Recent Sightings
May 2008
May saw the breeding season get into full swing for many of our special species at Rye Harbour. At Ternery Pool the first Black-headed Gull chicks (below) were seen on the 11th and the first Mediterranean Gull chicks on the 21st, and by the end of the month the breeding islands were thronging with hungry balls of fluff! Similarly, by the 31st several broods of Ringed Plover and one or two of Oystercatcher were present on Flat Beach, with the occasional Avocet and Redshank brood on Harbour Farm, while the oldest Lapwing and Wheatear chicks had already fledged! On a sadder note, there was almost no activity on the Little Tern colony, with a maximum of only eight birds seen and no nests by the end of the month!
Wader highlight during May was a Terek Sandpiper on the Beach Reserve and Harbour Farm on the 31st, the first reserve record of this eastern vagrant. Other notable waders during the month included a Stone-curlew on West Beach on the 18th, two Temminck’s Stint on Wader Pool briefly on the 26th and a Wood Sandpiper on Harbour Farm on the 4th. On the Quarry, the Whimbrel roost reached a maximum of 287 on the 1st, with smaller numbers present to mid-month. This month also saw small numbers of Black-tailed Godwit passing through, with a maximum of 12 at Castle Water on the 27th, up to nine Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Knot, six Little Ringed Plover and small numbers of both Common and Green Sandpiper and Golden Plover. Garganey were regular during the month, with six at
Castle Water on the 2nd, while 20 Little Egret were seen leaving the roost here on the 24th. Offshore, plenty of terns in addition to a few Gannet, Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoter, while three Black Tern were present at Castle Water on the 27th and a Little Gull at Ternery Pool on the 30th. Passerine highlights during May were a Tawny Pipit (above) which was present near the river mouth from the 25th to 27th of the month, the first record on the reserve since 1995, and a Bee-eater over Rye Harbour Village on the 25th. Up to 25 Swift were recorded during the month, with small numbers of Bearded Tit in the reedbeds at Castle Water. Raptors included regular Hobby and the occasional Marsh Harrier, while Barn Owl was seen at Castle Water on several dates.
Highlights in the Lime Kiln moth trap during May included White Colon, Oblique Striped and Viper’s Bugloss Moth, while a good range of new species for the year included Cream-spot Tiger, Cinnabar, Yellow Belle and Light Brocade. Butterflies included Brown Argus, Small Heath, Common Blue and Small Copper. Dragonflies on the wing by the end of the month included Hairy Hawker, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Emperor (below), while damselflies included Red-eyed, Azure, Common Blue, Variable, Blue-tailed and Large Red. In addition, a male Banded Demoiselle at Castle Water hide on the 22nd was something of a surprise! Plants in flower during May included Sea Kale, Sea Pea, Yellow-horned Poppy and Viper’s Bugloss.
