JANUARY
Little Grebes were scarce until late in the month with at least 16 at Ternery Pool (29th), and there was a Slavonian Grebe at the Long Pit (from 9th), Bittern were regular all month being most easily seen at dusk at Castle Water, where there were also 19 Grey Herons and 1-2 Little Egrets.
Shelduck numbers increased to 31 and there were up to 300 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 110 Mallard, 4 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 93 Pochard, 95 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Scoter, 7 Goldeneye, 4 Smew (including 2 adult males), a male Red-breasted Merganser (4th & 12th) and a Ruddy Duck.
There were regular Sparrowhawk and Merlin, occasional single Hen Harriers, including a male on 2 dates, a Goshawk (16th) and a Peregrine (10th).
The Oystercatcher roost reached 560, Ringed Plover numbers increased to 35, Sanderling to 255, Dunlin 380, but there were few Snipe with a max. of just 5 and Redshank 60. At nearby Pett Level up to 685 Curlew were feeding on the wet grassland by day and most, if not all roosted at Rye Harbour at night. The only uncommon gulls noted were an adult and first year Little Gull (6th).
Barn and Little Owls were seen regularly, but 3 Long-eared Owls were seen on the edge of their roost during strong sunshine.
Chiffchaffs were regular during the first half of the month and included a "tristis" (11th & 12th) and there were 2 Bearded Tits at Castle Water (10th).
FEBRUARY
The water bird highlights this month included two Little Egrets throughout, a female Scaup on Ternery Pool on three dates and a young male at Castle Water on 10th, up to three drake Smew and seven ‘redheads’, up to three Spotted Redshank regularly on Ternery Pool from 13th and Green Sandpiper on two dates.
Further peak counts within Rye Harbour SSSI included 11 Little Grebes, 28 Cormorants, 600 Wigeon at Castle Water, 87 Pochard, 146 Tufted Duck, six Goldeneye, up to three Ruddy Duck on Ternery Pool from 17th, and 282 Coots. Additional counts from Pett Level on 15th included 188 Teal, 14 Pintail, 45 Shoveler, and 81 Moorhen. Offshore there, numbers of Red-throated Divers and Great Crested Grebe fluctuated considerably, peaking at 25 and 119 respectively.
High tide wader roosts on Rye Harbour shore yielded up to 385 Oystercatcher, 68 Ringed Plover, 56 Grey Plover, and 430 Dunlin, while the meadows just inland held 2790 Lapwing on 10th, with moderate numbers remaining all month, although Golden Plover numbers were generally low. Camber Sands also attracted up to 70 Sanderling. Two Ruff flew over the beach reserve on 15th and the beach itself attracted 545 roosting Curlew on the evening of 10th. An attempt to count the numbers of gulls roosting there on 23rd produced counts of 3,000 Black-headed, 16,000 Common and six adult Mediterranean Gulls.
birds of prey were represented by widespread Kestrel and Sparrowhawk, and regular sightings of Merlin at Rye Harbour. Also there, a Peregrine was seen offshore on 26th, two Long-eared Owls remained faithful to their roost all month, and Barn and Little Owls were present throughout. Harriers were only reported from Pett Level however, with Hen Harrier and a single Marsh Harrier noted during the month.
Passerines included three Stonechat and at least 80 Fieldfare roosting at Rye Harbour, but the highlight came with the sighting of a shore lark near the river mouth on 20th. Mild, southerly airflow during the latter half of the month brought an early taste of spring, with three exceptionally early Swallow at Pett Level on 26th.
MARCH
This month typically saw the steady departure of many of our wintering waterbirds. The regular pair of Little Egrets were not seen after 13th and the Bittern remained at Castle Water until at least 21st. Peak counts of wildfowl included up to 143 Wigeon, only six Gadwall, 45 Teal, 25 Shoveler, a presumed escaped leucistic Red-crested Pochard, 124 Tufted duck and seven Goldeneye. Smew numbered up to seven, including two drakes, and were last seen on 18th. Up to three Ruddy Duck were on Ternery Pool. Northpoint Pit produced a drake Scaup on 15th.
