Rye Harbour with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

 

Saturday 25^th October 2025

Rye Harbour NNR

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group                                                                                                        

11 members present

Trip Report

Today’s weather was not as challenging as the forecasters had predicted.  There were no strong winds, and with plenty of sunshine, it was surprisingly mild. 

As always, we started at the car park by the Martello Tower.  We took the usual route, passing the Discovery Centre and  Gooders Hide before turning west at the Pillbox.  After a very brief seawatch off the Quarry area, we headed for the Narrow Pool and then the Salt Pool before returning to the car park.  After lunch, seven of us walked down Harbour Road to the Reedbed viewpoint to look for raptors.

Our species count was most commendable and included something for everyone, with a nice mix of migrant, visiting, and resident birds.

Route Map

 

Most birders associate Rye Harbour with waders, and we found them in abundance today.

• This concentration of golden plovers dominated the view as we headed into the reserve, past the Visitor Centre and Gooders Hide.

Courtesy of Chris Harries

• They looked even better when they were flying!

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

 

• Not to be outdone, these oystercatchers also caught the eye.

Courtesy of Chris Harries

• There was also a strong presence of wigeon on the ground and in the water, but once again, it was the flight views that showcased their magnificent features.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• However, it was this lovely grey plover that put itself up as an early contender for bird of the day.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• This migrant wheatear must surely be about to depart for its wintering grounds in Africa?

Courtesy of Chris Harries

• One of the most difficult waders to find here is sanderling but today we were lucky.  Three were seen, initially on the eastern side of the River Rother, on Camber Sands, before dog walkers and beachcombers disturbed them.   They then flew west, crossing the river onto the reserve before finally settling on an island with the golden plover and the dunlin.  Phil thankfully caught them on camera—look carefully, and you will see them in the foreground of the image below.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Today could have been named “Kingfisher Day” as we had at least seven sightings of probably five different birds.  Here are just a few of the images we recorded.

On the pier by the Pillbox.

• 
  

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• Flying.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

 

• On a post.

Courtesy of Chris Harries

 

We were hopeful of seeing a spoonbill as one had been seen here regularly over the last few weeks. 

• After we mistook a distant little egret for a spoonbill, we finally got our reward when John spotted one flying.  Lo and behold, it then flew right overhead, giving spectacular views as it swept by imperiously.

Courtesy of Andrew Burns

• Incredibly, it then landed right beside the very egret we thought was a spoonbill!

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

John was keen to locate the spotted redshank that had been seen recently in the channels of the Salt Pool.  His wishes were rewarded when Joy drew his attention to two redshanks in the channel on the opposite banks, one of which was the spotted redshank. 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Courtesy of Chris Harries

After a well-earned lunch back at the car park, seven of us decided to continue birding into the late afternoon and walked down Harbour Road to the Reedbed viewpoint looking for raptors and other birds of interest.

• It didn’t take long to find our first marsh harrier, after which they showed at regular intervals.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We even managed to add kestrel and buzzard to our raptor list.
• Of course, there were kingfishers here as well, with at least two present.
• After a morning session without seeing any greylag geese, it was refreshing to see scores of them flying around here.

 

Thanks, John, for a great trip that once again demonstrates why Rye Harbour is so popular with our group. 

As for the bird of the day, take your pick!  I’m sure John would choose the spotted redshank.  Others would say it was the spoonbill or the kingfishers.  The stunning grey plover made the early running, and the wheatear was impressive.  As for me, it had to be the sanderlings, because of their increasing scarcity.

Thanks to our photographers today—Andrew, Chris, and Phil.  As always, their skills were invaluable in getting such good images.

 

 

Bob Hastings

29^th October 2025

 

 

 

Species List
Name:	Count		Name:	Count
Black-headed Gull	1		Long-tailed Tit	34
Blackbird	2		Magpie	35
Blue Tit	3		Mallard	36
Buzzard	4		Marsh Harrier	37
Canada Goose	5		Meadow Pipit	38
Carrion Crow	6		Moorhen	39
Cetti's Warbler	7		Mute Swan	40
Chiffchaff	8		Oystercatcher	41
Collared Dove	9		Pheasant	42
Coot	10		Pied Wagtail	43
Cormorant	11		Pintail	44
Curlew	12		Redshank	45
Dunlin	13		Reed Bunting	46
Dunnock	14		Ringed Plover	47
Egyptian Goose	15		Robin	48
Golden Plover	16		Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	49
Goldfinch	17		Sanderling	50
Great Black-backed Gull	18		Shoveler	51
Great Crested Grebe	19		Skylark	52
Great Spotted Woodpecker	20		Snipe	53
Great Tit	21		Sparrowhawk	54
Grey Heron	22		Spoonbill	55
Grey Plover	23		Spotted Redshank	56
Greylag Goose	24		Starling	57
Herring Gull	25		Stock Dove	58
House Sparrow	26		Stonechat	59
Jackdaw	27		Swallow	60
Kestrel	28		Teal	61
Kingfisher	29		Water Rail	62
Lapwing	30		Wheatear	63
Linnet	31		Wigeon	64
Little Egret	32		Woodpigeon	65
Little Grebe	33		Wren	66
Species count = 66

 

 Courtesy of Chris Harries

 

Courtesy of Chris Harries

2025 species count = 194

194  Sanderling