Double Minibus Trip to Rye Harbour SWT (16 November 2024)
Note to self…an excellent trip which we should repeat this time next year! The large white birds were particularly special, Spoonbills, Great White Egrets and diving Gannets. 35 people had a lovely day exploring this beautiful Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve in grey but dry weather. Our leisurely walk took in the 2-mile circular trail with a diversion to the Salt Pool.
We’d expected high tide when we arrived but hadn’t expected to see water covering all the marshes up to the footpath and under the Visitor Centre which was making good use of its legs. New visitors to the area looked sceptical when we explained that normally they’d just see water in the canalised River Rother. Meadow Pipits flew back and forth equally puzzled by the lack of land. Water poured into the scrapes on the New Saltmarsh from the sluice giving a rather different view to normal.
Leaving the buses we immediately added House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Feral Pigeon Herring Gull and Chaffinch. Huw saw the usual village Collared Doves as he parked the bus back up the road. Heading up the track to the Visitor Centre a Blackbird hopped around on a lawn, a Great White Egret flew right over our heads and a huge Great Black-backed Gull perched awkwardly on top of a mast. A Redshank sat on a concrete block joined by the aforementioned, confused Meadow Pipit. 3 Turnstones on a gravel island were so close to the path that you hardly needed binoculars. A quick stop at the Centre brought us up to date with what was around using their excellent sightings board.
As it was most definitely high tide there was plenty to see on the scrapes, whether you packed into Gooders Hide or looked from the raised path. Hundreds of Golden Plover with Lapwing, Grey Plover, Dunlin and a few Ringed Plover were a spectacle especially when they took off in a panic as they did many times during our visit. On one occasion a Peregrine was spotted by the sharp-eyed causing waders to swirl up in small clouds. Once they’d landed, the Golden Plover were hard to spot looking like gold-speckled stones as they sat massed together. In the far distance, behind them, were a smart group of Pintail. Wigeon grazed across the area with Teal and Mallard much closer and Shoveler and Shelduck mid- distance. A small group of Brent Geese added to the wildfowl. Oystercatchers covered many islands, and a single Knot and Black-tailed Godwit were found. But the highlight here was 3 Spoonbills which landed right in front of us and proceeded to feed, sweeping their spoons back and forth then throwing their heads back when they had something to swallow! Continuing our walk to the river mouth Meadow Pipits, Linnets and calling Skylark added to the picture.
We were lucky to reach the sea as a flock of 40+ Gannets were plunge diving for a shoal of fish. What at a magnificent sight. A Red-throated Diver was also spotted. Lunch now called so we continued our circuit to Parkes and Denny Hides. Those looking out over Ternery Pool from Parkes Hide had good views of lots of Little Grebes, Snipe and Coot plus a Great Crested Grebe and a distant Buzzard being mobbed by Crows along with a variety of ducks including Pochard. From Denny Hide we had more Little Grebes (19 in one small area of water and easily 50+ seen across the reserve), Gadwall and thrilling views of the Plovers swirling in the sky. A bit of extra excitement was added by Jim Moir, previously known as Vic Reeves, with his family in Ternery Hide.
Sandwiches finished we took a detour over to the Salt Pool in search of a Spotted Redshank. Nothing at first but 2 Ruff, 2 Great White Egrets, an adult Spoonbill with a yellow spoon at the end of its black bill, our first Grey Heron, a beautiful male Marsh Harrier, 47 Curlew taking a wash, plenty more Snipe, a Cetti’s blast of song and a Sparrowhawk flyby were more than compensation. Heading back toward the Visitor Centre a male Sparrowhawk was spotted on a nearby fence then instead of flying off it just moved into the grass and gave us all good views – a wonderful, richly coloured bird. Then the Spotted Redshank was seen, behind it and next to a Swan. It immediately flew off and was lost to view until up it went with a flock of Lapwings. It could clearly be followed calling and flying above the Lapwings and showing the distinctive cigar shaped white patch on its back. To our delight it landed in a small pool right in front of us and a Common Redshank was kind enough to give everyone a ‘Spot the Difference’ opportunity.
By now it was getting rather dark, so we spent our last few minutes in the café or pub. A few people were more dedicated and watched 3 Common Seals and Redshank on the river by the Lifeboat Station. The buses left on time at 4:15pm and luckily both avoided any congestion from the England v South Africa game at Twickenham! A brilliant day’s birding with 65 species.
Many thanks, as usual to Huw and Andrew for driving.
by Rebecca Dunne
Species: Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Feral Pigeon, Gadwall, Gannet, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Knot, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Ruff, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.