A wander round Winchelsea church, followed by another birding visit to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - 21st April 2026

I walked up Strand hill to Winchelsea on Tuesday morning. The road narrows as it goes through the ancient archway leading into the village.

There is a pedestrian pathway at the edge of the arch where I stood and looked down into the fields.  Cattle were grazing at the edge of the Royal Military canal.

I made my way to the huge church in the centre of the village

Spike Milligan's grave in the churchyard

Jackdaw with lots of nesting material in the churchyard

I believe that this old building is now a museum

One of the stained glass windows in the church

Carved memorial in the church

Winchelsea sign on the road just outside the church

After lunch I walked back down the hill and then went back to the nature reserve.

A male Wheatear near Castle Water was very uncooperative!

Nearby lambs were very inquisitive

Male Blackbird with lunch for its nestlings

Mute Swan in a strange pose in the middle of a pond

It was lovely to see pretty Spring blossom

Back in the main part of the reserve, the dusky Spotted Redshank was on my side of the Salt Pool

Avocet standing in the salt marsh

Avocet on the move!

Common Redshank at the edge of a lagoon in the late afternoon

Robin singing on the top of a shrub as I trudged back to Winchelsea Beach

Fluffy Chiffchaff on top of a telegraph cable

Rabbit basking in the late afternoon sunshine in one of the fields at Harbour Farm

Birds, insects, animals and buildings seen during a walk from Winchelsea Beach to Pett Level on 19th April 2026

I was standing at the edge of the high area along the coast and admiring the view, with a windmill in the distance, when a couple that lived in the area told me that it was Paul McCartney's recording studio!

Hog Hill Mill

One female and seven male Common Pochards in Pett Level nature reserve - access is wildlife only

Weird house on the way to Cliff End from Pett Level

Thatched house on the hill at Pett Level

Female Blackbird on grass near the canal

There seem to be a lot of box-like modern houses in East Sussex

Two Robins for the price of one - on and under the information board near the canal

World War Two look-out on top of Toot Rock

I walked past the base of Toot Rock on one side of the canal, but could go no further as this house was at the end of the path.  I had to turn round and walk back to the bridge and walk along the other side.  A notice could have been put up to say there was no through way!  

The Royal Military Canal - viewed from Pett Level

I ended up back at the coast in Pett Level and saw a Great Crested Grebe in the sea

Oystercatchers at the edge of the land and cows in the distance - Pett Level nature reserve

Seven-spot Ladybird on the path

Dungeness power station in the distance

Caddisfly on the path

Two Little Egrets at the edge of the reeds

Plenty of Cormorants, gulls and geese at the edge of a pond in Pett Level nature reserve

The mobile home holiday park where I was staying viewed from up on the path along the coast

There were plenty of sheep and lambs in the fields