlin for the first time.
Thanks to everyone who came along. It was a joy to meet you and show you the birds!
Drop in to the Gooders hide between the car park and the sea where there will be guides stationed throughout the day to show you the birds. Binoculars, telescopes and spotter sheets available for you to use. There will also be guides outside the Discovery Centre.
Suitable for all.
400m walk towards the sea from Rye Harbour car park, TN31 7TY
Drop in to the Gooders hide between the car park and the sea where there will be guides stationed throughout the day to show you the birds. Binoculars, telescopes and spotter sheets available for you to use. There will also be guides outside the Discovery Centre.
Suitable for all.
400m walk towards the sea from Rye Harbour car park, TN31 7TY
Drop in to the Gooders hide between the car park and the sea where there will be guides stationed throughout the day to show you the birds. Binoculars, telescopes and spotter sheets available for you to use. There will also be guides outside the Discovery Centre.
Suitable for all.
400m walk towards the sea from Rye Harbour car park, TN31 7TY
Past Events
