RXwildlife Sightings

A warm still evening ensured there were plenty of moths coming to the lights at Warren Cottage we set up for the volunteer rangers bbq and moth evening. Even though we only had the lights on for a few hours we clocked up 40+ species including only the third record of the european corn-borer Ostrinia nubilalis for the country park and the third record of purple thorn for Hastings.

A photogenic glow-worm was also found near one of the moth lights. Glow-worms are out in numbers at the moment within Warren Glen and at the nocturnal noises event last weekend over forty were counted.

Purple Thorn & Glow-worm at Warren Cottage Garden, Warren Glen

Last night saw a range of interesting species in the Lime Kiln Cottage moth trap. Despite relatively low numbers, almost sixty species were present, with a number of rarities, particularly among the ‘micros’. These included yet more Ethmia bipunctella and the pyralids Cynaeda dentalis, Sitochroa palealis, Evergestis extimalis, Dolicarthria punctalis and Synaphe punctalis. Among the ‘macros’ rarities included Pygmy Footman ,Crescent-striped and Kent Black-arches, while new species for the year included Coronet, Small Waved Umber and Pine Hawk-moth.


Clockwise from top left: Cynaeda dentalis, Evergestis extimalis, Synaphe punctalis, Sitochroa palealis

A small white egret in this area is usually a Little Egret. They frequent wetland habitats, so an egret which arrived at some allotments in St Leonards on July 10th and proceeded to creep about the long grass pouncing on grasshoppers was bound to arouse curiosity. Andrew Grace quickly suggested that it could be a Cattle Egret- a much rarer bird in the UK - but it did not look typically like that species. Close inspection by Ralph Hobbs revealed however that it was indeed a Cattle Egret - about the 10th for Sussex - albeit a very young individual.
It has been coming and going but today returned to the allotments at midday, allowing a few of us excellent views as it stalked about among gro-bags, water-drums, artichokes, ragwort and gardeners, to a sound track of sparrows, Herring Gulls and car alarms.
This allotment is fenced and locked to deter vandals, so we were grateful to Sue de Haviland for the tip-off and access.
This bird arrived during a period of southerly winds, when Glossy Ibis and Large Tortoiseshell appeared in our area. The nearest breeding Cattle Egrets are in the Baie de Somme. It is said to seem bigger now and more active than it did then. As a young bird, it is growing and it may have been exhausted by the crossing.