Rye Bay Bird Safari
19th February 2008, TuesdayThe Rye Bay area is well known for providing some of the best winter birdwatching in southeast England, a reputation fulfilled by a very successful ‘Rye Bay Bird Safari’ on Sunday during which 80 species were recorded. Our first stop was a walk along the Royal Military Canal at Pett to the hide at Carter’s Flood where a good selection of wildfowl was present including Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Wigeon and Tufted Duck. A Little Egret was seen perched in a tree and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing at Toot Rock – two species that have increased dramatically in Sussex in recent years. The seawall at Pett Pools provided good views of three Red-throated Divers close inshore and some more distant Great Crested Grebes while out on the marsh a good selection of geese included ca. 50 White-fronts and a single Barnacle and Dark-bellied Brent. Two Marsh Harriers put on a fine display and were joined by a third bird before they headed out to sea in the direction of Dungeness.
Our attempts to see the Shore Lark at Rye Harbour were curtailed by two dogs that frustratingly flushed all the Sky Larks towards Camber seconds before we arrived at the red-roofed hut. With time pressing on we headed to Castle Water where the escaped Hawaiian Goose flew past with two Canadas and a brief large raptor was probably a Hen Harrier and then to Scotney Pit where two Whooper Swans were present with the Mutes in the fields at the western end. Geese were again much in evidence including 125 White-fronts and 55 Barnacles – the latter possibly wild birds given the influx of this species into Sussex in the last few days. After some searching we located a Long-tailed Duck though as is typical with this species it rarely surfaced for more than a few seconds. A herd of 30 Bewick’s Swans at Cockle Bridge completed the set of swans for the day while the RSPB Reserve at Dungeness provided more good birds - the best being 11 Smew (including three superb adult males), four Goosanders (one adult male), a pair of Goldeneye, another Marsh Harrier and two very obliging Slavonian Grebes. Less welcome was the news that the Shore Lark had reappeared five minutes after we’d left!
A stop for Tree Sparrows near Hawthorn Corner drew a blank though a large flock of Golden Plover was present nearby and a Weasel showed brilliantly for several minutes. At this point the party split with half the group returning to Rye Harbour and the other half (who’d previously seen the Shore Lark) opting to explore the area around the Woolpack Inn where a Hen Harrier and a Barn Owl were seen. Back at Rye we were greeted with the unwanted news that the Shore Lark had been showing five minutes ago but that there was no sign of it now. With so many people around there seemed little prospect of it returning but after a long wait it suddenly materialised from nowhere giving superb views with the afternoon sun behind us. A flock of Corn Buntings flew over to roost on our way back to the car park.
photo today by John Willsher
With our luck in, we opted for a dusk visit to the ‘Bittern Watchpoint’ at Castle Water. Although the hoped for Bittern did not show, we were treated to a stunning sunset made all the more memorable by a stream of Little Egrets returning to their roost, a hunting Barn Owl and the calls of Water Rails, Cetti’s Warblers and Bearded Tits from the reedbeds.
If anyone is interested in coming on one of my guided wildlife walks please visit www.sussexwildlifewalks.com for more details.
Paul James
