Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - January 2023

Bird highlight during January were two Shore Lark which were briefly present on the new saltmarsh opposite the Discovery Centre on the 15^th. 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 11^th, 485 Oystercatcher and 450+ Dunlin on Flat Beach on the 22^nd and 304 Curlew on Harbour Farm on the 11^th. In addition, 65 Ringed Plover and at least 42 Grey Plover were present on Flat Beach on the 20^th, 20 Knot here on the 4^th 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 22^nd 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 1^st and 50 Shelduck on the 29^th. In addition, at least three Goldeneye, with one male, were present on

Male Shoveler

Harbour Farm on the 28^th and a ‘redhead’ Goosander was on Flat Beach on the 20^th. On Castle Water the long-staying Black-necked Grebe was recorded on the 5^th and 11^th while a Slavonian Grebe was present on Long Pit from the 13^th to at least the 25^th, and was joined by a second bird on the 23^rd. Finally, a Bittern was seen on Long Pit on the 22^nd, 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 29^th. Raptors this month included regular Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine over Harbour Farm on the 20^th.

Rock Pipit

Passerines during January included 10 Fieldfare at Castle Water on the 23^rd, overwintering Chiffchaff on the 29^th 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 25^th and a flock of 10 Corn Bunting over the Beach Reserve on the 22^nd, a good count for this increasingly rare resident. There was also a Treecreeper seen at the viewpoint at Castle Water on the 23^rd, a very rare occurrence for the reserve!