Guide in a hide is a firm favourite of the visitors to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and July’s Sunday 28 event was very popular, Gooders Hide and its environs welcoming over one hundred and twenty visitors. This event is organised by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and they reported that thirty different birds were spotted and recorded.
Linda Wren, who masterminds these events, explains that a second event was organised at a different location on the same day to tie-in with Guide in a hide: “Meanwhile, at Scots Float sluice other members of the friends were supporting VolkerStevin as the company kindly opened up its doors to show off the new sea-defence track to the Union Channel. Visitors were treated to refreshments while they were shown an interesting video about this important sea-defence work along a huge stretch of the river. Visitors commented, ‘Very worthwhile and enjoyable visit thanks – now much better informed about what’s going on there!’ and ‘Can’t wait to see it again when finished, and again when as it matures’, and ‘It was great to be able to ask the staff questions…. I felt everyone enjoyed it!’
“The friends’ team of guides took visitors to and fro from Scots Float to the Union Channel where visitors had wonderful views of the common sandpiper, little egret, redshank and kingfisher, and enjoyed many swallows and sand martins flying low over the water to the beautiful sounds of a yellowhammer.
“The friends really enjoyed being part of this bird-watching partnership and would like to say a huge thanks to Michelle Millar, customer experience coordinator at the site, and VolkerStevin for their hospitality and enthusiasm in making it such a fun and interesting day for all.”
Michelle summed up the event: “It was wonderful to be able to work in conjunction with Linda and the team at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Together with them and Bob Greenhalf who runs the monthly bird watching here at VolkerStevin, we had so much knowledge and experience all in one room! A great day was enjoyed by all and we had a wide range of ages all learning and enjoying a very worthwhile activity. We hope to do another in the winter where a wider spectrum of species may be found. A sincere thank you to all who joined in and made this possible.”
Image Credits: Linda Wren , Kt bruce , Rye Harbour Nature Reserve .