Summary of the year to date
The Observation pages contain a synopsis of the more interesting sightings of birds at Rye Meads over the past year, plus a summary of last year.
Observations in May and June
With the focus on breeding surveys and nest-finding, not many rigorous counts were made in the period, but one showed 279 Gadwalls on site in late June, a measure of how important Rye Meads has become for this species for breeding as well as wintering.
A pair of Black-necked Grebes was present for three days, temporarily raising hopes of a breeding attempt.
Another female Marsh Harrier passed through in May, and one day brought three species of falcon in view at the same time - Kestrel, Hobby and Peregrine. How things have changed in the past 20 years or so!
Another Black-tailed Godwit paid a brief visit, and there were up to 2 Common Sandpipers on a few dates. Otherwise, handfuls of records of Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Redshank most likely were visitors from breeding pairs at nearby Amwell. The period also brought probably both the last Spring and the first Autumn records of both Snipe and Green Sandpiper.
Although two male Cuckoos were heard singing in May, no females were recorded and the last male only just made it into June. It seems that Cuckoo may no longer be a Rye Meads breeding bird, just like Turtle Dove, of which the now seemingly sole annual record was in May. There was also a couple of further records of Yellow Wagtail.
It has been possible to see or hear ten species of warbler at Rye Meads this Spring, and breeding numbers seem to be good, so we are hopeful of a bumper harvest when ringing gets under full sail following the breeding lull.
June has traditionally been the month for woodland wanderers to Rye Meads, and this one proved no exception with a Goldcrest, a Marsh Tit, and a Nuthatch all recorded.