Page 6 - Out Birding Issue 109 Winter 2022

the reserve. The sailing lake is not part of the reserve and suffers from disturbance but it did produce Great Crested Grebe, Sand and House Mar􏰀n plus a Common Tern. The radio mast next to the lake gave us distant views of Peregrine Falcon.
On arrival at the flashes, the habitat of the saline lagoons immediately produced good views of breeding Avocets and Li􏰁le Ringed Plover together with a large popula􏰀on of very noisy breeding popula􏰀on of Black-headed Gulls. 2 pairs of Oystercatcher were also a great inland breeding bird to see. Shelduck numbers were good, 18 birds in total. Stock Doves were feeding on the shore line, a bit of an overlooked bird gen- erally. 2 pairs of Common Tern were breeding also. A Sparrowhawk created some panic amongst the nes􏰀ng birds and made the birding exci􏰀ng.
We moved back to the sailing lake where the cars were parked and managed to enjoy our lunch in the sun. The a􏰂ernoon took us to the Moors Pool via a lovely walk along the river Salwarpe, giving us some good dragonflies and bu􏰁erflies. The lovely habitat of the Moors Pool, fringed with reeds and marshy areas produced some well-loved birds, Kingfisher, Reed Bun􏰀ng, Gadwall, Cuckoo, Water Rail, Kestrel, Ce􏰃’s and Reed Warblers, Whitethroat. This year saw good breeding numbers of Li􏰁le Grebe. We had a grand species total for the day of 55, although those of us who re􏰀red to Webbs garden centre for tea and cake added Pied Wagtail, making it 56.
Thanks to Adrian who kept a tally of species seen, most appreciated. Nigel
Bumblebee ID Day at - All a buzz at Rye! 24/05/2022
What a fantas􏰀c day we had in the company of Bumblebee experts Morgan and Peter Greenhalf. Eight of us met at the Avocet Gallery near the entrance to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve where we were very warmly greeted by our hosts, who kindly wel- comed us with tea and delicious homemade cake! Refreshments completed we began our day with a fascina􏰀ng and very informa􏰀ve introductory talk and slide show by Morgan - we learnt many interes􏰀ng bee facts including the revela􏰀on that all bees, ants and wasps evolved from an original prehistoric species of carnivorous wasp and that Bumblebees evolved in the Himalayas!
There are 250 species of bees in the U.K. of which only 25 species are bumblebees. The Honey Bee is the most numerous bee and these are all tended by bee keepers, They live in huge colonies with up to 100,000 workers and a single queen. Honey Bees are more numerous than bumblebees and can easily out-compete them. Most other species of bee here in the U.K. are Solitary Bees - which as the name suggests live sin- gly laying their eggs in small holes where the young develop and hatch to begin the life cycle again. Bumblebees however are social bees, they tend to live in nests under- ground in old mouse holes or similar, which can have up to 400 members. The queen bumblebee mates, hibernates over winter and then finds a suitable nest site where she lays her eggs the following spring. She will forage for food in early spring, feeding on flowers and bringing back pollen and nectar ready for her young in the nest. The
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