Saturday 13th December 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.
Ian Rumley-Dawson, past chairman of The Friends of RHNR and renowned speaker, will give us an insight into all the species of deer regularly found in the British Isles, paying special attention to those we may encounter in Sussex.
These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know. Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st November. Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.
Saturday 8th November 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.
David Dunlop from HM Coast guard will look at the role of HMCG nationally, but with especial reference to Rye Bay. He will also look at how that role, structure and working practice has developed and changed over the last 50 years.
These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know. Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st October. Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.
Saturday 11th October 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.
Presented by Pat Morris.
In 1962 it was alleged there had been too many rare birds reported from around Hastings. A local taxidermist was accused of fraud and 500 records were deleted from ornithological history. This has been uncritically accepted but ornithologists could have been seriously misled.
Pat Morris is a zoologist, best known for studies of mammals, but with a lifelong interest in the history of taxidermy. For over 40 years he has been troubled by the clumsy way this issue has been treated. Careful study of the arguments, and critical examination of the apparently indisputable statistical analysis, reveals a tale of prejudice and misrepresentation.
These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know. Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st September. Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.
Saturday 13th September 2025 1.30pm – 3pm at the Discovery Centre.
Well known and long-standing Friend of RHNR Colin Page will be sharing his passion for light and the joy of photography, showing us fleeting moments of spontaneity in birds, plants, fungi and geology.
These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know. Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st August. Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.
Birds are without doubt the planet’s ultimate travellers, with approximately half the UK species migrating each year. Some may not go far, yet others undertake truly epic feats of stamina and endurance, crossing oceans, mountains and continents. But how do they do it? Why do they do it? And how has this behaviour come about? Come to our talk and find out.
Well known to many at RHNR, James has been a passionate birder (and all-round naturalist) since childhood.
These talks are for members of The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve only. There is no charge, though donations are gratefully accepted. If you are not a member of The Friends but would like to attend, please JOIN US and let us know. Limited places are available and booking for members of The Friends will open at 8.00am on 1st July. Please note that dogs (except for guide dogs that have been pre-booked) are not allowed at talks.
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.
Talks
