RXwildlife Sightings

After a swim at Pett Level early this evening, I noticed a couple of small, dark birds - too small for skuas - skimming through a flock of Common Terns feeding close offshore. I snatched my binoculars out of my bag and was amazed to see a couple of shearwaters skimming  back and forth, brown in the sunlight.

I’d never, ever seen shearwaters here before, and amazement was closely followed by panic as I struggled to recall relevant identification features. By the time these birds had headed off out to sea though, after about five minutes, I’d seen enough to know they were Balearic Shearwaters.

A large Grey Seal was also cruising close inshore, at lunch-time and in the evening.

Yesterday’s highlights included a little stint showing well from Denge Marsh hide plus marsh harrier, hobby, ruff, wheatear and willow warbler.  Garganey, marsh harrier and black tern were all reported from Denge Marsh this morning and there are still sand martins, house martins and swallows on the move.

A conspicuous species stranded on the lower shore was Pod Razor Ensis siliqua.

They live at the lower shore in sand, lying buried with only a siphon protruding from their burrow. If a predator manages to grip the protruding siphon it will shed at a predetermined weakened spot, the siphon will regenerate.

Although they have long been marketed in Italy, it is only this year that I have noticed them on sale here. The man at Rock-a-Nore Fisheries told me he got his from France and at Whitstable four of them, chargrilled, will set you back £10!
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