Hello
Another lovely day at Rye Meads.
When i came in this morning i noticed we had sightings of a garganey from the tern hide over the weekend a good sign of autumn passage. So i had a stroll down to see if it was still about and there were 2 wigeon, a little egret and a couple of green sandpipers along with 4 black tailed godwits, mixed in amongst 92 lapwings and plenty of gadwall. We have an autumn passage event with the Rye Meads Ringing Group on saturday 7th september, 8am, so of you want to get close up views of many of our breeding warblers in migratory condition and hear about the varying strategies of birds southerly migration this is the event for you. Please call 01992 708383 to book on.
We are getting water vole sightings reported from a new location, the culvert created over the winter. They like sitting on the tree trunks that support it and are quite often seen swimming along the edges of the ditch. Many of the usual sights are also still active ie the kingfisher hide, bridge to the ashby hide and the feeding platform in the toll stream visible from the first boardw walk out from the visitor centre. Which i have restocked with apples today so make sure to have a look if you are passing.
I came in on sunday morning to empty the moth trap with the participants of the Big Wild Sleep Out, unfortunaltly due to technical problems with the trap and weather issues there were not too many moths caught but we had 9 species including buff ermine, garden rose tortrix, lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing, lesser yellow underwing and and a lovely marked Bordered gothic. So every one got to see and enjoy these moths really well. As i am writing this there is pyrausta aurata on the marjoram in the herb bed outside my window which is lovely.
pyrausta aurata on chives
I hope all of you who participated in the Big Wild Sleep Out over the weekend had a really lovely time. I know all who joined us at Rye meads did and i am sure there will be some pictures shared with you from the event soon.
thanks
Vicky