RMRG - studying the birds of Rye Meads
We are a volunteer group whose mission is to study the birds of Rye Meads, Hertfordshire (United Kingdom), by trapping and ringing them, logging sightings, conducting breeding surveys, and recording all nests found.
We have been studying this site since 1960 and have data on more than a quarter of a million birds ringed, and have published many papers based on this data.
This website presents a summary of the birds, ringing data, and activities of the Group.
News & Events
Winter is now upon us, and we are monitoring winter visitor populations. There have been good numbers of Redwings, a few Fieldfares and Jack Snipe, and there's still time for the unusual to turn up.
If you see anything interesting at Rye Meads, let the Reserve staff know or contact us with details.
Recent activities
A blog of the Group's activities, and some of our findings and ideas. Here is the latest post:
Meeting the Ghosts in the Garret
A visit to a nestbox to ring some Barn Owl chicks, accompanied by RSPB staff and volunteers - a treat for all to meet such special birds close up.
Ringing and Results
Find out about the birds ringed at Rye Meads and what we have learnt about their movements as a result. Here is the latest post:
Ringing review of 2019
Highlights included record annual totals for Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Robin, Reed Warbler; and equal record for Tawny Owl.
- Observations – July-August 2020
- Observations – March-June 2020
- Meeting the Ghosts in the Garret
- Toby Spall 1954-2020
- Ringing review of 2019
- January – February 2020
- November – December 2019
- September – October 2019
- July – August 2019
- Ringing Review of 2018
- May – June 2019
- One in a (quarter) million…
- March – April 2019
- January – February 2019
- What we saw in 2018
- November – December 2018
- It isn’t Slow, and it isn’t a Worm
- A close encounter with Tawny Owlets
- Managing our nestboxes
- September – October 2018
- Ringing is sometimes a drag!
- July – August 2018
- May – June 2018
- March – April 2018
- January – February 2018
- Pullus ringing does give interesting results
- November – December 2017
- Ringing review of 2017
- From Iceland to Israel – our birds go a long way!
- Drabs and Dribs
- September – October 2017
- July – August 2017
- May – June 2017
- A review of our wintering Chiffchaffs
- From Russia to Spain – holiday destinations of our birds
- RMRG’s very own D-day
- March – April 2017
- January – February 2017
- Record-breaking Black-tailed Godwit
- November – December 2016
- Social media has its uses!
- Hail to the Emperor!
- Ringing review of 2016
- Group outing: BTO Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey of Skye
- September – October 2016
- Water Pipits at Rye Meads
- July-August 2016
- Alan the Robin unmasked
- A Bittern comes out of rehab
- May-June 2016
- A nice Start at the end
- Little Stint at Rye Meads… Hail the Lemming!
- Every picture tells a story…
- Mar – Apr 2016
- RSPB WEX group ringing demo
- Purple Heron – June 2016
- Jan – Feb 2016
- Common Crane – April 2014
- Review of Raptors at Rye Meads
- Summer Black-headed Gulls here, Chiffchaffs there…
- Gulls in Spain and ducks in France
- Contrasting migration strategies of Teal and Gadwall
- Nov – Dec 2015
- Sep – Oct 2015
- Jul – Aug 2015
- May – Jun 2015
- Mar – Apr 2015
- Jan – Feb 2015
About us
Find out about our activities and history, about Rye Meads itself, and see galleries showcasing the site and the birds.
Observations
A synopsis of the interesting sightings of birds at Rye Meads. Here is the latest post:
Observations – July-August 2020
This has been a pretty low key autumn for birds, with early departures of local birds and migrants coming through at a trickle; but there's always something of interest!
Support us
We are a self-funding group and rings, nets and equipment are expensive! We need your support. Become a Friend and we will send you regular news and information updates, and you can join us on ringing sessions. Or if you prefer, just donate what you can to our cause.
Click here for more details, or you can subscribe or donate now.
The Rye Meads Partnership
is a group of interested parties which co-operates in the management of habitat and the means of studying the birds of all of the Rye Meads area. The partners are:
Rye Meads Ringing Group
RSPB
Thames Water
HMWT
Environment Agency
Natural England
The Birds of Rye Meads
is a fascinating book with information from 40 years of bird study.
Now only £5 plus p&p.
Buy now!
RMRG thanks our sponsors
