It's been relentlessly hot and dry over the last couple of weeks - I actually spent a week in Menorca to go somewhere a bit cooler! Water levels on the reserve have been pretty low and the total lack of rain isn't helping, and yet there's still been plenty around to keep us occupied while we're trying to find some shade. Kingfishers are of course the highlight of the reserve and we're flooded with hundreds of photos of our Hub pair who are close to fledging their third brood of young - but there's so much more out there!
Recently we had the return of the Big Wild Sleepout, with families joining staff and volunteers camping overnight on the reserve. As part of the event we had a long pond dipping session, which led to an encouraging volume of juvenile newts, whirligig beetles and some enormous water scorpions. Daubentons and Pipistrelle bats were picked up with detectors during a twilight walk, before the reserve's moth trap was set up overnight. Those we identified in the morning included Elephant Hawkmoth, Jersey Tiger, Canary shouldered thorn, Spectacle, Bright Line Brown Eye, Common Wave, Crescent, Dingy Footman, Marbled Beauty, Pebble Prominent and Rivulet. We also had a few Vestal; a migrant moth from Southern Europe & North Africa.
Backswimmer, Water Scorpion and a juvenile Newt all caught by one lucky pond dipper!
One of many Jersey Tiger Moths that occasionally find their way into the Visitor Centre
Feeding time! Feet up for aerodynamics... (John Lawrence
You'd be forgiven for thinking the only bird on the reserve was a kingfisher this week judging by the sheer volume of photos doing the rounds! But the Daily Sightings logbook in the Visitor Centre reception told a different story from those who jotted down what they saw. The last day of July was a bird of prey extravaganza with Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Kestrel all recorded, along with a Hobby which was brilliantly captured by Steve Dimbleby below. On the ground, a Grass Snake was seen by the Draper Pond, and the two Garganey remained on the Tern Lagoon but out of photo range for most!
On the Draper scrape, four Oystercatchers were seen mixing with the common and green sandpiper, plus Lapwing, Shoveler, and both Grey & Pied Wagtail. Briefly on the 1st a Dunlin appeared before flying off. We've also had Chiffchaff and Blackcaps flitting and foraging among the elder trees in the area. The latter part of the week saw the numbers of Little Egret picking up, a sign of greater things to come...
Finally, on the 4th, we had a first for the site, a Purple Hairstreak butterfly on the oak at the start of the seasonal trail!
Great shot of a Hobby from Steve Dimbleby!
The Grey Heron is earning itself some fame for its poses down at the Kingfisher Hub
Wasps and bees are in residence at the Kingfisher Hub, looks like someone was getting a bit frustrated by them! (Stuart Fox)
A female blackcap among the elderberries (Andre Griggs)
This week will henceforth be known as Heron Week. Mr Personality is still posing down at the Kingfisher Hub, but attention was diverted to the Draper Hide with at least six young herons strutting their stuff. They were pretty quickly flushed out by the Little Egrets which were defending their territory vigorously. But the big draw was on the 9th at the Gadwall Hide, with a Great White Egret perching for a while on the far side of the lagoon!
Elsewhere on the reserve in the early part of the week it was a good time to stand still and listen to lots of small passerines calling, including Reed warbler, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s & Wrens along with a Great spotted Woodpecker. There's lots of Gadwall on site & more Shoveler, and I decided to count the Coot numbers, with over 150 on site! By Thursday there were 16 Mute Swans too, and a Sedge Warbler could also be seen by the Kingfisher Hub.
Butterflies are all around Green veined white, Speckled wood & Red admiral, Common Blue and Holly Blue. The reserve is resplendent in yellow with huge numbers of Common Fleabane in flower. Honey, Common carder and Red Tailed bees are really enjoying the nectar source! There's also plenty of Orange Balsam around - much prettier than its aggressive Himalayan cousin.
Late in the week, highlights included a Willow Warbler and a flyover from some House Martins, but there has also been an interesting spell of sightings for both stoats and weasels around the reserve, including outside the front door of the Visitor Centre! Meanwhile, the two Garganey are still hanging around, occasionally moving to the Gadwall Hide, but seemingly always a long way off!
Migrant Hawker (Rose Newbold)
One of our increasing numbers of Common Blue Butterflies (Rose Newbold)
The Great White Egret at the far end of the Gadwall Lagoon (Kevin Garrett)
Territorial displays from the Little Egrets (David Everett)
A vain Little Egret admiring itself! (Caroline Leonard)
Kingfisher proud of its catch (Alan Revel)
Thank you for reading this edition of the sightings blog and to Mel and our roving team for their contributions. Thank you also to our visitors who have recorded their observations in our sightings logbook and for all the great photographers who share their work!
Matt Bartlett
Visitor Experience Manager - RSPB Rye Meads