RXwildlife Sightings

Bird of the day in the Observatory area was a White Stork which circled over the Point and RSPB Reserve for 30 minutes or so during the morning. A handful of other migrants included two Hobbies, two Sedge Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Spotted Flycatcher. The sea was very quiet but did produce a Shag and 176 Common Scoters.
Of greater interest was a singing but elusive Great Reed Warbler found at Hookers Pit, RSPB Reserve during the morning. It was seen again in the evening and sang for several minutes but remained very difficult to see.
David Walker (from DBO website)

The caterpilars of the rare White Horehound Plume Moth (Pterophorus spilodactylus) are now showing on the White Horehound plants at the base of the bank behind Bourne’s at Castle Water - look just to the south of the large Buddleja bush. They resemble the surface of the leaves that they are eating.

In this cold weather some of the Black-headed Gulls appear to be specialising on taking wader chicks. It may be that cold and hungry chicks don’t hide well enough and/or that the gulls can’t find enough insects. Despite this there are some large chicks of Lapwing and Ringed Plover, as well as small chicks of Redshank at the Wader Pool. I hope it warms up soon, but the forecast doesn’t sound promising.

At Ternery Pool the Black-headed Gull chicks are food for the Herring Gulls!