Introduction
The coastline of East Sussex and South Kent holds two of the best nature reserves in the south-east of England, at Rye Harbour and Dungeness, both renowned for their birdwatching facilities and home to a rich array of breeding terns, gulls and waders.
The `Summer Birds’ holiday will include full days at each site, and we will also be exploring some of the other habitats of this area including forests and woodlands, heathland, freshwater pools and other coastal wetlands, reedbeds and cliffs.
Join your weekend leader, Dave Fairlamb of Natural Links for a birdwatching break packed with the best of the summer birdlife of this wonderful birdwatching region and the unique landscape of the Dungeness peninsula.
We will be based at the Flackley Ash Country House Hotel on the outskirts of Rye in East Sussex, conveniently situated for all our day trips around this bird rich area.
Flackley Ash Hotel
Flackley Ash Country House Hotel is a charming Georgian Hotel with an la carte restaurant, bar and lounges. Situated in rolling countryside just north of the historic town of Rye, it is an ideal base for our `Summer Birds’ holiday. During our stay we have the added bonus of free use of the superb Leisure Club facilities which features a 40ft indoor heated pool, a hydro-pool, his and hers saunas and a spacious gym.
Birdwatching
Rye Harbour Reserve is renowned for its colonies of Black-headed & Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich & Common Terns, nesting on the islands within the saline lagoons, alongside waders such as Ringed & Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Roseate Tern occasionally roost with the other terns and in some years, Little Tern breed on the nearby shingle banks. Other breeding birds associated with the wetlands include Cormorant, Great Crested & Little Grebes and Shelduck, with the chance of Garganey and Shoveler.
Dungeness Reserve is a large area of shingle set back from the sea, interspersed with freshwater lagoons, wet grasslands and meadows, particularly good for breeding Lapwing, Redshank, Garganey and Grey Partridge and the reedbeds hold breeding Bittern, Water Rail, Cetti’s, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Reed Bunting and Bearded Tit. Tree Sparrows have returned to the area, utilising nest boxes on site.
East Sussex/South Kent is an excellent area for birds of prey with residents such as Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard and Peregrine joined by Hobby in the summer and occasional Osprey and Honey Buzzard. Tawny, Little, Long-eared & Barn Owls breed regularly and even Short-eared Owl may over-summer.
Forests, woodlands and scrublands hold all three species of woodpeckers, along with Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Nightingale, Spotted Flycatcher and several species of warblers, including Dartford Warbler Scarce birds may be present, such as Turtle Dove, Firecrest, Siskin and Common Crossbill.
Other summer bird highlights we will be looking for include Fulmar, Raven, Mandarin Duck, Wheatear, Yellow & Grey Wagtails, Stonechat, Goldcrest, Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting.
Provisional Programme of Site Visits
Monday 16 June
Guests arrive at Flackley Ash Hotel from 3pm Check-in time onwards.
Late Afternoon: Meet your leader, Dave Fairlamb in the reception area of the Hotel at 4pm for a short drive to nearby Flatropers Wood Nature Reserve, managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust, for a relaxed birdwatching stroll from 4.15pm to 6pm.
Tuesday 17 June
Full Day: Rye Harbour Sussex Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
Wednesday 18 June
Morning: Hamstreet Forest
Afternoon: Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Thursday 19 June
Full Day: Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve and Dungeness Peninsula
Friday 20 June
Morning into early Afternoon: Hastings Country Park & Cliffs. Finish by 3pm.
The tariff for Summer Birds of East Sussex and South Kent
Single Occupancy Rooms are £940 per person
Double or Twin Occupancy Rooms for 2 sharing are £900 per person
The price includes VAT, and covers:
• 4 night’s accommodation at Flackley Ash Country House Hotel
• 4 x Breakfasts
• 4 x Dinners
• 4 x Packed Lunches
• All Birdwatching/Nature guiding by Natural Links
• Evening Presentations & Quizzes by Natural Links
• Free use of Hotel Leisure Club
Not included in the price:
• Entrance fees and car parking fees at some of the birdwatching sites (unless member of RSPB and Sussex Wildlife Trust)
• Travel to birdwatching locations
Terms & Conditions
Payment Schedule
Deposit of £250 per person to secure booking and payable on receipt of booking confirmation from Natural Links.
Outstanding Balance to be paid by 1 March 2025
Cancellations
Due to special group rates secured with the Hotel and Natural Links, cancellations can only be made up to the day before the outstanding balance is due, 1 March 2025, with £250 deposit per person either returned or used as credit towards future Natural Links events/holidays bookings.
Changes to Itinerary
The itinerary stated above is provisional as factors outside the control of Natural Links may result in changes to the itinerary.
Travel in East Sussex and South Kent
We courteously ask guests to car-share for travel around birdwatching sites in East Sussex & South Kent
