Leader: James Duncan
Perplexed by plovers, stumped by sandpipers, need help untangling your knots and 'shanks? Telling wading birds apart can be daunting! James Duncan, our expert birder, will help you improve your skills and confidence on this informative course in the stunning setting of Rye Harbour nature reserve. Previous birdwatching course attendees said:
"James was really enthusiastic, great at pointing out the birds, he had so much knowledge he was clearly happy to share with us."
"Superb guide. Imparted knowledge well in an informal way."
In spring, Rye Harbour's wetlands are an important hub for a great variety of wading birds which breed here, or stop off on their way North, making it the perfect place to practice identifying them.
Start the day with refreshments, and a presentation introducing you to waders and their differences, at our Discovery Centre. Then, after a break for lunch, you'll practice identifying wading birds out on the nature reserve, with expert help from James. He'll lead a 2 mile circular walk around the saltmarsh, scrapes, and pools, stopping at our bird hides.
Suitable for beginner birders, as well as improvers, the course will include some of the trickier-to-identify waders. Binoculars are essential - we have some to borrow if needed.
Venue: Rye Harbour Discovery Centre, Harbour Road, Rye, TN31 7FW. See our website for how to find us. The Centre sits within the nature reserve and houses a cafe, gift shop and public toilets, free wifi is available.
What to bring: Tea and coffee is provided. Our café is open from 9.30am to 4.15pm if you would like to buy lunch here, otherwise please bring a packed lunch.
Parking: Available at Car Park, Harbour Road, Rye Harbour, Rye TN31 7TT , about a 7 minute walk from the Discovery Centre
Public Transport: The 313 Stagecoach bus travels from Rye train station to Rye Harbour village.
Accessibility: Our gently-paced 2 mile (3 km) walk will start and end at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre, a wheelchair-friendly venue, with a step-free entrance ramp. Toilet facilities include two that are wheelchair accessible, and we will be no more than a mile away from them on the walk. Most of the route is easy for wheelchairs, and the bird hides are accessible. However a section of the walk has some uneven and loose surfaces, making it moderately difficult for manual wheelchairs.
Dogs: Please note that although we welcome well-behaved dogs to the café, they are not generally permitted at our events (except assistance dogs).
Cancellation policy: Refunds are not usually available within 30 days of a scheduled event and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Images:
Black-tailed Godwit taking off © Roger Wilmshurst
Redshank guarding chicks © Barry Yates
