While moving wood at Lime Kiln Cottage this morning, I came across a female Common Earwig tending its eggs. Despite their rather unpleasant reputation (and their annoying habit of nibbling the best blooms in our gardens), female earwigs are actually very good parents, tending their eggs throughout the winter (this species in particular is quite tolerant of low temperatures) and then feeding the young after they have hatched.
A second winter male Hen Harrier was present on Harbour Farm this morning, being vigorously mobbed by Carrion Crows. Also on Harbour Farm, the resident winter flock of Corn Bunting was in evidence, as well as Linnet and Reed Bunting in smaller numbers, while a single Long-eared Owl was present just off the reserve at a traditional roost site.
Grey Phalarope on the sea at Dungeness.
Don’t forget to look at Dungeness Bird Observatory site for details of birds in that area.
Includes photos of phalarope.
Sunday February 20th
At Pett, the Slavonian Grebe was busily diving in the SW corner of pool 3 while a ringtail Hen Harrier was pursued across the back by crows. I could see only 2 White-fronted Geese with the Greylags, but there were also 2 Brents.
Two flocks of GC Grebes totalling 150 birds were W of Cliff End, invisible from the level, so there must be at least 400 birds still present.
Cliff Dean
Sunday 20th February 2005
Guestling Wood 0830-1000: 34sp
0/8, cold N5
A search for LS Woodpeckers along the N edge of the wood drew a blank, though there were 50 Goldfinches and 3 Marsh Tits in the alders and a pair of Yellowhammers returned to the hedge along Watermill Lane.
The Red-tailed Hawk was hunched in one of its usual trees – a big parkland beech now marooned in the middle of arable land at Church Farm. This American escapee has been in the area for more than ten years now. It resembles a buzzard, but is subtly different in structure, very pale beneath with a pale rump and a distinctly reddish tail. Its call is harsh – quite different from the mewing of a Buzzard.
The screech of a pair of airborne Black-headed Gulls announced the passing overhead of a Peregrine heading no doubt for the Brede Valley.
I looked for Hawfinches at Sedlescombe – again without any luck.
At Beckley Furnace, there was a single Buzzard – an individual with pale underparts, and a Kingfisher flew from beneath Hundredhouse Bridge.
Cliff Dean
Saturday 19th February 2005
Pett Level: 71sp
Today, I had the choice of squinting into silver sunlight or seeing everything through a blur of tears into the cold north wind.
In the hedgerows, Long-tailed Tits are mostly paired up and prospecting.
Tree Sparrows and Reed Buntings are still in busy flocks on the birdfood plots, but I heard Reed Bunting song for the first time today.
Pairs of Mallard burst up from streams and little ponds. Coot too are back on breeding territories in the Pannel Valley, where a dozen Black-headed Gulls were back on the scrape.
A lone ad w/p Med Gull with Common Gulls behind my house was one which has wintered here, and no migrants have yet appeared.
A search of the RM Canal for the reported Goosander turned up a Water Pipit instead, flushed from the shaven eastern bank @TQ907170.
At least 250 GC Grebes are still on the sea, and the 5 White-fronted Geese were easy to see, sitting on the third pool with Greylags.
Many waders – Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Grey & Ringed Plover, Turnstone & Dunlin - seem to be roosting on the fields immediately to the east of Toot Rock, rather than by the shearing shed, making them easy to see from the road or footpath.
Cliff Dean
The Snow Bunting is still present on the sea wall, today it is at the Winchelsea Beach end. The middle pool has a Slavonian Grebe on its western edge.
A Dotted Border was attracted to a lit window last night.
Yesterday evening a Bittern flew up the valley from the direction of Pett Pools at dusk.
Had a quick look at Rye and Scotney today. There was one Long-eared Owl in the usual roost by the Narrow Pit and a Bittern flew over there twice mobbed by gulls. The drake Scaup and Lesser Scaup were still at Scotney Court GP and there were 3 Smew at the Kent end including a smart drake. A Marsh Harrier was mobbed by 2 Merlins and shortly afterwards a male Hen Harrier appeared. Later in the day there was a redhead Goosander on the Royal Military Canal at Winchelsea by the turn off to Pett. Other observers reported 5 White-fronted Geese at Pett Level.
report by Paul James