Wader numbers were also reduced, including peak counts of 305 Oystercatcher, 40 Ringed Plover, 49 Lapwing and 114 Curlew. A Ruff was at Ternery Pool on 24th, followed by four, including a white-headed male, at Wader Pool on 28th. Green Sandpipers were recorded at Castle Water on two dates.
The sea produced two Slavonian Grebe on 18th, regular Brent Geese migrating east from 13th (max. 160 on 29th), up to 95 Common Scoter and four Velvet Scoter on 13th. A sea watch early on 23rd yielded eight Velvet Scoter, a Red-necked Grebe, five Eider and seven Red-breasted Merganser. Mediterranean Gulls were in evidence throughout the month, up to six in number. The evening beach roost on 14th held 11000 Black-headed and 20000 Common Gulls. Numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls increased, with 42 at Harbour Farm on 10th.
Other winter visitors remaining included a ringtail Hen Harrier at Pett Level, plus a male at Ternery Pool on 23rd, regular Merlin, up to three Long-eared Owls in their regular roost until at least 23rd, a Short-eared Owl at Flat Beach on 31st and a Shore Lark frequently showing well at the River Mouth from 22nd.
Southerly airflows at the month’s end encouraged the arrival of incoming spring migrants. The first Sandwich Tern was seen at Ternery Pool on 9th, with the main arrival from 25th. By the end of the month 104 had arrived. Wheatear were slow to arrive. Following a male on 8th, there were no further sightings until 22nd, with the main arrival from 28th. Several White Wagtails were at Castle Farm on 24th. Chiffchaff were regular throughout the month, and the first Blackcap and Willow Warbler were in the Wood on 28th. Firecrest were seen at Northpoint Pit on 15th and Rye Harbour on 29th and 30th. At least four Black Redstarts were seen from 28th. Finally, a Yellow Wagtail flew north on 30th and at least six Swallows arrived at Ternery Pool on 31st.
APRIL
Outbound winter visitors and incoming summer migrants brought a varied selection of species during the month. Lingering and returning winter birds included up to 34 Brent Geese early in the month, single figures of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler throughout, up to 48 Common Scoter at sea, Goldeneye until 20th, Merlin on five dates, Peregrine twice, the Shore Lark until 9th, Rock Pipits until 12th, Bramblings on 7th and 20th and two Siskin on 19th.
Returning summer migrants were not always greeted with favourable weather, although many species were plentiful by the month’s end. First dates included Little Ringed Plover on 2nd, Common Tern from 3rd, Sedge Warbler from 7th, Reed Warbler from 9th, Sand Martin on 11th (at last!), Whimbrel and House Martin from 12th, Little Tern from 17th, Swift, Redstart and Whitethroat on 19th, Cuckoo from 21st, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, a Great Skua, and Turtle Dove all on 22nd and Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat on 24th.
Scarcer migrants included Little Gull on three dates, at least two Blue-headed Wagtails, a male Ring Ouzel from 10th to 18th, Black Redstart on 14th, two Pied Flycatchers on 22nd, Marsh Harrier heading NE on 28th and a Woodlark on 29th.
Additional passage waders were represented by single Avocet on 1st, Ruff on 10th, and regular Green Sandpiper. On the last day of the month the Whimbrel roost at the Quarry held 305 birds, whilst the shore attracted 67 Bar-tailed Godwit, along with smaller numbers of Knot and Grey Plover, four Greenshank and last but not least a female Kentish Plover.
Herons provided the real gems of the month however, with a Purple Heron frequenting Castle Water and Narrow Pit from 26th to 28th, and the county’s first Cattle Egret since 1986, in fine summer plumage, commuting between Castle Water and Pannel Valley from 24th to 26th. On the latter date, both of these birds roosted on the same willow-clad island at Castle Water!
The highlights from Pett Level were a group of four summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe close inshore and a White Wagtail on 9th.
