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.
An adult long-tailed skua was on the sea about 100ft offshore from Galley Hill, also reported were 11 storm petrels.
Birding highlights are still being provided offshore, a sea watch this afternoon from the Tern Watch Caravan produced 4 Storm Petrel, Arctic Skua, 14 Gannet and 8 Fulmar.
Seawatching continues to provide most of the interest with yet more Storm Petrels, a total of 56 birds up till about 1400hrs, along with 35 Manx Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater, 460 Gannets and four Mediterranean Gulls.
The bird of the day was an Icterine Warbler found in gorse bushes near the Old Lighthouse but it was unfortunately seen well by only one observer.
Also, of great interest was a Gull-billed Tern which appeared on Burrowes Pit on the RSPB Reserve in the afternoon.
David Walker from DBO website.
This Large Black Slug (Arion ater) was on a gate post on the Beach Reserve. Very common in the UK, this species occurs in a range of colours despite its common name. This orange-brown form being commonest in the south. Probably not most peoples favourite creatures, but this beast measured 15 cm before it contracted.
Another sea-watch this morning found two Storm Petrel, two Manx Shearwater, nine Gannet, 33 Fulmar, over 50 Common Scoter and an Avocet. On the shore ridges, at least 34 Little Tern were present.
Subsequent to Pete Greenhalf’s sighting of Storm Petrel at the rivermouth, a sea-watch by the wardens saw at least 12 more birds, all travelling west, between roughly 8:15 and 9:15. Apart from a dying bird found on Camber Sands in 2002, these are the first records for this species at Rye Harbour!
The 3 drake Eider (2 1st summer) are still hanging around inshore, this morning they were infront of the Tern Watch caravan. Little Tern activity picked up with the break in the weather first thing, at least 30 birds were around Shore Ridges. At Castle Water Swifts (100+) were finding plenty to eat and a Little Gull was seen from the hide. 6 Storm Petrels at River Mouth in evening following fishing boats coming in to harbour
This young female Hairy Hawker was in front of the viewpoint at Castle Water. The oily appearance of the wings suggests its only a few days old. At this age they are weak fliers and approachable, hence the photo. A species of lowland levels and ditches, the Hairy Hawker is a scarce species nationally, but relatively common at Rye Harbour.
