Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Wildlife Sightings: April 2025

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, 08 May 2025
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Wildlife Sightings: April 2025
Black Tern © High Clark FRPS

David Bentley

Volunteer and Trustee of the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Hot on the heels of the sunniest March on record, came the sunniest, and third warmest, April on record for the UK. Rainfall was well below average. This long period of dry, warm weather may be great for visitors, but bear in mind that it brings problems for birds, particularly those that require soft ground for feeding. 

April is always an exciting month, with the bulk of our summer migrants making their first appearances back on the nature reserve. The first returning Little Terns were seen on 7th (there would be 14 present by the end of the month), when there were already more than 200 Sandwich Terns already in situ; the first Common Tern was spotted on 9th. A single Little Gull was seen on 3rd. Spring Black Terns in breeding plumage are a real treat. There was one at Castle Water on 12th and another at Flat Beach on 23rd.

A Hen Harrier was seen at Castle Water on 8th and again on the 14th. Another was recorded in between those dates, by the river on 10th. It's not clear how many birds these sightings involved. One lucky visitor happened upon a roosting Long-eared Owl at the start of the month and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting on a few occasions between 27th and 30th.

Short-eared Ow
Short-eared Owl © Jack Branscombe

A Bittern continued to 'boom' intermittently at Castle Water, where a summer plumage Black-necked Grebe was seen on 9th. There were 12 Cattle Egret in the fields north of Camber Castle on 8th, rising to 14 on the 10th. The first Spoonbill for a while, graced the New Saltmarsh on the 22nd. The first Cuckoo of the year, always special, was heard calling early in the morning on 14th near Watch Cottages.

Bittern
Bittern © Barry Yates

Water levels at Castle Water are still too high for waders (although there was a Greenshank there on 19th), and so the Flat Beach and New Saltmarsh provided the best opportunities with nine Black-tailed Godwit on 24th, 34 Bar-tailed Godwit on 26th and 52 Whimbrel on 27th.

Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit © Roger Wilmshurst

Our over-wintering Spotted Redshank was changing its appearance as the month progressed, rapidly approaching full summer plumage when it was last seen on 19th. This was almost the same date that, likely the same bird, was last seen in spring 2024.

Quality habitat for breeding waders is almost non-existent in the wider countryside, so the reserve's wetlands are of critical importance. A pair of Lapwing seen with at least three young at Nook Meadows on the 25th was living proof.

Warblers were back in force by the end of the month with first recorded dates this month being 6th for Sedge, 10th for Reed, 11th  for Common Whitethroat and 15th for Lesser Whitethroat.

Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler © Barry Yates

The first lemon-drop male Yellow Wagtails are always delightful to see; there were six on 9th and four on 16th at Castle Water. Spring Whinchats are hard to come by, so one on 26th near Nook Meadows was lovely.

Yellow Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail © Derek Middleton

A Downy Emerald dragonfly was seen on 27th, near Barn Pools.

Downy Emerald dragonfly
Downy Emerald dragonfly © Derek Middleton

Ivy-leaved Toadflax and Sea Kale are coming into flower on the beach. Further inland, Common Gorse is past its best, but Hawthorn is in full flower.

Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Ivy-leaved Toadflax © Barry Yates

It's moth-trapping season once again, with a Common Quaker found on 1st, a Clouded Drab and Hebrew Character on 2nd and a Muslin on 8th. 

Muslin moth
Muslin moth © Graeme Lyons

Towards the end of the month, sightings included a Pebble Prominent on 21st and a Buff Tip, Swallow Prominent and Treble Lines on the 28th.

Buff Tip
Buff Tip © Bob Eade

Thanks go to all the visitors whose observations contribute to the monthly sighting reports. If you have spotted something interesting on the reserve, please do make a record via https://irecord.org.uk/, and if you think it is particularly significant, please let us know at [email protected].

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Comments

  • Luci collings:

    Caught a White Satin moth last night on The Ridge. These have not been found in this area before have they – according to the Kent moth distribution map…….

    15 Jun 2025 21:10:00

  • Andy McClean:

    Many thanks for this. I will be visiting next week.

    18 Apr 2026 08:46:00

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