RXwildlife Sightings

SLR photography for beginners - a one day course with David Featherbe
Sunday 12 July, 10 am - 4.30 pm
Join David for a one day wildlife photography workshop aimed at beginners. The intention is that you will leave us with a series of images that will inspire you to experiment further. Those attending should bring their own equipment, ie a SLR digital or film camera, as this course is not suitable for those with compact cameras. You should bring your longest telephoto, wide-angle, and macro lenses and a tripod. For Canon users, there will be an opportunity to take photographs from a hide with a 500mm f4 ISlens. Likely subjects: little grebe, moorhen, coot, passerines, moths, pond life, various plants and lichens. This programme is very weather dependent and may be subject to change at the last minute. Cost : £40. Places are limited so please book early on 01797 320588

Up to four wood sandpipers, three green sandpipers and two common sandpipers were at the ARC site this week. Our first young marsh harrier of the year took flight on Monday and the five kestrel chicks at Boulderwall Farm are getting close to fledging.

There are still some places available on David Featherbe’s SLR wildlife photography course next Sunday (12th July). See events pages for details.

A fascinating walk on Sunday 5th July, starting at 10:30 through woods, meadows, orchards, heath and fields, in search of fantastic fauna, hidden archaeology, stunning views and wild beasts. The walk will begin from, and end in, Peasmarsh Main Street. It will be led by the excellent Michael Blencowe, although I plan to be there too (with family) to enjoy the amble and exploration. The walk is approx 3 miles will take 3-4 hours (with a stop for lunch). Please bring a lunchtime snack and refreshments. Suncream/block is highly recommended and walking boots with ankle support are also recommended as some paths can be uneven.

Several Marbled White butterflies were very obliging this afternoon in grassland near the viewpoint at Castle Water. A copulating pair provided a good oppotunity to see the differences between the sexes, in the pictures below the female is the larger of the two with a creamy tint to the underwing and leading edge of the forewing. A male is pictured feeding on Creeping Thistle.

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A fine selection of bird highlights from the hide at Castle Water this afternoon, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Garganey (pictured) and at least 15 Ruff flew in with 100+ Lapwing.

Two fantastic bird highlights on this dull and overcast morning firstly a superb male Red-backed Shrike at the back of Ternery Pool and then a male Golden Oriole flushed from the only remaining willow at Corner Pools. Update at nine o clock The shrike has now moved to Corner Pools and is showing well in the brighter weather.

At Pett Pools this afternoon, on the roadside pool there were 81 Avocets … and 2 Ruff.

John Trowell by phone

More than a thousand plants of an extinct British plant at Rye Harbour was cause for a press release.
Click here to read.

The Marbled White colony that established itself three years ago in a patch of grassland near the viewpoint at Castle Water appears to be doing well, at least 10 butterflies were present this morning. This species had only been recorded on the reserve three times before July 2007 and then only singletons. Other butterflies on the wing in the same area include Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Red Admiral and Green-veined White.

Every so often, above the chorus of domestic power tools, witless jet-skis and distant military hardware, there rises the urgent twittering of anxious Swallows, signalling the approach of a raptor.
Usually it’s a stealthy Sparrowhawk skimming along the hedgerow, provoking shrieks if it’s lugging prey.
At other times, it’s a Hobby sailing over or circling up against the cirrus.
On Sunday evening it was for a Peregrine, quietly consuming a pigeon on an island of feathers in the pale hay-stubble.
House Martins too sound the alarm and seem to use different sounds to denote Hobby or Peregrine.
No such wave of dread, however, heralded the passing of a dozen Crossbills yesterday. As usual, they announced their arrival with a penetrating chip-chip call seconds before they shot over our roof, heading who knows where.