19/01/2014. Rye Harbour. Water Rails, Long-tailed Ducks and Barn Owls

Sunday 19th January 2014
Rye Harbour NR
East Grinstead RSPB Local Group  (13)

Sue came along to this along with Chris and Anne. With very little wind and glorious sunny weather all day we had all the ingredients for a really good days birding and so it turned out.  

Many birds were present on the reserve and our enjoyment was twofold.  On the one hand the range of species present was pleasing and on the other the sheer number of some of the species was stunning.  There were many highlights, some of the main ones are listed below:-

• The rarest species seen was probably the Long-tailed Duck with a pair swimming in the water on the Long Pit some 50 metres away.  They stayed above water for a short time before diving for a much longer time.  The views were excellent.

• There were huge numbers of Knot, Golden Plover and Lapwing and whether gathering together on the ground or flying overhead they presented a brilliant spectacle for all, including the non birders.

Flocks of Golden Plover
Library picture only

 It resembled the murmuration of Starlings often seen on TV

• At one point we saw at least ten Snipe among the waders from the Ternery Hide.  At a distance of 50 metres or so they presented a superb sight in the fabulous lighting conditions.

• Soon after we arrived I saw my first Sparrowhawk of 2014.  It flew past us quite low and close enough to enable us to enjoy it's lovely flight pattern for a short time.

• By far the most spectacular events happened when the rest of the group relocated to Pett Level, a few miles away, while we remained to take in the Bittern viewing area and Castle Hide before finishing off with fish and chips at  Kettle o' Fish, our favourite place in the town of Rye.  We saw a Slavonian Grebe gliding tantalisingly around the bend in the water before reappearing and then repeating the exercise a few times.  A nearby Cetti's Warbler called loudly but, typically, we were not able to spot it.  Sue remained at the viewing point while Chris, Anne and I made the long trek through the flooded fields to the Castle Hide.

Barn Owl
Library picture only

•  On the way we saw a good number of species but he overwhelming memory was the sight of the Barn Owl as it hunted over it's territory to our left.  At the hide we saw the Owl perched on a post and then as it flew off again to hunt along the field.  We had to leave and so missed the Marsh Harriers as they came in to roost.  Back at the viewing area Sue had been joined by Chris, one of the wardens, who was doing a WebsCount and they had seen the Barn Owl like us but they had the added bonus of seeing 3 Marsh Harriers as well as a silhouette view of the Cetti's Warbler.  How lucky was that.  We heard at least 2 Cetti's calling but could not see them but I did manage to see 2 Water Rails in the space of 5 minutes as they flew the short distance across the water from one side to their roost on the other side.

Water Rail
Library picture only

 What a finish!

Another smashing day on the south coast with lots of birds good company and fish and chips to finish with before heading home 

Today's species count = 51

Today's species list:
Barn Owl
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Brent Goose
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Cetti's Warbler
Chaffinch
Coot   (10)
Cormorant
Curlew
Dunlin
Gadwall
Golden Plover
Goldeneye
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Grey Heron   (20)
Grey Plover
Greylag Goose
Herring Gull
Kestrel
Knot
Lapwing
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Long-tailed Duck   (30)
Magpie
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pochard
Redshank
Ringed Plover
Robin
Ruff
Sanderling
Shelduck   (40)
Shoveler
Slavonian Grebe
Snipe
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Teal
Tufted Duck
Turnstone
Water Rail
Wigeon   (50)
Woodpigeon


Additions to UK 2014 Bird List:
 Barn Owl   (119)
 Sparrowhawk    (120)
 Sanderling   (121)
 Ruff     (122)