Information and events

This page contains general information on activities and events that the Group is involved in. It is particularly aimed at our ringing members and helpers, but will also be of interest for other visitors to Rye Meads.

Ringers’ pages are here (access by invitation only).

Public events

Showing the birds to visitors

We hold ringing demonstrations from time to time, to show RSPB visitors how this is done and to explain why it is important to do so. These demonstrations are arranged by the RSPB and usually require booking through them. For full details and how to book, visit the RSPB Rye Meads website.

Wetland Bird Survey

This survey, usually known simply as WeBS, aims to make co-ordinated national counts of all wetland birds in order to monitor populations, both wintering and breeding. We count the birds of Rye Meads, including the sewage works site. The 2025 count dates are as follows:

12th January

16th February

16th March

13th April

25th May

15th June

13th July

10th August

7th September

12th October

9th November

7th December

(These are SUNDAYS – note actual count date may be the SATURDAY of that weekend at the discretion of the counter.

RMRG customarily suspends WeBS counts during April-August to focus on breeding survey work.)

Constant Effort Sites

The CES Scheme requires timed ringing sessions at specific date periods using the same net sites through the summer, so as to provide at a national level statistically significant catch numbers to monitor population trends and breeding productivity. The 2025 visit dates are as follows.

Visit 1 Sunday 27 April to Wednesday 7 May 11

Visit 2 Thursday 8 May to Saturday 17 May

Visit 3 Sunday 18 May to Wednesday 28 May

Visit 4 Thursday 29 May to Saturday 7 June

Visit 5 Sunday 8 June to Wednesday 18 June

Visit 6 Thursday 19 June to Saturday 28 June

Visit 7 Sunday 29 June to Wednesday 9 July

Visit 8 Thursday 10 July to Saturday 19 July

Visit 9 Sunday 20 July to Wednesday 30 July

Visit 10 Thursday 31 July to Saturday 9 August

Visit 11 Sunday 10 August to Wednesday 20 August

Visit 12 Thursday 21 August to Saturday 30 August