Wader numbers and diversity continue to increase and between Carters Flood and the Scrape there were 2 Wood Sandpiper, 12 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 6 Snipe yesterday.
 
Garganey are still showing well on the scrape whilst passerine migration has been inhibited by the wet and windy weather, however, a single Nightingale was seen this morning.
The twice monthly work party usually turns up something interesting, today it was a few Grey Dagger caterpillars. Foodplants for this species include sallow, birch, hawthorn and blackthorn.
Flowering Rush
Umbels of delicate pink buds, supported by tall slender stems are appearing along the edges of many ditches on Pett Level.
It is a scarce and much appreciated native plant in the UK, but a US website comments: “While single flowering rush plants are not a “problem,” this exotic can form dense stands which may interfere with recreational lake use. Flowering rush may also crowd out native plants and in turn harm fish and wildlife.â€
Last month was the hottest July on record, AND this web site had the highest number of unique visitors in a month - 4,514. Thanks to everyone who contributes and also to everyone else for keep coming back to find out more about the wildlife of the RX area. Don’t forget, anyone can contribute their sightings by sending details to our Contacts in the left column.
Male dragonflies and damselflies have a special way of gripping on to females, the size and shape of the anal appendages are unique to each species and can be usefull features in identification. The males use these appendages for seizing the females, either by the head (dragonflies) or the neck (damselflies) when making a tandem flight or mating.
The Wall is named after its habit of basking on rocks, walls and stony places, the delicately patterned light brown underside providing good camouflage against a stony or sandy surface. Not a common species on the Reserve, the one pictured was in the garden at Lime Kiln Cottage.
