RSPB Rye Meads in Hertfordshire is a site that is relatively easy for me to visit by public transport: bus to Billericay, train to London Liverpool Street followed by another train to Rye House and then a short walk to the reserve entrance.
Rye Meads is a 58.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) located in Rye House near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire. It is one of series of wetlands and reservoirs situated along the River Lea to the north east of London. It is part of the Lea Valley RAMSAR site (a group of internationally important wetland sites) and a Special Protection Area (SPA).
Rye Meads is divided into several areas. North of Rye Road is the Rye Meads nature reserve: the western half of this nature reserve, next to the River Lea in the Lee Valley Regional Park, is managed by the RSPB and the eastern half is managed by the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. It also includes a meadow and lagoons owned by Thames Water south of Rye Road which is not open to the public.
I visited the RSPB Rye Meads reserve which includes a visitor centre, trails and a number of hides. The seasonal flooding of a large ancient flood meadow combined with the rich soils has resulted in a mosaic of habitats, consisting of reedbeds, marshy grasslands and fen vegetation plus a number of small lakes and a scrape.
The main target species of my visit today was seeing and photographing a pair of Kingfishers. However, I did visit with some trepidation given the reports of the “Kingfisher Hub” (the dedicated viewing hide) being very busy and the totally unacceptable behaviour of some people, mainly photographers.
As it turned out, RSPB volunteers managed access to the “Kingfisher Hub” and monitored behaviour inside it very well.
Whilst I had excellent views of a single Kingfisher, I did not see the pair or any courtship or mating behaviour as has been seen in recent days.
Other than seeing and photographing a Kingfisher, my main highlight was seeing my first Grey Wagtail of the year, taking my UK year list to 132 species.
During the short walk down to RSPB Rye Meads from Rye House station, I heard 2 singing male Chiffchaffs and a single Cetti’s Warbler. Whilst waiting for my return train, I saw a Red Kite drifting over the station.
I had a very enjoyable visit to RSPB Rye Meads with the following highlights (heard only records in italics): Kingfisher (1), Gadwall (at least 20), Tufted Duck (at least 20), Shoveler (at least 20), Teal (at least 20), Mallard (5), Common Pochard (male), Lapwing (3), Grey Heron (1), Little Grebe (1), Coot (at least 50), Moorhen (at least 10), Canada Goose (12), Black-headed Gull (at least 200), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Red Kite (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Kestrel (1), Chiffchaff (4 singing males seen plus 2 others heard), Blackcap (1 singing male briefly heard), Cetti’s Warbler (5 singing males heard), Grey Wagtail (1), Reed Bunting (female)
Here
are some photos from my visit ….
Photo: Kingfisher
Photo: Kingfisher
Love nature .... act now