MAY
The run of rarities at the end of April continued in to early May, with the highlight being a Lesser Crested Tern on 4th, which left the tern roost at Ternery Pool at 0510 hours. The Purple Heron also reappeared at Castle Water that afternoon. This site also attracted a Great Reed Warbler on 8th, which frequented a large reedy ditch, calling and showing well occasionally. A Raven was on Saunders’ Fields on 12th, a Roseate Tern was attracted to the tern colony at Ternery Pool on 26th and 27th, and three summer plumaged Black-necked Grebes were on the sea on 31st. Highlights from nearby were two Black Kites together and a Crag Martin watched feeding for ten minutes with other hirundines at Pett Level on 10th.
Birds of prey included Merlin on 3rd, Marsh Harrier on 9th and 28th, daily Hobby (max. three on 30th) and Peregrine on three dates, probably involving a young female throughout the month. A Short-eared Owl was seen at the Beach Reserve on 13th.
The peak count of Whimbrel was close to the average for recent years, peaking at 375 leaving the roost at dawn on 4th. Other passage waders of note were Spotted Redshank on 1st, regular Black-tailed Godwit from 4th (max. 13 on 21st), a black male Ruff on 5th, Wood Sandpiper on 17th and Curlew Sandpiper on 17th and 21st. Two Arctic Skuas were chasing terns in the bay on 2nd. Gulls included up to four Mediterranean Gulls occasionally, and regular first year Little Gull.
The Black-headed Gull colony at Ternery Pool was considerably quieter than usual, only holding about 90 occupied nests. This compares with 350 pairs in 1997. Common Terns on the other hand seem to be heading for a record year, with about 100 pairs nesting on the islands by the end of the month along with seven pairs of Sandwich Terns. Most Little Terns decided to nest on the beach again, away from the electric fenced areas. At least 19 pairs had laid by the month’s end. Electrified flexinet fencing has been erected around the main colony this year in an attempt to protect nests and chicks from foxes and badgers.
Other sightings of note included a record count of 110 Mute Swans on 17th, a Quail reported on 24th, Arctic Tern on 26th, two Black Terns reported on 23rd, singing Nightingale at Narrow Pit on 14th and Grasshopper Warblers reeling on two dates.
Additional wildlife included nine species of dragonflies and thirteen species of butterflies, notably Hairy Dragonfly, Variable Damselfly and Brown Argus. Six Bottle-nosed Dolphins were watched breaching offshore on 24th. A superb floristic display was provided by the whites and pinks of Sea-kale and Red Valerian carpeting the Beach Reserve.
JUNE
Scarce avian visitors were generally few and far between during the month, with highlights being two drake Garganey on 4th, a ringtail Hen Harrier on 6th, several Hobby throughout, Little Egret on 9th and two or three on 14th, first-year Little Gull on four dates to 12th and just one Mediterranean Gull on 20th.
The main interest was provided by breeding birds, notably the Nature Reserve's first breeding record of Little Ringed Plover, with one pair successfully hatching three or four chicks on 24th, two of which were still surviving at the end of the month. Little Terns were not having as much success. Many nests hatched out from 12th, but once again a Kestrel incurred serious chick losses, apparently taking most chicks soon after hatching, before they were old enough to take advantage of the chick shelters provided. Terns at Ternery Pool fared much better, with about 120 Common Tern nests and 13 pairs of Sandwich Terns, and many chicks hatched during the month.
Further breeding bird interest included at least 43 Cormorant nests in the colony at Castle Water, having risen from just six pairs during the first nesting season there last year. Wheatear numbered at least eight pairs on the shingle beach, several of these successfully rearing fledged young.
Migrant activity was low and involved mainly waders. A few Grey Plover, Sanderling and Black-tailed Godwit were still passing through early in the month, and Whimbrel records probably involved both pre- and post-breeding migrants. Up to four Green Sandpipers were at Castle Water from 12th, and Common Sandpiper was first noted on 24th. About 400 Lapwing had gathered by the month's end.
A few migrant butterflies arrived including several Painted Ladies, and a Clouded Yellow on 21st. Daily moth trapping yielded some rarer migrants in the latter half of the month, notably Rest Harrow on 20th, Silver Barred, three Bordered Straws, Small Mottled Willow and Gem. A wide range of dragonflies on the wing included Hairy Dragonfly, Red-eyed Damselfly and Ruddy Darter.
