Recent Sightings
November 2011
The weather this November was relatively mild, so no repeat of the big numbers of wildfowl present on the reserve at this time last year, when birds were moving around to escape the freezing conditions. Still there was at least one Bittern during the month, at Castle Water on the 4th, small numbers of Goldeneye were present on Harbour Farm and the Long Pit, a male Scaup was seen on Long Pit and Ternery Pool and both Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander (below) were present briefly on the Quarry. In addition, at least 62 Brent Goose were on Flat Beach on the 11th, and pair of Pintail were at Castle Water on the 22nd.
Golden Plover and Lapwing still provided the bulk of wader numbers during November, with a count on Flat Beach on the 10th finding 3000 and 1200 respectively, while numbers of Curlew dropped to just over 100 roosting on Flat Beach on the 20th. Other notable sightings included up to 33 Sanderling, 24 Knot (below) and 23 Grey Plover along the shore, three Ruff at Castle Water on 17th and a Green Sandpiper on Harbour Farm on the 11th. The highlights were a Spotted Redshank on Harbour Farm on the 28th, a Jack Snipe here on the 1st, and a Woodcock at Castle Water on the 17th. Raptors during November included regular Marsh Harrier and occasional Merlin and Peregrine, with the highlight being a Hen Harrier at Castle Water on the 3rd. There were a few sightings of Short-eared Owl on the Beach Reserve and Harbour Farm late
in the month, with two on the 28th, while a Barn Owl was hunting at Castle Water on the 11th. Little movement offshore this month, though a couple of Sandwich Terns were seen on the 3rd and a sea-watch on the 23rd turned up 22 Razorbill, five Kittiwake and a few Red-throated Diver. Passerines this month included what will probably be the last of our summer visitors and increasing numbers of winter birds. The first half of the month saw a few Swallows and a House Martin passing through, while Wheatear were present at Castle Water on the 3rd and at the river mouth on the 18th. At least 150 Fieldfare and 60 Redwing were present at Castle Water on the 18th, while on the Beach Reserve at least six Brambling flew over on the 6th a Snow Bunting was here on the 12th and small numbers of Rock Pipit frequented Flat Beach and the saltmarsh. On Harbour Farm, a few Stonechat were present late in the month and flock of 41 Siskin overflew on the 10th.
As might be expected there were few invertebrates around this month. Among the dragonflies Migrant Hawker, Common Darter and Ruddy Darter were all on the wing during November while butterflies included a couple each of Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell. In addition, a Drone Fly was seen at Lime Kiln Cottage on the 30th, our latest ever sighting for this species. Mammal sightings during the month included Grey Seal (above) hauled out on the shore and Common Seal in the River Rother.