Rye Harbour Nature Reserve wildlife sightings November 2025

David Bentley

Warm air coming from the south brought some exceptionally mild weather at the start of the month, with the warmest Bonfire Night on record. So began a largely mild month with periods of rain and heavy showers. There were, however, some colder days with light frosts, particularly around the middle of the month.

At least one Spoonbill was recorded most days, with Flat Beach, Salt Pool and Castle Water being favoured locations. Four Cattle Egrets were present on the 28th.

Bird of prey sightings throughout the month included Marsh Harriers, Peregrines and a juvenile Merlin at Flat Beach.

The bird of the month was undoubtedly an American Golden Plover on Flat Beach from the 4th until at least the 15th. This was most likely the bird recently seen near Jury's Gap, relocated to the reserve. The large flock of European Golden Plovers became a little more elusive around the middle of the month, when a cold snap forced them to feed during the day on pastures at Camber, as it’s hard to find worms at night in the frost.

Regular Spotted Redshank remained throughout the month, usually seen on either Salt Pool or Flat Beach. Other notable wader counts included around 350 Dunlin on the 16th and upwards of 30 Knot and 25 Grey Plover towards the end of the month.

Up to three red-headed Goosander could be seen, often from the Discovery Centre, from the 20th onwards. There was an adult male bird seen over Castle Water, also on the 20th.

Over 100 Pintail were counted on Flat Beach on the 2nd and 900 Brent Geese passed the reserve on the 16th, heading west along the coast.

A very late Sandwich Tern was seen at Flat Beach on the 26th.

Rye Harbour used to hold regular wintering flocks of Snow Buntings, but in recent decades they have been hard to come by, with just occasional sightings often only of single birds. One was heard calling over Narrow Pit on the 17th.

Another bird that seems set to over-winter, all being well, is the Dartford Warbler at Cuckoo Corner, seen throughout the month.

Plants still in flower included the rare Least Lettuce, Viper’s Bugloss, Yellow-horned Poppy and Yarrow.

Read David's article on Golden Plovers in Rye News HERE