RXwildlife Sightings

A cold and drizzly day was brightened by first a black redstart and then a wheatear on the toilet block roof. A firecrest was in the bushes near Makepeace hide and two avocets were seen at the ARC site. Two Slavonian grebes and two black-necked grebes were still present.

Records from the Hastings Weald Spring Migration Network throughout the day yesterday recorded good numbers of wildfowl moving east and some grounded migrants along the coast.

Seawatching from West St Leonards and Hastings Harbour produced c.1500 Brent Geese, 50 common scoter, 5 garganey, 17 teal, 13 shoveler, 5 wigeon, 2 pintail, 8 eider, 2 red-breasted merganser, 7 gadwall, and a shelduck. As well as wildfowl a little gull, a marsh harrier, a merlin and a red-necked grebe were recorded moving east, also small numbers of black-headed gull.

Grounded migrants recorded included a firecrest at West Hill and 3 wheatear at Glyne Gap. Three purple sandpiper were also at Glyne Gap.

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A misty damp start this morning but a few highlights were picked out 65 Brent Geese and 18 Pintail were on Flat Beach Flood, 34 Sandwich Terns were roosting along the shore with additional birds at Ternery Pool and 3 Wheatear were present around the grassy area at the River Mouth. Yesterday at least 62 Mediterranean Gull were at Ternery Pool, 2 Bittern were again at the hide at Castle water and 2 Firecrest were in bramble scrub late afternoon at the viewpoint.

Firecrest at Watch Cottage yesterday.

Spring has finally struck my small garden in Peasmarsh. Today there were three species of bumblebee and 4 honey bees feeding on the heather. Whilst trying unsuccessfully to get a picture of them I came across a pine ladybird. It was probably coming out from hibernation in one of the shrubs.

Yesterday saw the arrival of our first wheatear of the year (in the Denge Marsh gully). A male black redstart was also seen there and a female was in the car park this morning. Single sand martins were seen over Burrowes pit and the ARC pit yesterday, a garganey was on Denge Marsh and an avocet was on New Excavations. Water pipit and rock pipit were also seen at Denge Marsh and a grey wagtail flew over. Also of note were three Slavonian and three black-necked grebes, a merlin and a barn owl.

There was a decent movement of brent geese early morning past Hastings & St. Leonards with 750 moving east between 6am and 8.30am. Also a marsh harrier, 2 red-breasted merganser, 2 wigeon and 2 teal were seen flying east.

The warmer weather is making a few hours in the garden more interesting with the appearance of adult insects which have successfully hibernated through the winter. Yesterday around mid day 3 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red Admiral, Small Tortoishell and the hoverfly Eristalis tenax (Drone fly) which is a superb bee mimic were all found.

Eristalis tenax (Drone Fly)

A fine calm early morning on the Beach Reserve highlights included 3 Sand Martin in flight over the low water sand, 18 Sandwich Tern roosting along the shore, small groups of Brent Geese totaling 118 were heading east offshore, a flock of around 180 Knot also headed east after landing for a while on the shore. On Flat Beach 87 Golden Plover were roosting and 10 Avocet, a Green Sandpiper and a Wheatear were present on Harbour Farm. At Watch Cottage there were 2 Firecrests .

Knot on the shore

45 species aroud this Woodland Trust reserve today, including all 3 woodpeckers, Buzzard, Woodcock, Skylark, Marsh Tit & Firecrest.
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