RSPB Rye Meads and Amwell Nature Reserves are located in the northern part Lea Valley (in Herefordshire)
Rye Meads is an RSPB-managed reserve which includes reedbeds, open water and a scrape. ... a 58.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Rye House, Hertfordshire. It is also part of the Lea Valley RAMSAR site (a group of internationally important wetland sites) and a Special Protection Area. Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Hertfordshire - The RSPB
Once a designated gravel pit, today a haven bustling with wildlife all year round. Amwell Nature Reserve near Ware is one of the most important places for wildlife in the county and is well-used and enjoyed by the local community. It hosts a mosaic of habitats including reedbeds, grassland and woodland, although Great Hardmead Lake is arguably the most striking feature. The reserve forms part of the Lee Valley, which connects the site with other nature reserves and habitats along the River Lee, providing a wildlife corridor stretching from Hertford to the Thames, creating a Living Landscape. Amwell | Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (hertswildlifetrust.org.uk)
Both of these reserves were new to me. Sometimes when I go to a nature reserve, I have a focus, e.g. to see Butterflies, or waders, or woodland birds, but I had no focus in mind for this day out. I took the train to Rye House railway station (from London Liverpool Street Station, a 36 minute trip, trains every 30 minutes, I took the train from Brighton to London Bridges, and walked to Liverpool Street from London Bridge). (A fare tip: if you are travelling from Brighton, a Zone 6 Travel Card will you get you as far as Enfield Lock on the train to Rye House, so you just need to but a return from Enfield Lock to Rue House; the costs of a Travel Card and a return from Enfield Lock to Rye House is much cheaper than a return to Rye House from Brighton, and you don't need to get off the train at Enfield Lock. It is a short walk to the entrance of RSPB Rye Meads.
These photos are presented in chronological order, not by species or habitat; to give a feel of my journey around these locations. I photographed what captured my attention, butterflies, bees (bumble and solitary), dragonflies/damselflies, plants and landscapes, in the moment.
Rye House Gatehouse
Gatehouse to Rye House (demolished), lower part used as a museum. C15 for Sir Andrew Ogard a naturalised Dane (license to crenelate 1443) on this moated site beside the river. 1683 scene of the Rye House Plot to murder Charles II. Rebuilt except gatehouse at end of C17 (RCHM Typescript). Said to have been used as the parish Workhouse before 1834. Site made into a pleasure garden for London trippers c1868 by Henry Teale (1806 - 76). Site
cleared and gatehouse restored recently for Lee Valley Park. Rye House Gatehouse, Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire (britishlistedbuildings.co.uk)
Trail Guide
Map from untitled (rspb.org.uk)
Inside the Lapwing Hide
Large Red Damselfly
Ragged Robin
Moorhen parent and chicks
Another Large Red Damselfly
The pond where this damselfly was seen.
A hoverfly (species unknown)
Another Large Red Damselfly
Marsh Marigold
To the Draper Hide
From the Draper Hide
Black-Headed Gulls, Gadwalls and Coots
Common Tern
Common Tern and Gadwalls
Common Tern
Red-Crested Pochard
Black-Headed Gulls and a Lapwing
Woodpigeon
Black-Headed Gulls, Red-Crested Pochards and Pochards
Pochard
Speckled Wood
Cormorant
From the Ashby Hide
Male Reed Bunting
Redd beds
Gadwall
Coot nest
Carpet Moth
Canada Goose and hidden gosling!
Hoverfly and Dog Rose
Holly Blue Butterfly
Possibly a Cuckoo/possibly a raptor/possibly a Crow!
Gadwall Hide
Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Little Tern
Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Male Banded Demoiselle, Calopteryx splendens, Large metallic damselfly with fluttering, butterfly-like wings. Male: metallic blue body with broad dark blue-black spots across outer parts of wings. Can be confused with The Beautiful Demoiselle; "the only other British damselfly with coloured wings but the males have fully coloured wings and the females have brown-tinged wings. Banded Demoiselle - British Dragonfly Society (british-dragonflies.org.uk)
Red Admiral
Green-Veined White on Aconite
Peacock on reed
From the Kingfisher Hide
Coot chick
Gadwall
Common Blue
Moorehen
Along the Tow Path of the Rover Lea Navigation at St Margaret's
Canada Goode and goslings
Black-Headed Gull
Common Tern
Amwell Nature Reserve
On the Great Hardmead Lake
Lapwing and Common Tern
Tufted Ducks with a Little Ringed Plover behind, and Black-Headed Gulls
Moorhen, Mallards, Black-Headed Gulls and Ringed Plover
Tufted Ducks and Black-Headed Gulls
Another Male Banded Demoiselle,
Hoverfly
Female Blackbird
Male Blackbird
Great Tit
From the James Hide
From the White Hide
Lapwing
Black-Headed Gulls, Gadwall and Ringed Plover
Tufted Ducks, Gadwall and Ringed Plover
Black-Headed Gulls
Ringed Plover in flight, Black-Headed Gulls, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and Comorant
Tufted Ducks, Gadwall and Dunlin (summer plumage)
Ringed Plover
Mallards
Cormorants and Mute Swan
Black-Winged Gull and Lapwing
Female Tufted Duck and Lapwing
Rabbit
From the path
Common Tern, Black -Headed Gulls and Lapwing
Common Tern, Lapwing and Black-Headed Gull
Common Sandpiper and Herring Gull
Black-Headed Gull, Common Tern and Common Sandpiper
Black-Headed Gull and Common Sandpiper
Black-Headed Gull, Common Tern and Common Sandpiper
Large White
Mayfly
Robin
Walking back to St Catherine's station
Mallard
Canada Goode and goslings
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