Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - January 2023

Chris Bentley
, 31 January 2023
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - January 2023
Shore Lark. Image: Ron Knight

Bird highlight during January were two Shore Lark which were briefly present on the new saltmarsh opposite the Discovery Centre on the 15th. This bird was once a rare breeder in Scotland, though nowadays it only occurs in the UK as an increasingly uncommon winter visitor, generally on the east coast (hence its English name). In North America this species is known as Horned Lark due to the presence of two feathery tufts either side of the head in the adults breeding plumage.

Dunlin

Wader counts during January included at least 1000 Lapwing at Castle Water on the 11th, 485 Oystercatcher and 450+ Dunlin on Flat Beach on the 22nd and 304 Curlew on Harbour Farm on the 11th. In addition, 65 Ringed Plover and at least 42 Grey Plover were present on Flat Beach on the 20th, 20 Knot here on the 4th and nine Ruff on Ternery Pool on the 11th while small numbers of Avocet were present late in the month. The cold weather during January continued to produce some excellent waterfowl numbers. A count on the 22nd for instance, found 756 Wigeon and 146 Pochard around the reserve, while at least 351 Teal and 325 Shoveler were present on the 20th, 100+ Pintail on the 1st and 50 Shelduck on the 29th. In addition, at least three Goldeneye, with one male, were present on

Male Shoveler

Harbour Farm on the 28th and a ‘redhead’ Goosander was on Flat Beach on the 20th. On Castle Water the long-staying Black-necked Grebe was recorded on the 5th and 11th while a Slavonian Grebe was present on Long Pit from the 13th to at least the 25th, and was joined by a second bird on the 23rd. Finally, a Bittern was seen on Long Pit on the 22nd, there were several sightings of Spoonbill and a Great White Egret was seen at Castle Water on the 5th, while 14 Brent Goose were present throughout the month on the new saltmarsh and 18 Barnacle Goose were present at Castle Water on the 29th. Raptors this month included regular Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine over Harbour Farm on the 20th.

Rock Pipit

Passerines during January included 10 Fieldfare at Castle Water on the 23rd, overwintering Chiffchaff on the 29th and the occasional Rock Pipit on the Beach Reserve. In addition to the Shore Larks passerine highlights were Dartford Warbler on Harbour Farm on the 25th and a flock of 10 Corn Bunting over the Beach Reserve on the 22nd, a good count for this increasingly rare resident. There was also a Treecreeper seen at the viewpoint at Castle Water on the 23rd, a very rare occurrence for the reserve!

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