Recent Sightings
February 2008
February is usually something of a transitional month between the dark days of winter and new beginnings of spring, and this year was no exception. Despite the continued presence of more typically winter visitors, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover were displaying, Skylark song became a constant feature of the reserve, and there was even a Chiffchaff singing intermittently late month. Towards the end of the month, both Black-headed Gull and Mediterranean Gull (below) had made a start on prospecting for nesting space at Ternery Pool, with up to several hundred birds calling loudly, giving a very spring-like feel to the reserve!
A good selection of wintering waterfowl included the first Bittern of the year (and the first since October 2007), with singles at Castle Water on the 16th and 17th and Narrow Pits on the 8th, a male Smew at Castle Water on the 2nd, 54 White-fronted Goose on the Bittern Excavations mid-month, a Slavonian Grebe briefly on Ternery Pool on the 23rd and a Spoonbill on Harbour Farm on the 27th. In addition, the long-staying Long-tailed Duck was present on Long Pit throughout the month, there were regular sightings of Pintail, with a maximum of 21 birds on the 17th, and Goldeneye, and the traditional Little Egret roost at Castle Water peaked at 48 birds on the 16th. However, perhaps the strangest sighting during February was of a Hawaiian Goose (below, left) at Castle Water on the, 17th!
Wader numbers remained high during February with up to 1400 each of Golden Plover and Lapwing present, while significant 
counts of roosting waders on the shore included 500 Dunlin and 300 Sanderling on the 11th, 165 Knot on the 12th and 100 Grey Plover on the 14th. Other notable sightings included up to 29 Ruff and two Jack Snipe at Castle Water and the occasional Green Sandpiper on Harbour Farm. Offshore, good numbers of birds during February included up to 400 Common Scoter, 175 Brent Goose, 172 Red-throated Diver, 95 Great Crested Grebe and three Fulmar, with the highlight being two Velvet Scoter on the 4th. Raptors included regular sightings of Marsh Harrier, with two on the 8th, as well as the occasional Merlin and Peregrine. At Castle Water, up to five Long-eared Owl were present at a newly established roost, and there were regular sightings of Barn Owl. On the passerine front, the long-staying Shore Lark was present on the Beach Reserve throughout, while a flock of 20 Corn Bunting over Rye Harbour Village on the 17th, was a welcome sighting of this increasingly rare songbird. In addition, there were regular sightings of Bearded Tit at Castle Water, with two Raven on the 2nd and a Grey Wagtail on the 21st also seen here during the month.
Invertebrates became increasingly active during February, with several sightings of Small Tortoishell, immature Nursery-web Spider and Drone Fly, typically early starters, while a well grown Ruby Tiger caterpillar (above) was found sunning itself at Lime Kiln on the 25th. More surprising were several individuals of the rare beetle Helops caeruleus at Lime Kiln early in the month. Up to two Common Seal (below) were present, often hauling themselves out on Camber or swimming up the Rother towards the Rye Harbour Village, while other mammalian sightings included Stoat and Brown Hare. Plants in flower during February included Common Whitlowgrass, Persian Speedwell, Red Dead-nettle, Pineapple Weed and Alexanders.
