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The kingfishers appear to be incubating their second brood at the Kingfisher Hide bank, and we have several fluffy tern chicks on the large new raft. You can see them best on the monitor in reception as we have a camera pointing directly onto the tern raft. Joan

A male kingfisher has been pottering about today between a nest hole and a post outside the bank. Joan

So, five kingfishers fledged the nestbank today, and had finally dispersed by close of play, leaving the adults to get on with their next vital job - raising brood number two. These kingfishers normally manage three broods in a season so there should still be plenty of activity from the kingfisher hide...

Our kingfishers fledged this morning! Three youngsters (and a possible fourth) flew from the nest bank. They have been hanging around quite a bit today rather than just dispersing. The adult pair should be settling down for their next brood shortly so the fun and games won't stop! Joan

Despite the adults trying and trying to call them out, the kingfisher chicks have still been sitting tight these last couple of days. They are now overdue fledging. The adult pair is starting on its second brood, so it can't be long before the chicks emerge. Surely this weekend? Joan

The fledging date is predicted for Wednesday 5 June, but of course, in nature, anything can happen! They are certainly active today. If you come to see the kingfishers, please move round in the hide so that others can have a view - thanks! Joan

A marsh harrier was seen at Rye Meads yesterday (Sunday 19 May). The kingfishers are feeding their young and very visible from the Kingfisher Hide. Joan

Our kingfisher pair, nesting in the bank visible from the Kingfisher Hide, is now feeding young, despite the best efforts of a second intruder pair to put them off. Now is a great time to come and watch them going in and out of the nest bank, and visits will increase over the next two weeks until the...

We have our first three mallard ducklings and six goslings! Joan

We spotted the first swifts of the year at Rye Meads on 30 April - about a dozen were wheeling high above the visitor centre. In a sudden rush of activity, we now have most of our migrants back: cuckoo, sedge warbler, blackcap, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, chiffchaff, willow warbler, swallow,...

Our kingfisher pair is now incubating eggs, due to hatch approximately 10-12 May. Yesterday, an interloper pair was messing about at the nest bank! The resident pair was busy chasing them off! One of the males has a chunk of wing feathers missing presumably from where they have been fighting. Hopefully...

Chiffchaffs and blackcaps have arrived back at Rye Meads, along with swallows and martins. One common tern has flown over so hopefully they will be arriving to breed shortly. A whitethroat has been heard just offsite, and Cetti's are calling like crazy! Kingfishers have been mating since the 6th...

The sun is shining at Rye Meads today. There is a still a bittern in the Ashby Reedbed, and a marsh harrier was seen at close of play last night. A female stonechat is in the car park area. Maybe it's even warm enough for a butterfly or two? It all seems to be happening so why not pay us a visit...

We have a very active kingfisher pair prospecting at the artificial nestbank opposite the Kingfisher Hide. Last year, kingfishers had three broods of young here, so it's looking as if it might be another good season for them. For an up-close view of these stunning birds which make Rye Meads their...

A pair of kingfishers are very active at the Kingfisher bank. Also, little egret on the wet meadow and a great crested grebe from the Tern Hide. Joan

A curlew has been around the reserve on and off for the last few days - it was about all day on Sunday, along with 12 snipe and a green sandpiper. Also a bittern was seen at the weekend. Joan

Spring hit the reserve on Tuesday 5 March with sunshine and blue skies - we had a brimstone and peacock butterflies, and Cetti's warblers are singing like crazy! The first tentative chiffchaff calls have been heard, though they're not in full song yet, and a curlew has been calling. Spring...

A visitor reported a bittern flying into the reed at the back of the pool in front of the Kingfisher Hide today. Joan

One, possibly two bitterns on the reserve today. Peregrine on the pylon. Plenty of winter thrushes. Feeding station very busy, the highlight being six long-tailed tits. Joan

Hi everyone. There have been some really great birds today, despite all the water being frozen. A bittern was seen flying from the Tern hide to the Ashby hide around lunch time. This morning a female bullfinch was hanging round outside the back of the centre. Lots of fieldfares around. But the highlight...

Hi everyone, Just to let you know that the reserve (including the car park) will be closed on Sunday 20 January . We are very sorry for any inconvenience, but due to weather conditions it would be too dangerous. We may cancel the stargazing event due to the weather as well, if you are interested...

A bittern seen on the wet meadow at 3.10 pm today. Joan Joan Childs, Site Manager

A waxwing flew over Rye Meads today (Saturday 8 December). Other bird news - one green sandpiper from the Tern Hide, one shelduck also from the Tern Hide, 24 teal displaying outside the Draper. And the sun is shining this afternoon! Joan Joan Childs, Site Manager

130 lapwings, 1 redpoll, redwings, 10 snipe, 1 green sandpiper, 1 buzzard, 1 grey wagtail, 1 green woodpecker, water vole, Cetti's warbler, water rail. Joan Childs, Site Manager

The Ringers caught three bearded tits in the reedbeds that can be seen from the Draper Hide today. One male and two females. Fabulous little birds! Joan Joan Chlids, Site Manager