Rye Harbour, East Sussex - 15th September 2024

9/16/2024

A coach trip on a glorious mid September day to The Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve with the SE Herts Group. Just as our leader was organising people into groups a shout went up of "Osprey"! He was dutifully ignored as everyone rushed to catch a glimpse of the bird circling over the river mouth before making an abortive dive. Order was restored before people made their way round the reserve. We had views of Redshank and Greenshank and this young Great Egret feeding closer in.

A small flock of Linnets were feeding and I managed to grab a shot of one on the fence wires, though not helped by the heat haze.

Two Wheatear were spotted but stayed just the wrong side of the wire fence making focus very tricky!

Ringed Plover, Curlew and Kingfisher were added before moving to the central hides where a female Pintail was a good surprise. The star bird there though was a Common Sandpiper. It showed really well in the red vegetation.

On to The Crittall hide next and this is the view you get across the pit.

Fairly quiet there but good fun watching a large group of Cormorants coming and going.

Wigeon numbers were building and good to catch this one flying in.

I don't think I have seen as many Little Grebes in one place before, so it was good to catch this family group.

A few more birds were added on the way back including a female Pintail and a lone Brent Goose. Whilst some broke off early to sample the delights of the cafe I spent some time at the river mouth where Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and this Oystercatcher were present.

Away from the birds, it was great to photograph the Grey Seals in the river mouth.

You may remember I mentioned an Osprey at the start and all groups got to see it a few times with at least one time where it came a bit closer. Heat haze was an issue with photography but here are some record shots from the day.