Its been another good season for the Rye Meads Kingfishers, although at times they've really kept us guessing! At the Kingfisher Hub, a new male arrived and was quickly put in his place by the female, leading to three successful broods. Although they took a little while to get going, once the first brood hatched, there was a short crossover with the second - so short that they hatched a week before we were expecting!…

It's been relentlessly hot and dry over the last couple of weeks - I actually spent a week in Menorca to go somewhere a bit cooler! Water levels on the reserve have been pretty low and the total lack of rain isn't helping, and yet there's still been plenty around to keep us occupied while we're trying to find some shade. Kingfishers are of course the highlight of the reserve and we're flooded with hundreds of photos of…

The record high temperatures this month did send some of our wildlife (and staff!) hunting for shade and shelter but there has still been plenty to see. We’re also heading into the Summer Holidays, meaning we’ve got six weeks worth of young explorers joining the ranks for our sightings guides coming up!

Here we cover the last three weeks of your records from our sightings book, and contributions from our regular…

It’s been a packed month, so much so that we missed an end of month blog! Away from the species sightings, our work party have been busy painting and repairing the handrails and fences around the site, we’ve been preparing for the RSPB’s upcoming Big Wild Summer events, and we’ve had school groups visiting almost every weekday. It’s been amazing seeing so many enthusiastic kids taking part in the curriculum-based activities…

Strangely mixed weather on the reserve over the last few weeks, but summer is very much here now – between myself and our volunteers we could definitely have a good ‘Knobbliest Knees’ competition. Over at the Kingfisher Hide we finally have signs of incubating a second brood, after a lot of confusing behaviour! For plenty of variety, you don’t even need to reach the Visitor Centre, as our herb garden and Wildlife Garden…

In the last full week of May there’s been plenty happening! Our first Kingfisher brood of the year fledged on Monday with four youngsters finally leaving the nest. One was very reluctant but they’re now all away, and there’s signs of prep for the second brood at the Kingfisher Hub. At the Draper hide there may be signs of hatched young so its all go!

Here are the latest highlights in the next instalment…

Approaching May Half Term we’ve had some very warm weather, but as I write this it’s hammering down with rain! That combo over the last few weeks has brought out some serious greenery, and plenty of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies to go with it. Out of the window by my desk I’ve had a brilliant distraction with starlings making use of a nestbox above the door to the Visitor Centre – they could fledge any day…

The other side of Easter has seen a mixture of warm and still, and cool and windy - fortunately we've begun to see plenty of Year Firsts, including Reed Warblers and the unmistakable sounds of Cuckoos. We've also had a pair of very confident Kestrels mating around the nest boxes near the Kingfisher Hub and the car park - we have our fingers crossed for nesting after a couple of years of absence! Redshank have also been…

The Easter holidays has seen a buzz of activity at Rye Meads, and that’s not just from the early gathering bees! Families have been enjoying our Easter Egg-stravaganza activity trail, and pond dipping discoveries have included newts, water scorpions and more!

A very lucky pond dipper, catching a newt, a backswimmer, and a caddis fly larva!

But around the rest of the reserve, our migrant species are beginning to…

What a beast! Amazing great diving beetle from our pond dipping area today. #greatdivingbeetle Pond dipping running until 18 April £3 if you want to try your luck.

Last year we were delighted to see two active pairs, and despite the drama of losing a male from the hub pair we still successfully fledged 4 broods. So, we are keen to see what the 2022 breeding season will bring!

We aim to offer everyone a great visitor experience when visiting Rye Meads. In anticipation of another busy year, we are launching some new requirements…

Due to the strong winds and Amber warning issued for #StormEunice we are taking the decision to close the reserve tomorrow (18 February 2022).        We have made this decision with everyone’s safety in mind, stay safe!  

We’re delighted to be partnering with Netflix and Aardman on Robin Robin, a half-hour, stop-motion, festive story for the whole family, about a young robin trying to fit in. It’s debuting on Netflix on 24 November – get the date in your diary!

To celebrate, we’re inviting you to join exclusive Robin Robin-themed adventure trails right here at Rye Meads this Christmas season.

Over 30 RSPB nature…

National Grid will be undertaking maintenace on the pylon in our car park during July. This will mean the closure of part of the car park and so limited parking while work is undertaken. Closures:- 9-12 July & 26-27 July We will keep you updated about any changes.

Rye Meads Half Term Events

Sunday 30 May – Friday 4 June & Sunday 6 June

Self-led Migration Trail

Sunday 30 May – Friday 4 June & Sunday 6 June 9 am-4.00 pm

Join Sunny the swallow on migration from South Africa to Rye Meads, 6,000 miles!  Face the perils and see the sights as you cross the Sahara Desert, Europe and the English Channel and arrive ready to breed at Rye Meads!

Closed Saturday 5 June

Great start to 2021 Year List, Peregrine up on the pylon, male blackcap and redwing in the car park. What's the first bird on your 2021 year list, do let us know! Hoping yesterdays little weasel visits again to start off mammals as well, bonus.