Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - November 2022

Chris Bentley
, 01 December 2022
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - November 2022
Great Northern Diver. Image: Colin Boorman

Bird Highlight this month was a Great Northern Diver seen briefly on Ternery Pool on the 26th. Largely a winter visitor to the UK, with birds usually found out at sea, there have only ever been a handful of records of this species at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, with the last in 2008. In North America this and related species are known as Loons, from the Scandinavian word for ‘clumsy’ due to their ungainly walk when on land.

Curlew

Wader numbers continued to grow on the reserve as the year moved on with the bulk provided by Golden Plover, with in excess of 2000 on Flat Beach Level on the 13th, and Oystercatcher, with 600+ roosting on Flat Beach on the 29th. In addition at least 436 Lapwing were present around the reserve on the same date, with 200+ Dunlin here on the 27th, 108 Curlew were seen going in to roost on Harbour Farm on the 17th and at least 100+ Snipe were seen over the reserve on the 27th. Highlights were two Little Stint on the 13th, 19th and 29th and sightings of Spotted Redshank on Harbour Farm on several dates, while at least 29 Grey Plover were on the shore on the 13th and Flat Beach on the 19th, nine Ruff were on Harbour Farm on the 13th, with two Knot on Flat Beach on the same date, and an Avocet was on Flat Beach on the 19th. Similarly good number of waterfowl during November, with 479 Wigeon around the reserve on the 13th, at least 430 Teal at Castle Water on the 22nd and 82 Shoveler on Flat Beach on the 11th, while at least 100 Brent Goose over flew the reserve on the 13th, 52 Pochard were on Long Pit on the same date.

Shoveler

Also 19 Pintail were on Flat Beach on the 10th. Best of the bunch was a Goosander on the 4th, five Great White Egret on Harbour Farm on the 18th, Black-necked Grebe at Castle Water on the 1st and 11th and regular Spoonbill, while at least 85 Common Scoter were offshore on the 19th. Raptors during November included small numbers of Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, with a Buzzard at Castle Water on the 11th and a Merlin on Harbour Farm on the 2nd. Passerine records during October included Swallow over Harbour Farm on the 4th, up to 30 Skylark on the new saltmarsh, and Rock Pipit on the 13th and 19th. Highlights were records of Dartford Warbler on Harbour Farm on the 4th and 16th, Black Redstart on Harbour Farm on the 4th and Beach Reserve on the 20th and two Brambling over Harbour Farm on the 4th. In addition, at least 600 Wood Pigeon overflew the reserve on the 4th and small numbers of Greenfinch were present on the reserve late in the month.

Common Darter

Little in the way of non-avian sightings this month though there were several records of Common Darter early on and a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee was seen at Watch Cottage on the 2nd. Plants in flower included Wild Angelica, Viper’s Bugloss, Ivy, Wild Carrot, Gorse and Yellow Horned-poppy.

Wild Angelica

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Comments

  • Trevor Scott:

    Here in Kent I always enjoy reading the newsletter and especially your lists of birds seen….it’s so encouraging. I belong to Kent wildlife and am quite near to Oar marshes, but they do not seem top give monthly counts like yours. Keep up your great work. Trevor Scott.

    05 Dec 2022 14:13:00

  • Robin Harris:

    Lovely report, Chris. Glad to see the Reserve is flourishing. Hope to be able to be able to visit before too long.

    06 Dec 2022 12:05:00

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