Recent Sightings
July 2007
Despite the presence of the odd brood of Black-headed Gull and Common Tern (below, fledgling) on Ternery Pool, by the end of July the breeding season at Rye Harbour was effectively over for 2007, and it was time for the wardens to take stock. A combination of bad weather, high water levels and the attention of predators such as Kestrel and Herring Gull meant that several species did poorly this year, with reduced numbers of nesting pairs and poor fledging success. However, around half of our nesting species actually did better than last year in terms of numbers of nesting pairs, and several species (Common Tern, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Skylark, Little Ringed Plover and Avocet) nested in their highest ever numbers!
This month saw an increase in passage movement on the reserve as growing numbers of species began to head south. Passage waders included up to 225 Curlew, 14 Common Sandpiper and 11 Green Sandpiper (the last two species shown below), as well as small numbers of Whimbrel, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit. Other signs of the advancing year included over 1000 Lapwing at Castle Water on the 17th, and even a solitary Golden Plover on Flat Beach on the 15th! The highlights, however were single Wood Sandpipers on the 5th, 16th and 25th of the month. Similarly passerines had an increasingly ‘end of season’ feel to them. Hence about 50 Swift and 60 Sand Martin were present over the Beach Reserve on the 20th, over 150 Yellow Wagtail gathered along the Beach on the 19th, and
the first Whinchat was seen at Castle Water on the 30th, while a roost of Starling at Castle Water on the 11th was estimated to consist of over 4000 birds! Other notable passerines included increasing numbers of Bearded Tit at Castle Water from mid-month and a Raven over the Narrow Pits on the 15th. Offshore movement also picked up this month in comparison with June. Sightings included up to 70+ Common Scoter, 35 Gannet and two Arctic Skua, while an Arctic Tern was present on Harbour Farm on the 8th and two Roseate Tern at Ternery Pool on the 9th. Raptors during July included regular sightings of Hobby and the occasional Marsh Harrier and Peregrine.
The generally poor weather during July meant that catches in the Lime Kiln moth trap were lower than might be expected. However, several interesting species did turn up, including the micros Viper’s Bugloss Moth, Cynaeda dentalis and Schoenobius gigantella and the macros Star-wort, Pigmy Footman, Kent Black Arches and Crescent Striped. Similarly, butterfly numbers were low during July, though this month did see the first records of Brown Argus, as well as up to five Marbled White (above) near the viewpoint mid-month, a species which has only been seen at Rye Harbour three times since records began! Dragonflies and damselflies on the wing this month included Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and Small Red-eyed Damselfly, while other notable invertebrate sightings included Four-lined Horsefly and Saltmarsh Horsefly (below), both rare species not previously recorded on the reserve. Plants in flower included Rottingdean Sea-lavender, Evening Primrose, Sea Heath and Lady’s Bedstraw.
