RXwildlife Sightings

The group of Lawyer’s wig (Coprinus comatus) from the post written on the 24th August, have began to age and started to deliquesce……dissolve into an inky black slime.

Highlights this morning from the Beach Reserve included, at least 400+ Yellow Wagtail along the Shingle Ridges and Harbour Farm, at Ternery Pool 2 Black Tern, 24 Shoveler and 70 Swallow. A Black Redstart was at the River Mouth, and 40 Gannet were fishing close in shore. At Castle Water 1000+ Lapwing (pictured) were enjoying the new islands.

The sycamore leaf above is twice afflicted. The black, yellow-edged patches are caused by tarspot fungus, Rhytisma acerinum, while the red pustules are formed by a mite species variously named Eriophyes macrorhyncus, Aceria cephaloneus and more. They all be one species.

Tarspot is only abundant in areas free of atmospheric sulphur pollution.  These were photographed today in Sedlescombe.

At the viewpoint this evening 43 Little Egret were seen coming in to roost. Also here 150+ Yellow Wagtail roosting (though this time in the reedbeds), three Green Sandpiper, two Water Rail and a Barn Owl. In addition, a Wood Sandpiper was reported on Castle Water from the hide late afternoon.

The Fairy Ring below was near Camber Castle and was about 1.5 metres across. It is the common fungus Marasmius oreades (”Fairy Ring Champignon”) which can cause significant damage to grass turf. This fungus grows on the accumulated thatch of dead turf, and spreads progressively outwards as a ring.

Another osprey was seen briefly over the ARC pit, and hobby, merlin and marsh harrier were recorded too.

Wader-wise the only noteworthy sightings were black-tailed godwit and greenshank.

One of the best flowers for butterflies and other insects at this time of year in my experience is Escallonia bifida, a South American shrub.

We have had a plant for many years growing against a South Wall and, while it has suffered a bit in hard winters, it flowers well every year.

At the moment it is being constantly patrolled by hornets who are interested in prey, not nectar or pollen. The picture shows one of them hanging by one of its hind legs as it devours a hoverfly (an Eristalis I think). This is a characteristic hornet feeding position.

Migrants in the Lime Kiln trap this morning included 63 Rush Veneer, seven Rusty Dot Pearl, five White-point, five Dark Sword-grass (below), three Pearly Underwing, three Silver Y, two Evergestis extimalis and a single Small Mottled Willow. The highlight today however was a Rosy Wave (bottom), a species of wet habitats which is recorded less than annually in small numbers at Rye Harbour

Dark Sword-grass

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An interesting shield bug in the family Scutelleridae that is adult at present is the tortoise-bug, Eurygaster testudinaria. This species seems to have been relatively scarce until the 1990s when it started to spread northwards and eastwards. It favours damp grassland where it feeds on the grasses themselves and various other plants.

The example in the picture was found in Marline Valley meadows in Hastings and is the first record I can find for East Sussex. I wonder if others may have come across it this year.

Today’s highlight was a redstart seen on the track, not far from the visitor centre and a whinchat also seen from the track.

Yet again, another osprey was reported as our weekend warden, Bryan, saw it flying over the water tower.

Other birds of prey included: peregrine, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk and merlin.

Waders spotted today include: black-tailed godwit, wood sandpiper and whimbrel.

Finally a common tern was seen over the ARC pit.