Recent Sightings
May 2009
May is usually the time when the breeding season gets into full swing at Rye Harbour and this year was no exception. On Ternery Pool the islands thronged with masses of Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, and Sandwich Tern chicks, and young waders on Flat Beach included Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Redshank. In addition, in some species, such has Lapwing and Wheatear the oldest chicks had already fledged by the end of the month! On a sadder note, however, while up to 14 Little Tern were seen during the month, no attempt was made to nest, the second year in a row that this has occurred.
Wader and wildfowl highlight during May was a Common Crane (above) seen over the Castle Water on the 11th, the first sighting of this species on the reserve proper (though two were seen on Harbour Farm in April 2001). There were regular sightings of Garganey, with five at Castle Water on the 3rd, while a good range of waders included a Wood Sandpiper mid-month, a Little Stint on the 14th, regular Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper and Knot, and the occasional Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank. Breeding species included up to two Little Ringed Plover and 20 Avocet on Harbour Farm. Notable passerine records during May included over 500 Swift over Long Pit on the 26th, a Spotted Flycatcher on the Beach Reserve on the 13th, and up to two singing Grasshopper Warbler (below) on Harbour Farm (present from late April). The
highlight, however, were three Bee Eater seen briefly near Long Pit on the 25th. Residents included regular sightings of Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail near Lime Kiln Cottage throughout the month, with occasional Bearded Tit at Castle Water and Turtle Dove at Castle Water and Narrow Pit. Relatively little offshore this month, the only sightings being of up to 29 Common Scoter, five Gannet, the occasional Arctic Skua, and, best of the bunch, a Great Skua on the 16th. In addition, five Black Tern were on Ternery Pool on the 15th, and four Arctic Tern on the shore on the 5th.Raptors during May included regular Marsh Harrier and Hobby (with three on the 2nd) and the occasional Peregrine.
Highlights in the Lime Kiln moth trap this month included Ethmia bipunctella, White Colon and Pale Tussock, while an abundance of large caterpillars included Garden Tiger, Oak Eggar, Pale Grass Eggar and Drinker. After their appearance last year, there were further sightings of Downy Emerald Dragonfly (above), while other species on the wing included Hairy Hawker, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Variable Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. Butterflies on the wing during May included Brown Argus, Small Heath, Holly Blue, Small Copper and, a real reserve rarity, Grizzled Skipper (near Parkes Hide on the 29th), while an influx of Painted Lady from the continent saw hundreds of individuals on the Beach Reserve towards the end of the month. Plants in flower this month included Sea Pea (below), Viper’s Bugloss, Yellow Horned Poppy and Sea Campion.
