Saturday night was National Moth Night and three traps were set on the Pannel Valley Nature Reserve. A good catch included 135 identified species. Interestingly a Small Elephant Hawk was new for the site - see previous moth entry. Top three species were Dark Arches, Uncertain and Large Yellow Underwing.
At Ternery Pool this morning:
5 Common Sandpiper
2 Avocet
2 Roseate Tern
At Castle Water mid morning:
3 Green Sandpiper
2 Common Sandpiper
4 Black- Tailed Godwit
1 Little Gull
40+ Sand Martin
Sam
At least 3 Roseate Terns are still regular at Ternery Pool, especially on the islands visible from the Crittall Hide. Also there today an adult Little Gull .
At Rye Harbour Red Hempnettle is now flowering. This is a rare plant, but quite common on the shingle along the private road of the Beach Reserve, especially just west of the Old Lifeboat House. Even rarer is the Flea Beetle Dibolia cynoglossi which damages the leaves in a characteristic way (see lower leaf on photo).
Peak counts of waders over the weekend included 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 Snipe and 5 Black Tailed Gowits, whilst 2 Little Egrets graced Bridge Marsh on Saturday. Crossbills were noted over the reserve on both days and a Yellow Wagtail flew south on Sunday.