A visit to Rye Harbour was mainly to see the Terns,Little,Sanwich and Common all breed here along with a large colony of Black Headed Gulls,and good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls,Avocets,Ringed Plovers and Wheatears to name a few.
THE OLD FISHERMANS HUT RYE HARBOUR.
WARNING THIS POST MAY CONTAIN TERNS ………...
LITTLE TERN there were two birds displaying inside the predator fence.
Is he looking up or down ?
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We sat on the beach to have our lunch and were joined by this superb LITTLE TERN.
LITTLE TERN this is an uncropped photo with 400mm lens so it was not that close.
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LT-When we got up so did he and continued his display flight.
LITTLE TERN
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LITTLE TERN with vapour trails.
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LITTLE TERN ..The last one I promise.
SANDWICH TERN bringing home the lunch for the chicks.
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RINGED PLOVER right by the road,was calling loudly,nesting nearby I assume.
RINGED PLOVER
COMMON TERNS are still sitting on eggs.
COMMON TERN
SANDWICH TERN
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ANY BOTANIST ID THIS PLANT PLEASE.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL
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AVOCET.
A really memorable day with the Terns of Rye Harbour.
Third time lucky with Bonapartes Gull at Oare finally got the timing right on the rising tide..
BONAPARTES GULL first seen in the creek
It then flew along the Swale
BONAPARTES GULL in flight
I then found it again on the mud west of the slipway,this adult bird now in its sixth visit to Oare is a vagrant from North America,where it goes after moulting out of its breeding plumage is a mystery.
Comparison with Black Headed Gull
Smaller with a black head and black bill and brighter red legs.
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EYES TO THE SKY
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BONAPARTES GULL.
That's just about all for now,I am off to Northumberland next week so watch this space for a puffin fest hopefully very soon.To finish a couple of other shots from Oare,a Small Heath and a Thames Barge
SMALL HEATH resting on WILD CARROT
BARGE IN FULL SAIL ON THE SWALE.
