Posted: Monday 12th January 2015 by ASpecialPlaceEachWeek
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (Image: Barry Yates)
Rye Harbour is a large coastal reserve with a mosaic of habitats to explore: shingle, saltmarsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reedbeds and farmland.
Rye Harbour is one of the most important conservation sites on the Sussex coast
The reserve contains a network of footpaths and five easy-access bird-watching hides that enable visitors to discover the wildlife of this internationally important wetland.
It is usually the weather that has the greatest influence in what you will see around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in the winter. If the weather has been cold in December many birds will be forced south, so look for flocks of Brent geese and many ducks, especially wigeon, shoveler, teal and perhaps pintail. A rare one to look out for is the smew.
At Castle Water, especially near the viewpoint, there may be wintering stonechats and chiffchaff. Remember to listen and look out for cetti’s warbler, water rail and bearded tit in the reeds. Dusk is the best time to look for little egrets and bittern.
