What to look for in NOVEMBER
It is
usually the weather that has the greatest influence in what you will see around
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in the winter.
If the
weather has been mild it may still be possible, in sheltered places, to find
the flowers of Red Valerian, Viper's Bugloss, Yellow-horned Poppy, Yarrow,
Gorse, Herb Robert and Stork’s-bill. Some of the butterflies may be
tempted from hibernation, so look out for Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.
If the
weather has been cold many birds will be forced south, so flocks of White-fronted
Geese and many ducks, especially Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal and
perhaps Pintail. A rare one to look out for is the Smew.
Offshore,
Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebe, Gannets, and Guillemot
may be fishing, especially after winter storms and great rafts of Common
Scoter will be swimming in long black lines, often accompanied by Scaup
or the occasional Velvet Scoter.
Along
the Beach Reserve there may be large flocks of common finches, such as Greenfinches,
Linnets and Goldfinch. Look out for rarer ones, like Twite,
Lapland and Snow Buntings. Birds of prey are attracted by these
smaller birds so you might see Merlin, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owls and
Peregrine, as well as the more usual Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
At Castle
Water there will be wintering Stonechats and Chiffchaff. In the
reeds look and listen for Water Rail, Bearded Tit and Bittern –
especially at dusk when several may be roosting.
