Rye Harbour Nature Reserve wildlife sightings December 2025

By David Bentley

The weather can strongly influence what wildlife is seen at Rye Harbour in December. With much of the month being mild and damp, it was largely 'business as usual' without any great change in the birds that were present here in November. However, a cold blast around Christmas, with strong easterly winds, shook things up nicely in the south-east of England and a few extra birds were seen at Rye Harbour.

The cold weather from 23rd onwards brought scarce geese (notably White-fronted, Bean and Pink-footed) to various sites nearby, but they somehow seemed to bypass the reserve! Nevertheless, some cold weather movement was in evidence with three Whooper Swans seen heading east over the Discovery Centre on Christmas Eve and six Bewick Swans also moving east over Salt Pool on Boxing Day. There was also an increase in 'winter thrush' numbers, with some Redwings and Fieldfares on and around the reserve.

It had been suspected that the wintering Dartford Warbler, usually seen at Cuckoo Corner, might in fact be two or more birds and that was confirmed this month. Look for them anywhere between Salt Pool and New Saltmarsh, often associating with Stonechats.

The long-staying Spoonbill and Spotted Redshank were never far away with Salt Pool and Flat Beach being the best places to find them.

The mid-winter pageant of sparkling Golden Plover was very much apparent, with numbers at Flat Beach peaking at around 2,000 birds.

At least two Goosander were seen throughout the month. Goosanders are large 'sawbill' ducks that dive for fish which are caught with the aid of a serrated bills. They breed in the north-west of the UK - although their range is spreading south - and over-winter in the Rye area in small numbers. So far this winter has been good for them, with up to three seen on the reserve.

It looks like Cattle Egrets are well established as an all-year-round bird on the reserve with 17 counted at Castle Farm on 16th, after their second year of successful breeding. A hunting Barn Owl and a Jack Snipe in the reedbed were also notable at Castle Water on that day.

The first Goldeneye of the season was seen at Castle Water on 17th with another at Barn Pool East on 22nd. Both were 'red-heads' with no spectacular adult males recorded so far this winter.

42 Grey Plover and 120 Curlew were counted on 22nd. Single Avocet and Bar-tailed Godwit were seen on occasions. 1,500 Lapwing were over Castle Water on 19th.

The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve members walk on 28th to Castle Water recorded 57 bird species including Cattle Egret, Goldeneye, Goosander, Merlin and Firecrest.

The last day of the year welcomed a single Glossy Ibis over Castle Water.

With more cold weather forecast the start of January 2026 may prove an exciting time on the reserve.