RXwildlife Sightings

The few areas of sheltered sallows are always worth a look in the strong winds. Today there were three Firecrest with four Long-tailed Tit and six Chiffchaff.

This Grass Snake was seen at Castle Water crossing the footpath that leads to the hide, it stayed still long enough to get this picture. Grass Snakes are the longest British snake and can grow up to a metre.They can lay about 40 eggs which are laid in warm places, such as old tree stumps and compost heaps.

Also today 5 Swallow, 65 Mediterranean Gull and 50+ Sandwich Tern at Ternery Pool. And 6 Sand Martin over Lime Kiln.

Great news! - on Monday evening the cabinet of Hastings Council agreed to declare Hastings Country Park and Fairlight Place Farm a Local Nature Reserve.

Once formally declared later this spring the site will be one of the largest Local Nature Reserves in England and the largest to be declared in the last 20 years.

To celebrate this Local Nature Reserve declaration we are holding an opening event on the 15th July not only to promote the nature reserve declaration but also to celebrate and highlight the invaluable contribution the local community has made to nature conservation in Hastings over the last few years. All conservation volunteer groups and friends of groups in Hastings will be invited to join in the event.

If you would like to be involved or would like more information about the Local Nature Reserve declaration of Hastings Country Park & Fairlight Place Farm please contact the Nature Reserve Officer, Andy Phillips - aphillips@hastings.gov.uk

Chiffchaff were very obvious today with double figures present including several in song. Mid afternoon six Firecrest were found actively feeding amongst the bramble and elder. A single Willow Warbler was also located.

There was a Little Gull on the scrape with over 50 Mediterranean Gull, six Avocet , our first Little Ringed Plover and ten Pintail. A Red Admiral was also on the wing.

1 Swallow, 2 Sandwich Terns, 16 Velvet Scoter, 30 Brent >E, 20 Med Gulls on marsh.

Pete Rouse

Numbers of gulls at Ternery Pool continue to increase, with 52 Mediterranean Gull and 700+ Black-headed Gull present there this morning, along with 50 Sandwich Tern, which again roosted to the right of the Crittall Hide with 166 Oystercatcher. On Flat Beach, four Wheatear were present (with a further two birds on Harbour Farm), while the Quarry played host to a lovely male Pintail, and two Brent Goose rested on Wader Pool briefly before flying off to the the east.

Nine Sand Martins today at exactly same area as yesterday’s Swallow.

Two Firecrests, 5 Chiffchaffs and 4 Redwings were in the low gorse and a single Wheatear was also present this morning. A further Firecrest and 10 Redwings were in the small wood besides Scotney GP.

My first Swallow today, flying into the very strong wind over the Long Pit at Rye Harbour.

A better day with a decent movement of birds at sea and a handful of migrants on the land. Of note on the land were the first Blackcap and Willow Warbler of the spring along with a Peregrine Falcon, three Wheatears, eight Chiffchaffs and two Firecrests. Seawatching for 4.5 hours produced a Black-throated and 78 Red-throated Divers, 822 Brent Geese, seven Pintail, 16 Eider, 664 Common Scoter and 18 Red-breasted Mergansers. There was also an adult Mediterranean Gull at the Patch and seven Sandwich Terns feeding offshore.

Dave Walker from DBO site