Hi Everyone,
Bryony here... the Visitor Experience Manager at RSPB Rye Meads. It’s been a little while since we shared with you some sightings so with August here we though now would be a good time to let you know what was spotted around the reserve in July.
We’ve had a good array of warblers making themselves known out on the reserve with White Throat, Lesser White Throat, Chiff Chaff, Black Cap, Garden, Reed and Sedge Warbler all making an appearance. We’ve also heard the unmistakable ‘reeling’ of the Grasshopper Warbler out on the meadow – a lovely sound to hear as visitors arrive at the meads.
Grasshopper Warbler - Mike Richards (rspb-images.com)
Goldfinch and Long Tailed tits have been darting around the trails and Common Tern, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Pochard, Stock Dove and Coot have also been seen. A Green Sandpiper was glimpsed flying over and several of our visitors have been lucky enough to see our fantastic Kingfishers whizzing along the waterways. Swifts, Kestrels, Buzzard and Peregrine have been soaring overhead.
A juvenile Cuckoo was seen being fed by a mismatched adult warbler – always a bizarre sight! Weasel and Stoat have been seen silently darting across the trails.
Stoat - Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
As visitors are spending more time on the trails many have been drawn in by the fabulous insect life that calls Rye Meads home. Volunteers and Staff in particular have been sucked into challenging and satisfying world of obscure insect identification.
The meadow section near Draper Hide, trail edges and the showstopping lavender at the Visitor Centre have been the perfect place to observe bees, butterflies and other fascinating insects. Butterfly sightings include Gate Keeper, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Large White, Peacock, Skipper, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Comma, Small Copper and Brimstone. Jersey Tiger Moths are appearing around the trails and Rose Chafer Beetles were spotted. Excitingly, we have had our first record of Six Spot Burnet moths on the tufted vetch by Draper Hide.
We’re looking forward to seeing what sightings August brings and seeing new and regular visitors enjoying the trails.
Until next month…
Bryony
RSPB Rye Meads is open from Sunday to Wednesday (closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday). The reserve is open between 9am and 5pm with toilets available from 10am. Hides and the Visitor Centre remain closed. We have cold drinks, snacks and icecream available to buy.