P
peter hayes
Guest
A LOVELY DAY AT RYE MEADS
Location: Rye Meads RSPB reserve Hertfordshire.
Date: 10.5.3
Weather: sunny am overcast pm. Dry
Aim: day out in the fresh air and if possible digiscope a Kingfisher.
Fellow Mod Kevin met me off the train from Liverpool Street. It had stopped at various tiny stations on its way through north London, including the oddly named Turkey Street.
It is only a two minute drive from Rye House station to the reserve, which has been transformed in the past few months and now has a new visitor centre.
Stopping only for Kevin to buy a few more hat badges, we showed our RSPB membership cards and strolled on to the reserve. A male Chaffinch flew by. The sun shone. Two Swallows flitted about. From the first hide we saw many Tufted Ducks, which was to prove a theme of the day. We also noticed a couple of Gadwalls, plus Coot, Mute Swan, Shoveler and a Little Grebe with its high-pitched whinnying call.
We constantly heard a Cuckoo, but could not see one anywhere. On leaving the hide, however, we clearly saw the culprit in a tree straight ahead. We both got him in the sights of our EL’s, and felt we had really achieved something.
As we meandered along Kevin spotted a Reed Bunting, and we also saw various House Martins swooping around the place. It was an extremely pleasant day. I felt it necessary to wear my Andy Bright camouflage jacket to blend in with Kevin’s attire. BF members will know that Kevin is always dressed head to toe in cam gear. Put him in a jungle and he would seem invisible. Even his lens cover has cam tape round it, for heavens sake!
Suddenly, we heard a Cuckoo again, and as we looked across the water towards the industrial estate we saw him again, this time showing brilliantly. We had long, lingering looks through our scopes and could clearly make out the yellow ring around his eyes and the barred plumage. In fact the rings were so clearly marked, he looked like he’d just broken out of a bird penitentiary!
Incidentally, before I left this morning, my wife informed me that because cuckoos eat caterpillars which have poisonous hairs, they have long eyelashes to protect their eyes from the poison whilst the caterpillar wriggles about in their beaks. Not only that, Cuckoos have special stomach linings that absorb the poison – and renew themselves when full! Can someone advise – has she finally gone mad?
To continue: a Robin flew by, plus many Mallard and Canada Geese. We then entered the Kingfisher hide. We had been told there was a breeding pair, so we settled down for a long wait. We chatted to a chap called Graham, who had driven all the way to Rye Meads from Walsall with his wife (why DO we get so many birders from Walsall?!!). Kevin promptly signed him up for BF.
Like us, Graham had come in the hope of digiscoping a Kingfisher. He’d had a glimpse hours previously, but since then – nothing. Time passed, enlivened by a superb lunch prepared by my beloved: malt granary rolls, lightly spread with Benecol, chicken breast, avocado, little gem lettuce with a twist of lemon, a dash of plain yoghurt and a sprinkling of black pepper. They were accompanied by almonds, and everything was washed down by Miles tea, followed by a banana and an apple. Regular readers will be distraught to learn that I cannot find a new supplier of Geo bars, so I had to make do with a Tracker bar instead.
Suddenly a little darling flew on to a piece of wood sticking out of the water in the middle of the pond right in front of us. The hide went silent as we all admired a ravishing beauty of a Kingfisher, with his blue and orange colours really vivid, standing out against the grey background (the sun had long gone). We had a tremendous few minutes admiring our beauty, and I even managed to get my first ever useable shot of a bird, which I will post if ever I get to grips with Photoshop 7.
On the electricity pylon ahead of us we see could a nesting box for Kestrels, and every now and then a tail feather would be visible, but alas no more than that. We left at an opportune moment; 10 Brownies arrived very excitedly raising the noise levels considerably!
The last two water hides saw an inordinate amount of Tufted Ducks, including one who’d obviously had a bad hair day and looked like he needed a good wash and brush up. Common terns were nesting in the floating pontoons. We also saw Canada Geese chicks swimming along in formation with their parents, a Coot on a floating nest, Carrion Crow, more House Martins, three Greenfinch, Magpies, a Collared Dove and a lovely Heron. Some people seem to find Herons boring, I don’t. I find them endlessly fascinating, especially their ungainly flight.
So we had another lovely day out, and thanks to Kevin for his company, and for imparting his knowledge of birds and field craft.
Peter
A few details of where we went in case anyone wants to take a look for themselves:
From the RSPB website:
Rye Meads, Hertfordshire
This delightful reserve added a brand new visitor centre in October 2002, and doubled in size when the RSPB site linked up with the herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve next door. The whole area is full of interest for all the family; the 100 acre (40.5 ha) reserve, historic Rye House Gatehouse and a public house nearby. The reserve is idyllically situated by the River Lee (mooring facilities are available by the quayside) and includes areas of scrape, reedbed, open water, meadow and woodland. In summer, a colony of common terns nests on specially-made rafts and kingfishers breed in artificial sandbanks. During the winter, shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks can be seen on the open water and green sandpipers often frequent the scrapes. There is a programme of events throughout the year for everyone from beginners to experienced birders.
