robinm
Registered User
The main bird watching area is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve which has a variety of habitats, but a large part of the sight is old gravel workings. In winter it good for bittern, smew and wildfowl. The evening roost of bittern can often produce 5 birds, and a number of little egret also roost there. A viewing point gives good views of these roosts. In summer little tern and wheatear (amongst many others) breed on the reserve. Numbers of waders can be seem along the shore and a sea watch can be fruitful.
It is possible to walk around the entire reserve in a large circular walk (about 5 miles) to take in all 4 hides and other good viewpoints. This is not too strenuous, although can be muddy in winter.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve has a web site home.clara.net/yates/ which gives a lot of info about the reserve (including sightings) and includes some useful maps showing paths around the reserve.
The nearby Northpoint Beach (on the Camber Road) is also worth a visit in winter - park on the road. The lake is a water sports venue so best to go early. The lake is good for wildfowl and can produce good numbers of smew, while the fields opposite are often good for lapwing, golden plover, thrush family and the occasional rarity (e.g. passage dotterel in autumn).
Camber Castle is on the reserve and is worth a visit, although it is only open in the summer.
After a day's birdwatching visit Rye town which is very picturesque particularly the old church with its striking clock and the Ypres Castle. There are also plenty of places to eat from a good chippie to the (for my wallet) incredibly expensive Mermaid Hotel.
I have put a day list for 22/2/2003 on the "My Birding Day" forum.
Robin
It is possible to walk around the entire reserve in a large circular walk (about 5 miles) to take in all 4 hides and other good viewpoints. This is not too strenuous, although can be muddy in winter.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve has a web site home.clara.net/yates/ which gives a lot of info about the reserve (including sightings) and includes some useful maps showing paths around the reserve.
The nearby Northpoint Beach (on the Camber Road) is also worth a visit in winter - park on the road. The lake is a water sports venue so best to go early. The lake is good for wildfowl and can produce good numbers of smew, while the fields opposite are often good for lapwing, golden plover, thrush family and the occasional rarity (e.g. passage dotterel in autumn).
Camber Castle is on the reserve and is worth a visit, although it is only open in the summer.
After a day's birdwatching visit Rye town which is very picturesque particularly the old church with its striking clock and the Ypres Castle. There are also plenty of places to eat from a good chippie to the (for my wallet) incredibly expensive Mermaid Hotel.
I have put a day list for 22/2/2003 on the "My Birding Day" forum.
Robin
