Spring at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve sees plenty of activity with birds arriving, others stopping over on their way elsewhere and overwintering birds leaving.
Large numbers of Avocets have been visiting, around 50 in February and many can be seen now on the reserve sweeping their bills back and forth in the water as they search for food. Some are passing through on migration and others will stay to breed.
Spring visiting Chiffchaffs have started to arrive and can be heard singing on the nature reserve, again some will nest here and others are passing through. Mediterranean Gulls are beginning to arrive at the nature reserve, probably moving though on migration to other breeding grounds
A few Bar-tailed Godwit have been spotted recently, a migrant starting to arrive on their way north. Flocks sometimes stop off at the reserve in spring to roost or feed.
Goldcrest and Firecrest are usually winter migrants, so they must be stopping here en-route to more northerly/easterly climes such as Scandinavia and Russia.
Birds that have been on the reserve over winter have left including Lapwing, Golden Plover, Ruff and overwintering ducks.
These photos by photographer and birdwatcher James Tomlinson were taken on the reserve during March and he has observed and photographed the comings and goings. “A steady month after a lot of rain fall during January and February as we break out of winter heading into spring. Water levels are high but we have plenty of birds enjoying the sanctuary of the reserve.
“One highlight for me is our wintering Spotted Redshank (its fourth year now) that will depart very soon for the Siberian region to breed. Also highlights have been the Green Winged Teal and male Garganey that briefly passed through. Sandwich Terns are starting to come in to Flat Beach ready for the breeding season and Black- headed Gulls are making space on the islands for the busy season ahead. Also the Marsh Harriers are displaying, ready to pair up for breeding.”
Redshank are a regular breeding resident so they are here all year-round, with additional birds overwintering.
Sandwich Terns are arriving now; most years they establish a breeding colony on the nature reserve.
The Wheatear is a passage migrant that stops here briefly on their way north.
The Garganey is a handsome passage migrant duck, en route from its wintering grounds in Africa, and earlier this month a Red-breasted Merganser, a large diving duck, passed through.
Image Credits: James Tomlinson .