Guide in a Hide 25 February 2024

Guide in a Hide (GIAH) is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, funded by the National Lottery Fund through Sussex Wildlife trust (SWT).

Another terrific GIAH day today, with plenty of birds to show our visitors! Thank you to 153 people who came along and braved the cold wind.

There were hundreds of birds on flat beach today, and we were able to show visitors 37 different species, of which 300 Golden Plover, 350 Dunlin, 60 Grey Plover and 40 Avocet were among the many highlights.

Thank you so much for coming along, we do enjoy telling you all about the birds and reading your lovely feedback!

Look forward to seeing you next time, Easter Saturday, 30th March, 10am until 3pm.

Guide in a Hide 28 January 2024

Guide in a Hide (GIAH) is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, funded by the National Lottery Fund through Sussex Wildlife trust (SWT).

A most welcome sunny day at last for our Guide in a Hide event today, and visitors were plentiful!

Over 220 people came along and were treated to close views of many birds. 42 species were seen today with the Spoonbill taking centre stage once again. A Peregrine Falcon caused a stir, a Grey Heron just stood still, watching us and the incoming tide, the 300+ Pintail looked stunningly elegant and two close Redshank made the children laugh as they chased each other around.

Thank you to everyone who came along! Next event is 25 February 10am until 3pm. See you there…

Guide in a Hide 29 December 2023

Guide in a Hide (GIAH) is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, funded by the National Lottery Fund through Sussex Wildlife trust (SWT).

My goodness, our guides in the hide were busy today! 132 people came along in just three hours; many locals and many visitors from London and Kent.

It was wonderful to show people large numbers of our winter ducks like Pintail, Wigeon and Teal, and it was amazing that 70-80 Brent Geese could almost hide themselves in the saltmarsh. Other highlights were Spoonbill, Red-breasted Merganser and a Peregrine flying through. Fast!

We met some lovely people today. Thank you so much for coming along – your interest in the wildlife and smiles when you see it really make it all worthwhile!

See you next year!

Guide in a Hide 17 Dec 2023

Guide in a Hide (GIAH) is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, funded by the National Lottery Fund through Sussex Wildlife trust (SWT).

111 people came along to Guide in a Hide to see some birds; it was great to meet you!
William enjoyed some one-to-one bird watching with Christine and then Evie joined in too!
Trudi showed us some excellent skill with her little binoculars and really enjoyed ticking 13 birds off of her checklist.
Visitors enjoyed close views of Redshank, Skylark, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch. And, as the tide started to come in, Grey Plover, Knot, Oystercatcher and many Dunlin flew in to join the many winter ducks.
Our last Guide in a Hide of the year is on 29th December. You will find us in and around Gooders Hide from 10am until 1pm. Please note the time change.

Guide in a Hide 18 Nov 2023

Guide in a Hide (GIAH) is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, funded by the National Lottery Fund through Sussex Wildlife trust (SWT).

Despite the awful weather forecast, a group of intrepid SWT volunteers who are all members of The Friends, braved the wind and the rain to show any visible birdlife to 26 members of the public visiting the Discovery Centre and the Gooders Hide.

Following recent vandalism, the Gooders Hide no longer has a door, and as the windows had been left open overnight, it was as wet inside as outside!

Despite curtailing the event early due to the conditions, 25 species of birds were recorded, including a Spoonbill.

Guide in a Hide 22 Jul 2023

Guide in a Hide is part of the Discover Rye Harbour project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund through Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT).

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.

Saturday 22nd July saw a group of 10 Rye Harbour Nature Reserve volunteers run another successful Guide in a Hide between 10am and 3.30pm. 

This time we engaged with at least 171 adults and 50 children. With the assistance of our binoculars and telescopes, we were able to show visitors a wide range of birds found outside the Discovery Centre and the Gooder’s Hide.

In total 27 species of bird were seen during the day.

At one point people were queuing up to see a nearby curlew outside the Discovery Centre and a harassed oystercatcher, with a hungry youngster in tow all day, provided non-stop viewing in the hide.

A fly-by peregrine and avocets feeding by swinging their bill side to side provided interest to many.