JULY
Highlights from Rye Harbour SSSI were two Black-necked Grebe at Ternery Pool from 2nd with one remaining in to August, Little Egret on 2nd then one or two regularly from 13th, Hobby on just two dates, Peregrine regularly hunting at Ternery Pool from 22nd, adult Curlew Sandpiper at Ternery Pool on 24th and two Mediterranean Gulls over Long Pit on 6th.
The breeding season drew to a close for many birds. Despite good hatching success, no Little Terns fledged, due mainly to predation by kestrel and fox. Common and Sandwich Terns on the other hand had high fledging success, and the pair of Little Ringed Plover fledged two young. Most Cuckoos had departed by the middle of the month.
A variety of returning wildfowl and waders started to appear, especially at Ternery from mid month, including small numbers of Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Greenshank, up to 21 Black-tailed Godwit from 23rd, and good numbers of Common Sandpiper. An unseasonal Brent Goose was also there from 11th to 18th, and Water Rail on 2nd and 30th. Waders elsewhere included a Grey Plover on 3rd, Snipe from 13th, Sanderling from 22nd, up to 19 Whimbrel, and 48 Curlew along the shore by 24th. Up to eight Green Sandpiper were present daily at Castle Water and a flock of 15 dropped in to Long Pit prior to a thunderstorm on 20th. Sand Martins were also on the move throughout the month, including at least 450 on 16th.
Pett Level Pool was drained by the Sussex Ornithological Society mid month, and soon became attractive to up to four Garganey, nine Little Ringed Plover, 21 Black-tailed Godwit, at least two Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint on 25th.
Moth trapping highlights included two Plumed Fanfoots, the eighth and ninth British records, and a Striped Hawkmoth. A Red-veined Darter dragonfly was at Northpoint Pit at the end of the month.
AUGUST
The most notable birds recorded this month were the Black-necked Grebe, remaining at Ternery Pool until 9th, and an adult Roseate Tern there on 2nd and 5th. Also of note were Little Egrets, present in record numbers by the end of the month when nine roosted in trees at Castle Water overnight.
The wildfowl highlight was provided by up to four Garganey at Pett Pools. Ternery Pool also attracted one or two on a few dates in addition to up to13 Gadwall and 30 Shoveler. A good selection of waders included Little Ringed Plovers, a few Knot from 15th, small numbers of Little Stint, mostly in the first half of the month, adult Curlew Sandpiper at Pett Pools on 2nd, and up to three juveniles at Ternery Pool from 29th, a few Ruff, up to 15 Black-tailed Godwit at Pett and Ternery Pools until 21st, Spotted Redshank over Castle Water on 9th and Wood Sandpiper at Wader Pool on 1st and Pett Pools on 15th. The only Arctic Skua noted was chasing terns out from the Rother mouth on 24th. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Pett Pools on 3rd and a Black Tern was at Castle Water on 31st.
Bird of prey interested was provided by regular juvenile Marsh Harrier, mainly at Castle Water from 9th, occasional Hobby at Pett Level and Rye Harbour and Peregrine also at these sites on two dates. Passerine migrants included a Pied Flycatcher at Castle Water on 12th.
The real rarities of the month were in the insect department. Moth highlights at Rye Harbour SSSI were another Plumed Fanfoot, the third this year, four Jersey Tigers, a Vestal and the pyralid moth Hymenia recurvalis. Early in the month, a Red-veined Darter dragonfly provided the first record for the Beach Reserve, and rarer still, a Lesser Emperor was present near Castle Water on 8th following one of the first British records there last year! Survey work, as part of the Two Bays Project, led to the discovery of a Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) on the outskirts of Rye, apparently the first record in Rye Bay since 1922. This boldly marked black and yellow striped beast is restricted to just a few coastal areas in south-east Britain.
SEPTEMBER
Pett Level produced the bulk of the rarities this month, with the 11th and 12th in particular producing an exceptional selection. On the first date there was a Bluethroat and an Osprey and nine Marsh Harriers roosted in the evening. The next day, during a passage lasting less than an hour an Osprey, three Honey Buzzards a Red-footed Falcon and a White Stork passed over. Temminck’s Stint was present on 5th and a Pectoral Sandpiper made a brief appearance later in the month. The highlight from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve was a Red-backed Shrike on 17th.