Opening times Daily 10 am to 5 pm (or dusk).
The place to see kingfishers, common terns in spring and summer and wildfowl in winter.
How to get here
3 miles/4.8 km from A10 and 7 miles/11.2 km north of M25 (J25) in Hoddesdon. Follow signs for Rye Meads (duck symbol).
By bus
Stop (700 yards/640 m).
By train
Rye House (400 yards/366 m).
By bicycle
View the National Cycle Network map of Rye Meads
Birds
· Common tern
· Kingfisher
· Shoveler
· Gadwall
· Tufted duck
A large, ancient flood meadow which attracts vast numbers of a wide variety of birds and supports many other forms of wildlife. It is jointly managed by the Trust and the RSPB. whose site includes marshes and lagoons adjacent to the River Lea. The seasonal flooding of the meadow combined with the rich soils and management of the site have resulted in a mosaic of habitats. These habitats consist of reedbeds, marshy grasslands and tall fen vegetation. In and around the meadow there are ditches, streams and ponds which provide a home to many invertebrates, as well as frogs, toads, newts and grass snakes. The reedbeds and tall fen vegetation support nesting sedge and reed warblers as well as numerous cuckoos. Small mammals such as water shrew and harvest mice are abundant. In winter, water rail and bittern may be seen, as can roosting reed buntings and yellowhammers. The meadows attract waders and ducks when flooded - snipe, golden plover and teal. In summer, the breeding birdlife includes several species of duck, water rail, common tern, lapwing, little ringed plover and redshank. Tits and both whitethroats can be seen, and occasionally grasshopper warblers and yellow wagtail. Meadowsweet and meadow-rue provide the pastel-coloured surroundings. In autumn, passage can be spectacular with both county and national rarities occurring. Rye Meads is a good place to see snipe, teal and green sandpipers at this time of year. Water voles, water shrews and harvest mice are abundant, and otters have returned to breed after a gap of many years. Rye Meads is part of a larger Site of Special Scientific Interest and has recently been designated a Special Protection Area for Birds. There is a visitor centre, signposted trails and excellent hide facilities. The reserve specialises in environmental education and has very good facilities for schools.
The management regime includes grazing and hay-making and is designed to encourage diversity of species.
Location: Rye Meads RSPB reserve Hertfordshire.
Date: 10.5.3
Weather: sunny am overcast pm. Dry
Aim: day out in the fresh air and if possible digiscope a Kingfisher.
Fellow Mod Kevin met me off the train from Liverpool Street. It had stopped at various tiny stations on its way through north London, including the oddly named Turkey Street.
It is only a two minute drive from Rye House station to the reserve, which has been transformed in the past few months and now has a new visitor centre.
Stopping only for Kevin to buy a few more hat badges, we showed our RSPB membership cards and strolled on to the reserve. A male Chaffinch flew by. The sun shone. Two Swallows flitted about. From the first hide we saw many Tufted Ducks, which was to prove a theme of the day. We also noticed a couple of Gadwalls, plus Coot, Mute Swan, Shoveler and a Little Grebe with its high-pitched whinnying call.
We constantly heard a Cuckoo, but could not see one anywhere. On leaving the hide, however, we clearly saw the culprit in a tree straight ahead. We both got him in the sights of our EL’s, and felt we had really achieved something.
As we meandered along Kevin spotted a Reed Bunting, and we also saw various House Martins swooping around the place. It was an extremely pleasant day. I felt it necessary to wear my Andy Bright camouflage jacket to blend in with Kevin’s attire. BF members will know that Kevin is always dressed head to toe in cam gear. Put him in a jungle and he would seem invisible. Even his lens cover has cam tape round it, for heavens sake!
Suddenly, we heard a Cuckoo again, and as we looked across the water towards the industrial estate we saw him again, this time showing brilliantly. We had long, lingering looks through our scopes and could clearly make out the yellow ring around his eyes and the barred plumage. In fact the rings were so clearly marked, he looked like he’d just broken out of a bird penitentiary!
Incidentally, before I left this morning, my wife informed me that because cuckoos eat caterpillars which have poisonous hairs, they have long eyelashes to protect their eyes from the poison whilst the caterpillar wriggles about in their beaks. Not only that, Cuckoos have special stomach linings that absorb the poison – and renew themselves when full! Can someone advise – has she finally gone mad?
To continue: a Robin flew by, plus many Mallard and Canada Geese. We then entered the Kingfisher hide. We had been told there was a breeding pair, so we settled down for a long wait. We chatted to a chap called Graham, who had driven all the way to Rye Meads from Walsall with his wife (why DO we get so many birders from Walsall?!!). Kevin promptly signed him up for BF.
