Recent Sightings
August 2007
A significant movement of waders during August saw a range of species turn up on the reserve. Highlights were a Temminck’s Stint at Castle Water on the 24th and regular sightings of Wood Sandpiper (below), with three present on Harbour Farm on the 3rd, while, a Curlew Sandpiper was seen on Harbour Farm on the 22nd, and Little Stint were recorded on three dates. Other interesting sightings include 18 Knot on Camber Shore on the 22nd, nine Ruff at Castle Water on the 24th, regular Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel and the occasional Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit.
Passerine movement also picked up this month in comparison to July. Over 300 House Martin were feeding over the Long Pit on the 18th, 200+ Swallow and 70+ House Martin were present over Harbour Farm on the 24th, and on the 2nd 50+ Swift were over Rye Harbour Village. On the Beach Reserve, numbers of Yellow Wagtail built up to a peak of over 350 on the 17th , with 17 Wheatear here on the 7th, while other notable sightings included up to nine Whinchat on the 24th, up to four Bearded Tit at the viewpoint on the 3rd, Redstart on the 27th and a Garden Warbler on the 17th. Signs of the advancing year included a maximum of 90 Linnet on the Beach Reserve on the 24th, 19 Corn Bunting on Harbour Farm on the 21st, and a roost of perhaps 6000 Starling in Rye Harbour Village! Offshore movement included a Great Skua on the 27th, as well as regular Gannet and Common Scoter and occasional Arctic Skua and Fulmar. In addition, two Black Tern were present at Ternery Pool on the 20th, while a Little Tern roosted on the shore on the 1st. The highlight however was a Balearic Shearwater offshore from the Old Lifeboat House on the 3rd, the first confirmed sighting for this species at Rye Harbour. Raptor sightings were relatively sparse, with notable species being the occasional Marsh Harrier and regular Hobby. However, things picked up on the 20th when an Osprey flew inland over the Beach Reserve.
With the improved weather during August, catches in the Lime Kiln Cottage moth trap picked up somewhat compared to July. The main rarity interest was among the micros, including species such as the Viper’s Bugloss Moth, Cynaeda dentalis and Sitochroa palealis, with Pale Grass Eggar, Webb’s Wainscot and Starwort being notable among the macros. Migrant invertebrates this month included several Clouded Yellow, Convolvulus Hawk-moth on the 10th, and more significantly a Tree-lichen Beauty (above) on the 2nd, only the third reserve record of this rare visitor. Other notable records during August included several Grey Bush Cricket at Lime Kiln Cottage, and the large jumping spider Marpissa muscosa at Castle Water on the 16th, the first ever record of this rare species at Rye Harbour. Plants in flower this month included Slender Hare’s Ear, Carline Thistle (below), Tufted Vetch and Fleabane.