Other scarce migrants at Rye Harbour SSSI included regular Garganey at Ternery Pool from 13th, Little Stints and Curlew Sandpipers throughout the month with up to seven and five respectively at Ternery Pool, Wood Sandpiper at Wader Pool on 13th, a Little Gull and two Black Terns at Castle Water until 11th and Firecrests on three dates from 22nd. Eight Little Egrets were present early in the month, dropping to five by 24th. Merlin was present throughout at the Beach Reserve, Peregrine was noted on two dates and Hobby was frequent until mid month. Unfortunately the only Short-eared Owl was a casualty with a broken wing under power cables at Harbour Farm on 29th. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Castle Farm on 13th.
Numbers of wildfowl and waders increased during the month as birds returned to winter, including up to 550 Mallard and a record 198 Greylag Geese attracted to stubble fields, 76 Shoveler and 420 Curlew. Lapwing and Golden Plover flocks became a more regular feature of the levels, joined by the occasional Bar-tailed Godwit and Ruff. Swallows and martins were heading east along the coast throughout the month, along with hundreds of Meadow Pipits and finches towards the end of the month.
Calm, cloudy nights during the last week produced the best selection of moths, most notably a Golden Twin-spot, Scarce Bordered Straws, Vestals, Palpita unionalis and Convolvulus Hawk-moth. The Marsh Mallow Moth was on the wing at one of its two British sites on Romney Marsh.
OCTOBER
The most notable birds seen during the month were a Honey Buzzard at sea out from the river mouth on 3rd, which drifted off south in to the Channel, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Pett Level mid month, Lapland Bunting on 11th & 13th, and a Siberian Stonechat at Lime Kiln Cottage on 29th - only the second county record of this subspecies. Also of note were a Firecrest (1st), a Garganey at Ternery Pool on 2nd and two on 13th, two Avocets (3rd), over 20 Ring Ouzels (4th-11th), Marsh Harrier (8th), Black-necked Grebe at Castle Water on several dates (9th-29th), Slavonian Grebe at Northpoint Pit (11th), Short-eared Owl (18th), and at least two Bearded Tits at Castle Water (18th).
Many summer visitors and passage migrants were departing: Yellow Wagtail was last recorded on 12th, Tree Pipits passed over until 13th, a few Little Stints were noted to 14th, and up to four Little Egrets were present until 15th. The last Redstart and Lesser Whitethroat were seen on 4th, Reed Warbler on 15th and Sedge Warbler on 18th. Chiffchaffs were in good numbers until mid month. Other passage migrants included a Ruff at Pett Level (11th), two Jack Snipe at Wader Pool (20th), Black-tailed Godwit at Pett Level (13th & 16th), four Spotted Redshank on the Rother (26th), regular Greenshank all month, Green Sandpiper until mid month and three Arctic and a Great Skua offshore (13th).
Incoming winter visitors added to the variety, with a Scaup on Long Pit (14th), a regular flock of Eider off the river mouth from 9th (max. 25, 12th), and 35 Common Scoter (31st). Raptors included ringtail Hen Harrier from 25th, daily Merlin and a regular juvenile Peregrine. Wader numbers were building up, with 230 Golden Plover at Castle Farm (15th), 1400 Lapwing at Pett Level (11th), and 460 Oystercatchers at Camber Sands (29th). Rock Pipits were present from the start of the month (max. 6, 11th) and finches could often be seen heading west, including Brambling on several dates from 10th (max. seven, 15th).
By the month’s end, few insects were still evident, although sunny days were still encouraging Common Darters, Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals to fly.
NOVEMBER
The month’s highlights included a Great Northern Diver regularly at Scotney Pit, Slavonian Grebe on the sea off Rye Harbour on 4th, followed by one on the Long Pit on 16th, Bittern at Castle Water on 26th and still four Little Egrets roosting at Castle Water. Ternery Pool held three Scaup for most of the month, and also two redhead Smew and up to ten Goldeneye late in the month. Off the Rother mouth a flock of up to 50 Eider have been present all month, an excellent improvement on the two or three usually present here. Up to 250 Common Scoter and four Velvet Scoter were also present until mid month, but fewer were seen thereafter.
