Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Wildlife Sightings – June 2023

At last the weather warmed up and with little rain early during Spring drought conditions slowed the growth of many plants, but then we had some decent rain from 18^th .

Many days of high pressure kept sea levels low and little sea water entered the Flat Beach, so by the end of the month it was dry for the first time since it was flooded 20 years ago.

• The Stinking Hawksbeard had a great season with over 1,100 plants and lots of seed produced. The Red-Hempnettle was stunted as it struggled with the drought. Least Lettuce plants are growing OK, and will flower in July.
• The orchids flowered well with many Common Spotted, Pyramidal and Bee Orchids in the longer grassland, together with a profusion of magenta flowers of Grass Vetchling. The Marsh Helleborine seems late, with no flowers by 30^th.
• The breeding waders Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover and Little Ringed Plover had some success, but some small chicks were still around at the end of the month. A 2 day old Common Redshank chick below.

• A Curlew Sandpiper was reported on 18^th and a Ruff on 30^th. Curlew numbers increased to 50+ by end of month with birds returning to moult here.
• The breeding terns found plenty of small fish in the sea and raised lots of young – 130 pairs Common Tern with 100+ chicks, 78 pairs Sandwich Tern with c.75 and 7 pairs Little Tern with 10 chicks. This tern activity attracted a Roseate Tern on 7^th. 

• A Grey Partridge family of 7-8 chicks was reported near Denny hide on 24^th.
• At Castle Water 2 Cuckoos calling and Bittern booming early in the month and a Kingfisher was seen. Red Kite and Buzzard seen occasionally all month. Marbled White butterflies in the last week.
• The first Sussex Emerald moths caught at the trap 28^th a 29^th.
• Along the shore there were many Sea Gooseberries in first 2 weeks and an exceptional mass stranding of thousands of Blue Jellyfish late in the month - see below.