Highlights today were, on the Beach Reserve, seven smew (two drakes) at Ternery Pool and the spotted redshank on the Quarry, and 17 goldeneye (four drakes) on Long Pit. In addition, a visit to the viewpoint at Castle Water at Dusk found two marsh harrier, a barn owl, 17 fieldfare and a bittern, while on the way back a woodcock was flushed from long grass near the end of the viewpoint walkway.
Drake Smew
Yesterday I noticed some curious icicles on an ash sapling on the footpath near Rye Harbour church. On closer inspection there were several examples of an icicle forming where sap was oozing from a fresh cut - by secateurs?
For the next few months there will be construction activity along the river south of Rye Harbour. The Environment Agency will be replacing the western training wall to ensure the long term future of the Harbour of Rye. This will mean many large construction vehicles including 3 large piling machines. This will obviously create a considerable amount of noise, but we will have to live with it and we hope it does not detract too much from your enjoyment of the nature reserve. My suggestion would be to visit on Sundays and/or areas away from the river.
A newsletter has been produced about the project click here for February 2012