27/04/14 Rye Harbour with the Ashdown Forest Group

Saturday 26th April 2014
Rye Harbour NR
Ashdown Forest Group


Weather conditions were poor at the start but six of us braved the weather and were rewarded with a good day's birding.  At least 60 species were seen, including five to add to my 2014 UK bird list.  Amazing when you think it's not even the end of April and I am close to my last year's total already!

The highlights for me were:-

• Wheatear   Spring is really here when you see this lovely bird return.

Wheatear
Library picture

then we saw all three species of tern on the reserve:-

• Common Tern

Common Tern
Library picture

• Little Tern with it's distinctive yellow beak.

Little Tern
Library picture

• and finally the Sandwich Terns with their black bills and "punk-rocker" hairstyle

Sandwich Terns
Library picture

• the final treat was my first sighting this year of a Yellow Wagtail on the fence just ahead of us.

Yellow Wagtail
Library picture

Additions to UK 2014 Year List:
Wheatear   (197)
Common Tern   (198)
Sandwich Tern   (199)
Little Tern   (200)
Yellow Wagtail   (201)



Today's species count = 60


Today's species list:
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Brent Goose
Shelduck
Gadwall
Shoveler
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Common Scoter
Great-crested Grebe   (10)
Fulmar
Cormorant
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Ringed Plover
Grey Plover   (20)
Mediterranean Gull
Lapwing
Little Gull
Knot
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Whimbrel
Redwing
Turnstone   (30)
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Little Tern
Sandwich Tern
Common Tern
Rock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove   (40)
Skylark
Swallow
Yellow Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blue Tit   (50)
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Fulmar
Buzzard
Kestrel   (60)