4th April 2019 - Rye Harbour NR

David and I, again teamed up and headed off to Rye Harbour late afternoon for a second attempt at connecting with Bittern and Bearded Tit. We started however at the John Gooders Hide and had a scope around for any waders. The flat beach was quite productive with small numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover. Around the edges we found singles of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Turnstone. There was also numerous Avocets showing well from the hide which were fantastic to watch whilst a little further out Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls were plentiful making a racket. However, what was most surprising is that we picked up the 3 Twite, feeding just to the south of the hide.

After a good grilling of the flat beach, we moved too the Castle Water viewpoint and crossed our fingers that the Bittern would show. Upon arrival, a Willow Warbler was singing in the bushes behind the platform and we also heard a distant Sedge Warbler. Around 40 hirundines passed through most of which Sand Martin but there was also a few Swallows. Shortly after around 18:00pm, much to our relief the Bittern exploded out of a nearby reed bed and had a short flight only to drop back down into another reed bed. My first Bittern in Sussex for a very long time! Again like our last visit we heard Bearded Tit but again they didn't want to show themselves. Also from the Castle Water viewpoint was a Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine and a couple of Cetti's Warblers.

Rye Harbour NR, East Sussex