Birds of prey included a few Hen Harriers at various sites within the Bay, along with Merlins and at Rye Harbour a regular young female Peregrine.
High rainfall early in the month moistened the meadows sufficiently for them to be very attractive to various wading birds. Up to 820 Golden Plover were at Castle Farm on 3rd and 5500 Lapwing at Pett Level on 8th. Three Avocets flew over Tenery Pool on 17th, two Green Sandpipers were still present along the Royal Military Canal at Pett Level until mid month, and a Common Sandpiper remained at Northpoint Pits until 7th at least.
A few Little Gulls were seen during the first week of the month, and two Mediterranean Gulls were also recorded. A first-winter Arctic Tern was fishing off Pett Level on 20th - one of the latest Sussex records.
Passerine interest was provided by a Woodlark flying west near Rye Harbour on 11th, two Shore Larks in the Wader Pool area on 11th & 12th, the last three House Martins on 10th, Black Redstarts at Lime Kiln Cottage on 7th & 12th, several Firecrests, at least three male Bearded Tits and a Dartford Warbler at Castle Water, a Serin calling as it flew north over the Rother mouth on 11th, Lapland Bunting near Lime Kiln Cottage on 13th and up to five Twite around the Wader Pool from mid month.
DECEMBER
A good selection of scarce wintering birds combined with good numbers of commoner species provided some good birdwatching opportunities throughout the month. Highlights from Rye Harbour SSSI included four Little Egrets using the site mainly for roosting overnight, three Pink-footed Geese at Ternery Pool (14th), up to seven ‘redhead’ and two drake Smew, adult Glaucous Gull along the shore (15th), a Shore Lark on the beach all month, Penduline Tit near Narrow Pit (28th) - the first site record, up to four Twite around the river and Wader Pool and two Lapland Bunting by Ternery Pool (19th).
A good variety of seabirds were present offshore including maxima of 26 Red-throated Diver, 80 Great Crested Grebe, one Red-necked Grebe (4th), two Slavonian Grebes, six Gannets, 55 Eider, 130 Common Scoter flying west (4th), five Velvet Scoter (6th), and six Red-breasted Merganser. Fresh southerly winds on 30th pushed one adult Little Gull, 30 Kittiwakes, 30 Guillemots and two Razorbills in to the bay off Rye Harbour.
Waders included 2150 Lapwing at Harbour Farm (30th), three Woodcock at Narrow Pit (25th) and Green Sandpiper over Castle Water (7th). Counts of shoreline waders included 500 Oystercatcher, 42 Ringed Plover, 43 Grey Plover, one Knot, 230 Sanderling, 600 Dunlin, two Black-tailed Godwit (7th) and 500 Curlew. The beach also attracted two Mediterranean Gulls and 3000 roosting Herring Gulls (22nd).
Freshwater bodies were also productive: Scotney Pit had a Great Northern Diver all month, Pett Level Pools attracted a Red-necked Grebe (6th), and a Slavonian Grebe was at Narrow Pits (25th-29th) as were two Bittern (6th), one of which remained all month. Eleven Barnacle Geese which flew past the Rother mouth (5th) were at Pett Level Pools the next day, but none of the three White-fronted Goose flocks were seen to land (max. 39, 13th), as was the case with groups of seven (16th) and two (18th) Goosander. Cold weather on the continent was perhaps responsible for the increasing numbers of duck. At Rye Harbour SSSI, counts on 6th and 7th included 160 Wigeon, 98 Gadwall, 94 Teal, 90 Shoveler and six Goldeneye. Water rails were also in good numbers at this time, e.g. four at Narrow Pit. Up to eight Scaup also frequented the pits and a Long-tailed duck visited Ternery Pool (13th).
Birds of prey added to the variety with Hen Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine being widespread and regularly sighted. A Short-eared Owl was at Harbour Farm (10th). Passerines included good numbers of Chiffchaffs for the time of year (e.g. five at Rye Harbour SSSI and eight at Pett Level), a Firecrest at Narrow Pit (31st) and a Nuthatch at Rye Harbour - a rare bird there!
