Recent Sightings
April 2007
With the coming of April, the breeding season at Rye Harbour really gathered pace. This month saw the last of our breeding summer visitors arrive, with the first Turtle Dove on the 20th, the first Cuckoo on the 17th and the first Little Tern on the 16th, numbers of this species reaching 23 individuals by the end of the month. On the Beach Reserve, Wheatear, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher had all staked their claims to territories by the end of the month, while the same was true of Avocet and Little Ringed Plover on Harbour Farm. For some species, the breeding season was already quite advanced, and among Rye Harbour’s special birds, at least 22 pairs of Mediterranean Gull were on nests at Ternery Pool, and both Lapwing (below) and Black-headed Gull had produced their first chicks before April was out!
As might be expected, passage movement was a significant feature of the reserve during April, with many birds moving through on the way north to their breeding grounds. The highlight during April was an unprecedented movement of Bar-tailed Godwit, with over 1000 birds recorded on the 29th. This was part of a huge movement of this species all along the south coast and was the largest number ever recorded at Rye Harbour. This even overshadowed the traditional Whimbrel roost on the Quarry, which had risen to 228 by the end of the month. Other notable passage wader sightings included up to 12 Knot (below), small numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and the occasional Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Notable passage passerines included the first Swift of the year on the 21st, Black Redstart, Redstart and even a Nightingale! In addition, there were several sightings of Garganey at Castle Water, the earliest dates this year for this secretive summer visitor. Offshore, Bar-tailed Godwit dominated towards the end of the month, with several hundred moving
through on the 30th, while more ‘traditional’ sightings included up to 23 Gannet, 80+ Common Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser on the 13th and the occasional Arctic Skua and Brent Goose. In addition, a Great Skua rested briefly on Camber Shore on the 26th, and there were regular sightings of Little Gull, including two long-staying birds at Castle Water. Raptors included the first Hobby of the season on the 23rd, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. However, despite the advancing season, there were still one or two more typically winter visitors present at Rye Harbour. Both Black-necked Grebe and Goldeneye were present on Long Pit early in the month and small numbers of Wigeon and Teal could still be found, while up to 185 Golden Plover roosted on Flat Beach up until the 20th. In addition, numbers of Little Egret at the Castle Water roost remained high with 27 present on the 6th, there were several late sightings of Bearded Tit at Castle water up to the end of the month, and a maximum of 42 Corn Bunting were present on Harbour Farm.
Notable moths in the Lime Kiln Cottage moth trap during April included Ethmia bipunctella and Reed Dagger, both national rarities, and Lunar Marbled Brown and Shoulder-stripe, common nationally but rarely recorded on the reserve. New species for the year included Tawny Shears, Nut-tree Tussock and Yellow Belle. Butterflies on the wing this month included Holly Blue, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Comma (above) and Orange Tip, while both Hairy Dragonfly and Large Red Damselfly (below) appeared for the first time. Plants in flower included Early Forget-me-not, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Spotted Medick and Red Valerian. In addition, Sea Kale was also in bloom towards the end of the month, one of the earliest ever dates for this species at Rye Harbour!
