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.
An Abellio Greater Anglia ticket sale which offered me a day return from Billericay to Rye House for a mere £10 prompted another visit today, following my last on 6th February 2023.
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.
As I walked down to the reserve
from Rye House railway station, I heard a singing male Chiffchaff which
proved to be just the start of my encounter with this species.
The main focus of my visit was to
again see and photograph Kingfishers so I spent very little time at the
other hides around the reserve.
After what must have been at
least a 2 hour wait, I saw a single male Kingfisher from
the Kingfisher Hub. The bird flew in, perched up for a couple of minutes,
disappeared into the nest bank and then re-emerged to promptly fly away. At
least on this occasion, I was able to get a few photos.
Photo: male Kingfisher
During my walk around the reserve, Chiffchaffs were particularly conspicuous and vocal. I saw 2 singing males seen, heard 4 other singing males, heard 2 other calling bird and aw another silent and unsexed bird.
Other notable records during my visit across the included the following: Teal (c.100), Shoveler (c.50), Tufted Duck (c.20), Common Pochard (c.10), Mallard (c.10), Mute Swan (4), Egyptian Goose (2), Canada Goose (c.10), Coot (c.20), Moorhen (c.10), Grey Heron (1), Lapwing (c.10), Black-headed Gull (c.100), Herring Gull (1)
#DefendNature .... Please help save and enhance our laws that protect our environment and wildlife
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
No comments:
Post a Comment
If you feel like commenting on my blog, you can contact me by completing the comment form below. I will respond to all comments and enquiries and constructive criticism will always be welcomed.