Terns and Waders

 Rye Harbour NR - warm, dry and sunny, NE 5 - Thought it was about time I had my fix of breeding terns and waders, so Pat and I (along with Ted) headed down to the magnificent Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for a circular walk around the Beach Reserve. The back-to-back hides provided superb views of all the Common Tern and Black-headed Gull action, with the latter already having well-grown juveniles on the islands amongst several pairs of Mediterranean Gulls; only a couple of Sandwich Terns were seen as they were nesting (c50prs) on the furthest island best viewed from Crittall hide. To complete the tern ensemble we met Colin and Linda near Gooder`s hide who had a Little Tern in the scope on Flat Beach where about 12 pairs are nesting. 

                                 Avocets

                                    Redshank

                                  Turnstone

                                 Oystercatcher

                                 Black-headed Gull colony

                                 Common Tern colony

Breeding waders around the circuit included: Avocet, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Redshank, as well as a passage Curlew, Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and a spanking Grey Plover in full breeding plumage. Also noted: Dabchick, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Linnet. A superb morning`s birding, and we even bumped into the former long-standing warden, Dr Barry Yates, for a natter along the way.