Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sightings - October 2022

Star bird this month was a first winter Red-necked Phalarope which was present on the Beach Reserve from the 16^th until the 30^th, the first reserve record since 2003. There are perhaps two million pairs of this tiny wader worldwide, though the UK population, in Shetland, is only around 50 pairs. While breeding birds from most of the rest of Europe overwinter in the Arabian Sea, UK breeders fly to the eastern Pacific to winter, a trip of around 10,000 km! The Red-necked’ in the English names come from the colour of the summer plumage, while phalarope comes from Ancient Greek and means ‘coot foot’, referring to their lobed feet.

Merlin

Golden Plover numbers on Flat Beach rose throughout the month peaking at around 2000 on the 29^th, while up to 45 Snipe and 19 Grey Plover were present on Harbour Farm and 53 Ringed Plover on the Beach Reserve. Regular Greenshank included four at Castle Water on the 24^th, and there were also small number of Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Knot, Ruff and Sanderling throughout the month. Highlights were up to three Little Stint on Flat Beach Level late in the month, Curlew Sandpiper on the 9^th and 14th (two) and regular Spotted Redshank with two on Harbour Farm on the 14^th. Waterfowl numbers began to increase as we headed into autumn, with counts of 300+ Wigeon, 150 Teal and 32 Pintail during the month. Spoonbill was regular during October, with four on Harbour Farm on the 8^th, while two Great White Egret were sighted at Castle Water on the 16th and a Black-necked Grebe here on the 8th. This month also saw probably the last of this year’s terns with a single Sandwich Tern on Harbour

Dartford Warbler

Farm on the 19^th. Raptors included late Hobby on Harbour Farm on the 6^th and 22^nd, Buzzard on the 11^th at Castle Water and regular Marsh Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine. Star bird however was a male Hen Harrier at Castle Water on the 8^th. Short-eared Owl were seen on Harbour Farm on the 22^nd and the Beach Reserve on the 26^th. Passerines included small number of Swallow and House Martin throughout the month, while an influx of Stonechat saw at least 17 present on the 10^th, with small numbers of Wheatear on the 15^th and 16^th and a couple of Redwing near Narrow Pit on the 25^th. Best of the bunch were a Dartford Warbler seen on Harbour Farm between the 12^th and the 27^th and a Black Restart in Camber Castle on the 27^th, while single Grey Wagtail were present on Harbour Farm on the 9^th and Flat Beach Level on the 17^th. In addition a Coal Tit near Long Pit on the 15^th was a real surprise and the first record in the area since 2010!

Crimson Speckled. Image: Katherine Crowther

Highlights in the moth trap this month included Olive-tree Pearl, Scarce Bordered Straw, Gem, Vestal and Dark Sword-grass, while, a Crimson Speckled was found on the 27^th, the first reserve record. This month also saw a record of Monarch butterfly in Rye Harbour Village on the 26^th and Clouded Yellow on the Beach Reserve on the 6^th and at Narrow Pit on the 27^th, while there were still a few records of Sea Aster Bee early in the month. Plants in flower this month included Least Lettuce, Yellow-horned Poppy, Sea Campion, Ivy, Red Deadnettle, White Deadnettle, Viper’s Bugloss and Autumn Hawkbit.

White Deadnettle