A new site record for Mute Swan, a wealth of waders, Whin and Stone together, and do we have breeding Nightingales?
After a record year for ringing Chiffchaffs, we await the arrival of wintering birds. Rye Meads is one of the best places in Hertfordshire for wintering Chiffchaffs, but they are not our breeding birds; so where do they come from?
A summary of the more interesting recoveries and controls of the birds of Rye Meads as notified to us during 2016.
The heroic story of an amphibian operation codenamed E-day involving two vessels and some 300 Black-headed Gulls - a report from the Seamen's Mess by Brian Milligan
A Little Gull, two Ravens and a singing Nightingale brighten an otherwise rather average early Spring period.
Ravens return, and Chiffs thrive with some Tristis birds among the mix: winter can be quiet but seldom dull.
Bitterns, Beardies and Chiffs lead the honours in a quiet end to the year.
At the recent Rye Meads RSPB Fun Day, Site Manager Vicky Buckel produced some Emperor Moth pheromone from the freezer, with startling results.
Ringing highlights included Pochard, Firecrest, Redstart and a Greenland Wheatear, as well as a rehab Bittern.
This time last year, an ‘expedition team’ from Rye Meads Ringing Group took part in a UK-wide survey, on Skye.