It was quite mild, with light southerly winds, and the odd occasional shower, at Rye Harbour. As soon as I arrived, I added Starling to the day list, as more than one of this species were pecking, presumably for insects under the eaves of the coastguard building. I first took a short walk to the information centre to see what birds were around. I knew that the Terek Sandpiper had not been seen since Saturday, but I was hoping that it might either reappear, or that something fresh would turn up. Returning from the centre, I found a Sedge Warbler singing from the reeds bordering the ditch, along with a Lesser Whitethroat that popped up from the undergrowth. I returned to the car park, and set off through the caravan park. At the crossroads I went straight over, admiring the elegant Avocets as I walked past them on the marshes on both sides. A single Spoonbill was easily seen on the pools to the west of Ternery Pool, and was actually awake, for once, feeding. From the hide overlooking Ternery Pool itself, there were hundreds of Black-headed Gulls at close range, and, on islands further out, many Sandwich Terns. I was also graced with a pair of Common Terns, which mated on the first island out. A pair of Ringed Plovers appeared briefly on the same island, and eventually a pair of Mediterranean Gulls reared up their heads. Crossing the path, I entered the hide overlooking the Flat Beach area. On this side, there were still plenty of Black-headed Gulls, but instead of Sandwich Terns, there were Common Terns, as well as one or two Little Terns. By far the most exciting bird in this area was a Curlew Sandpiper, which was feeding on the left edge of the pool, in all the breeding finery. After lunch, I made my way past the information centre to the hide on the tarmac path. From here, there were yet more Avocets, and, after closer examination, a pair of Turnstones, with the spring plumage. Also, a Whimbrel was well out on the pools, feeding by an Avocet, and a Black-tailed Godwit was further in. By far the most exciting bird was a Ruff, a male, no less, with the beginnings of the gorgeous plumage coming. What was more exciting was the fact that this was my 200th bird species this year! The day ended well after returning home, with Swifts screaming over the garden.
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