Recent Sightings
March 2010
Things really began to hot up on the reserve as we moved into the breeding season. By the end of the month the main sea-bird colony at Ternery Pool held 1500+ Black-headed Gull and 125 Mediterranean Gull, while up 300 Sandwich Tern (below) and two Common Tern roosted on the Quarry. The first Wheatear arrived on the Beach Reserve mid-month, and the first Avocet pairs began prospecting on Harbour Farm, while Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover were all displaying on Flat Beach by the end of the month.
There were, however, still several more typically winter species present during March. This included regular Bittern at Castle Water, with two on several dates, 122 Shoveler at Castle Water on the 9th, 18 Pintail on Flat Beach Level on the 19th, up to seven Goldeneye and at least two Scaup. Similarly there were still some large flocks of Lapwing around early in the month, and regular Golden Plover with a peak of 266 on the 24th, while on the shore 140 Knot, 120 Sanderling and 62 Grey Plover were present on the 1st, with 170 Curlew roosting on Harbour Farm on the same date. Other notable waders included Spotted Redshank on Ternery Pool on the 1st, 16 Ruff on Flat Beach Level on the 26th and small numbers of Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit. Lots more movement offshore during March compared to last month, the majority concerning Brent Goose, with up to
415 seen on the 21st, while smaller numbers of Common Scoter, Wigeon, Great-crested Grebe and Gannet also passed through. In addition, a Great Skua was seen on the 12th and nine Red-breasted Merganser on the 24th. Best of the bunch however was an immature Bonaparte’s Gull (above) seen briefly at Ternery Pool on the 27th, the first record for Rye Harbour and only the fifth for Sussex. Passerines during March included the first Wheatear of the year, with six present by the end of the month, and also the first Swallow and Sand Martin. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler were singing towards the end of the month, while there were several sightings of Firecrest, a Black Redstart on the 15th and Rock Pipit on a couple of dates. Raptors this month included up to three Marsh Harrier and regular Merlin, while a single Barn Owl was present at Castle Water on the 28th.
Moths in the Lime Kiln trap during March included Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Clouded Drab and best of all a lovely male Oak Beauty (above) on the 16th, while Red Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were all on the wing. This month also saw the first of this years bumblebees appearing on the scene, with up to three Buff-tailed Bumblebee and singles of Early Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee recorded, while a queen German Wasp was found still hibernating at Castle Water Hide on the 12th. Other early spring invertebrates included a Common Bee-fly at Lime Kiln Cottage on the 26th and a Drone Fly in Rye Harbour Village on the 17th. Plants in flower this month included Persian Speedwell, Colt’s-Foot and Common Whitlowgrass.