Funny Ducks and Phantom Bitterns – a review of the birds of March-April 2026
A record number of one species and our fourth record of another were the highlights - aside from those funny ducks and the Bitterns that nobody saw...
Rye Meads Ringing Group
Information and activities
Rye Meads Ringing Group
Information and activities
Category Observations
Winter Thrush Wonderland – a review of the observations of Jan-Feb 2026
Exceptional numbers of winter thrushes on site were the main bird news of the period. but there were other highlights too!
A Wealth of Warblers but Few Finches – a summary of the birds of November and December 2025
Some astonishing winter warbler numbers were offset by some dire finch and bunting numbers. Records are being set in both directions...
Autumn passage in full flow – a summary of the birds of September – October 2025
An influx of Egrets, including a special visitor, and lots of passerine migrants livened up our Autumn.
Rye Meads site list increases by one more – a summary of the birds of July – August 2025
First ever record of Black-crowned Night Heron and second ever of Montagu's Harrier helped make this an interesting migration season!
Let’s hear it for Coenraad Jacob Temminck’s Stint – a summary of the birds of May-June 2025
A period characterised by dry, sunny weather, but Spring migration generated little excitement until the arrival of our fifth record of Temminck's Stint.
Summer visitors trickle in – a review of the birds of March-April 2025
Spring got off to a slow start thanks to blocking weather over Iberia, but our summer visitors arrived eventually!
When is a Red-crested Pochard like a Wildebeest – a summary of the birds of January-February 2025
Two species achieved their highest counts for 33 and 37 years, and some other regulars didn't show up at all. Read on to find out which they were, and to get an answer to the question in the title!
Have I seen a female Scaup at Rye Meads
The last documented Greater Scaup was a male on 16 March 2000, over 25 years ago.
Yet most months of the year, female Greater Scaup are reported, sometimes photographed. Those that availed themselves to closer scrutiny have all proven to be Tufted Ducks. How can we tell them apart?
The return of the murmurations – a summary of the birds of November-December 2024
Two species posted record counts for Rye Meads in November and December 2024. And just how many Jack Snipe winter at Rye Meads? Read on to find out...