The Birdwatching Group paid a thoroughly enjoyable return visit to RSPB Rye Meads on Thursday 9th April.
We were fortunate with the weather which was dry and mainly sunny for our visit. The site is well organised with viewing points and hides in varied habitats throughout. We were lucky enough to see and hear a good variety of birds, with some tantalising glimpses of various "little brown birds" in the trees, and reed beds. We spotted chiffchaff, blackcaps, wrens, and a variety of tits. Although we heard the Cettis warbler frequently, we did not see it! Lots of signs of nesting activity included a busy wren collecting feathers and moss, and a coot struggling with some quite large sticks and weeds.
Waterbirds on the lagoons included the red crested pochard, (some of us may remember seeing last year) tufted ducks, gadwall, shovelers etc. Sian spotted a green sandpiper, at the Draper hide and (with help from an RSPB volunteer) Tuff and I were excited to see a fantastically camouflaged Jack Snipe at the Gadwall hide.
After quite a long wait in the Kingfisher hide, our patience was rewarded when we saw and were able to photograph both the male and female kingfishers. Truly beautiful little birds, although so quick and elusive. They have apparently been mating and are nesting in their burrow in the bank and we were lucky to see them pose on branches in full sight. Definitely a highlight! Lets hope they go on to raise their brood successfully - I will keep an eye on the RSPB Rye Meads face book page for updates.
Trees and plants are now bursting into leaf and flower. Insects are generally becoming more active, and it was good to see the first Orange Tip, Brimstone and (probably overwintered) Peacock butterflies. Eagle eyed Pat took a lovely picture of a pretty snail on a reed (possibly a brown lipped snail?).. wild life everywhere!
We had a thoroughly enjoyable visit, ending with lunch at the Rye House PH nearby.
Many thanks to everyone for their contributions today - sightings list :
Magpie
Wood Pigeon
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Chiffchaff
Robin
Canada Geese
Black Headed Gull
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Wren
Blackcap
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Carrion Crow
Kestrel
Red Kite (as we were leaving)
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Mute Swan
Shovelers
Tufted Ducks
Gadwall
Red Crested Pochard
Common Pochard
Little Grebe
Green Sandpiper
Jack Snipe
Kingfishers
A small gallery of images from our visit is shown below. (Photos provided by Ian and Pat).
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