Like us, Graham had come in the hope of digiscoping a Kingfisher. He’d had a glimpse hours previously, but since then – nothing. Time passed, enlivened by a superb lunch prepared by my beloved: malt granary rolls, lightly spread with Benecol, chicken breast, avocado, little gem lettuce with a twist of lemon, a dash of plain yoghurt and a sprinkling of black pepper. They were accompanied by almonds, and everything was washed down by Miles tea, followed by a banana and an apple. Regular readers will be distraught to learn that I cannot find a new supplier of Geo bars, so I had to make do with a Tracker bar instead.
Suddenly a little darling flew on to a piece of wood sticking out of the water in the middle of the pond right in front of us. The hide went silent as we all admired a ravishing beauty of a Kingfisher, with his blue and orange colours really vivid, standing out against the grey background (the sun had long gone). We had a tremendous few minutes admiring our beauty, and I even managed to get my first ever useable shot of a bird, which I will post if ever I get to grips with Photoshop 7.
On the electricity pylon ahead of us we see could a nesting box for Kestrels, and every now and then a tail feather would be visible, but alas no more than that. We left at an opportune moment; 10 Brownies arrived very excitedly raising the noise levels considerably!
The last two water hides saw an inordinate amount of Tufted Ducks, including one who’d obviously had a bad hair day and looked like he needed a good wash and brush up. Common terns were nesting in the floating pontoons. We also saw Canada Geese chicks swimming along in formation with their parents, a Coot on a floating nest, Carrion Crow, more House Martins, three Greenfinch, Magpies, a Collared Dove and a lovely Heron. Some people seem to find Herons boring, I don’t. I find them endlessly fascinating, especially their ungainly flight.
So we had another lovely day out, and thanks to Kevin for his company, and for imparting his knowledge of birds and field craft.
Peter
A few details of where we went in case anyone wants to take a look for themselves:
From the RSPB website:
Rye Meads, Hertfordshire
This delightful reserve added a brand new visitor centre in October 2002, and doubled in size when the RSPB site linked up with the herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve next door. The whole area is full of interest for all the family; the 100 acre (40.5 ha) reserve, historic Rye House Gatehouse and a public house nearby. The reserve is idyllically situated by the River Lee (mooring facilities are available by the quayside) and includes areas of scrape, reedbed, open water, meadow and woodland. In summer, a colony of common terns nests on specially-made rafts and kingfishers breed in artificial sandbanks. During the winter, shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks can be seen on the open water and green sandpipers often frequent the scrapes. There is a programme of events throughout the year for everyone from beginners to experienced birders.
Opening times Daily 10 am to 5 pm (or dusk).
The place to see kingfishers, common terns in spring and summer and wildfowl in winter.
How to get here
3 miles/4.8 km from A10 and 7 miles/11.2 km north of M25 (J25) in Hoddesdon. Follow signs for Rye Meads (duck symbol).
By bus
Stop (700 yards/640 m).
By train
Rye House (400 yards/366 m).
By bicycle
View the National Cycle Network map of Rye Meads
Birds
· Common tern
· Kingfisher
· Shoveler
· Gadwall
· Tufted duck
A large, ancient flood meadow which attracts vast numbers of a wide variety of birds and supports many other forms of wildlife. It is jointly managed by the Trust and the RSPB. whose site includes marshes and lagoons adjacent to the River Lea. The seasonal flooding of the meadow combined with the rich soils and management of the site have resulted in a mosaic of habitats. These habitats consist of reedbeds, marshy grasslands and tall fen vegetation. In and around the meadow there are ditches, streams and ponds which provide a home to many invertebrates, as well as frogs, toads, newts and grass snakes. The reedbeds and tall fen vegetation support nesting sedge and reed warblers as well as numerous cuckoos. Small mammals such as water shrew and harvest mice are abundant. In winter, water rail and bittern may be seen, as can roosting reed buntings and yellowhammers. The meadows attract waders and ducks when flooded - snipe, golden plover and teal. In summer, the breeding birdlife includes several species of duck, water rail, common tern, lapwing, little ringed plover and redshank. Tits and both whitethroats can be seen, and occasionally grasshopper warblers and yellow wagtail. Meadowsweet and meadow-rue provide the pastel-coloured surroundings. In autumn, passage can be spectacular with both county and national rarities occurring. Rye Meads is a good place to see snipe, teal and green sandpipers at this time of year. Water voles, water shrews and harvest mice are abundant, and otters have returned to breed after a gap of many years. Rye Meads is part of a larger Site of Special Scientific Interest and has recently been designated a Special Protection Area for Birds. There is a visitor centre, signposted trails and excellent hide facilities. The reserve specialises in environmental education and has very good facilities for schools.
The management regime includes grazing and hay-making and is designed to encourage diversity of species.
