RXwildlife Sightings

As a relief from the Pett Petrel Shortage, I turned inland to Doleham where, on a dismal morning, I had little hope of anything special.

Things looked up, however, when a Golden Oriole flew past me down the valley. It was not an adult male, but quite yellow and contrasty. I saw it again a couple of hours later, and while texting the good news to Phil Newton, heard the distinctive hard clicking of a Hawfinch, which flew over me up the valley. From where? To where?

Otherwise, 7 pairs of Lapwings are still on site, as well as odd Gadwall, Shoveler, Shelduck & Tufted Duck.

I got home for high tide, thinking I should give the sea another go, when I got a message from John Newton to say there was a colour-ringed Spoonbill at Carter’s Flood. Following a further fruitless scrutiny of the grey waves (score:….Common Terns…..Fulmars…a Seal sp……) I had a look at the Flood where the Spoonbill was busily sweeping the shallows.

A short visit today by the Hastings Botany Group with Jacqueline Rose to Rye Harbour found the 456th species of flower for the Nature Reserve. A group of Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea) was in flower near the river mouth.

The Black-headed gull chicks at Ternery Pool seem to be doing well, despite struggling against strong winds and rain, and attracting the attention of the larger gull species. The chick in the picture had just received a meal of earth worms,  the wet weather lately has made it easier for the parents to collect this food source.

One of the biggest nature reserves in the county is to be officially opened here in Hastings. Hastings Country Park is the largest Local Nature Reserve (LNR) to be declared in the last 20 years.

The Council has worked closely with English Nature to meet its requirements and was congratulated for reversing the decline in farmland birds and keeping people updated on the work. The official opening ceremony will take place on the East Hill on the 15 July between 1pm and 5pm, with Professor David McDonald from English Nature.

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