Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
24th July 2006, MondayThe weekly butterfly/dragonfly count at Castle Water continues to turn up interesting insects. The Lesser Emperor was still present on the reserve today, this time patrolling the northern end of the pit during the afternoon, while several ovipositing Small Red-eyed Damselfly were also found (below), the first confirmed breeding on the reserve for this recent colonist. The most surprising sighting however was a very worn Silver-washed Fritillary basking on bushes near the door of Castle Water hide, only the second reserve record for this species and the first since 1990!
Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Common Darter