Jeff Penfold has been visiting the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for about six years, after developing a specific interest in wildlife photography.
Last week on Wednesday, August 30, he was excited to spot an unusual visitor to the reserve - an osprey. Jeff said one was spotted in 2012 and another again briefly in 2022. Ospreys have made a welcome comeback from near extinction and today there are 270 pairs in Scotland, England and Wales.
Jeff explains: “I took up photography as a hobby when I retired as a building surveyor and facility manager at the end of 2014. Over the years I have made several connections with local organisations involved in running and managing events including a couple of local charities. I also work closely with the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism offering my services free of charge or in exchange for donations to one of the charities that I now represent as a committee member. This is Charity for Kids, formed in 2011 to provide specialist equipment and support to local kids with disabilities, life-limiting and terminal conditions. The charity covers Hastings and the whole of the Rother District including Rye. I also volunteer my services to another local registered charity, Warming up the Homeless.
“As part of the fund-raising for Charity for Kids I have been producing various calendars, including one entitled ‘Nature’s Best’, full of local photos of wildlife. In addition I have also produced for 2024 a Bexhill calendar and one entitled ‘Sun, Sea and Skies’.
“Rye Harbour is one of my favourite places to visit throughout the seasons as it offers so much variety and some surprises such as the osprey this year. In previous years I have witnessed and photographed other delightful visitors such as spoonbills.
“The Nature’s Best and Sun, Sea & Skies calendars are now on sale at Tea Beside the Orchard near Icklesham and will shortly be in the Bosun’s Bite in Rye Harbour. All of the money raised goes directly to help the kids as the charity is run entirely by volunteers.”
Paul Cherry has also been photographing the osprey, and sent us the following photographs.
