John died on 18th May 2010, aged 73. Eminent ornithologist and writer and Chairman of the Friend of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve for ten years. Funeral Service took place on Thursday 27th May, 2.30 p.m. at the Church of St. Thomas The Martyr, Winchelsea, East Sussex. Donations in his name to St Michael’s Hospice, St Leonards-on-Sea, in thanks for John’s care. Payable to: St Michael’s Hospice c/o Ellis Bros, 3 Ferry Road, Rye, TN31 7DJ. Tel: 01797 222394.
Full obituary here.
Broad-bodied Chaser (pictured below) was a dragonfly species that benefitted from the wetland creation at Castle Water, it was one of the first species to colonise three small pools and this years cohort has started to emerge this week. The ditch north of the hide continues to be of interest with 83 Four-spotted Chaser emerging this week and 123 Hairy Hawker exuviae have been collected since late April. At least 60 Variable Damselfly were grounded and easy to count in the dull weather today. Downy Emerald emergence appears to have stopped now with a total of 19 exuviae found near the viewpoint, on warm days adults should be seen on the wing untill mid July. A Spoonbill (pictured below) also showed well from the hide perched in the willows amongst the Cormorants and with 5 Little Egret.
Broad-bodied Chaser just about to take its maiden flight.
Have you planned your visit to the RX area in the coming week? Lots of events throughout the area at our Festival page…. click here.
A dark and grimm early morning along the shore was brightened by the flowering Sea Pea which is having another good year with masses growing in the splash zone along shore ridges. Avian highlights included a Peregrine, 2 Little Tern, 6 Knot and 15 Black-tailed Godwit.
Flowering Sea Pea along shore ridges this morning