RXwildlife Sightings

A steady of birds passed overhead throughout the morning with 17 Sparrowhawks, a Merlin, 40 Lapwing, 300 Swallows, a Tree Pipit, 58 Pied Wagtails, eight Tree Sparrows, 21 Chaffinches, 188 Goldfinches and three Siskins and the highlight of the day in the form of a Lapland Bunting. Grounded migrants remain scarce but a Whinchat, five Wheatears and 16 Chiffchaffs were seen. It was much quieter at sea with a few Arctic Skuas seemingly lingering offshore and a couple of Great Skuas and 150 Sandwich Terns passing through. In addition and of note, a first-winter White-rumped Sandpiper was found late in the day at Dengemarsh and viewable from the hide overlooking the marsh.

David Walker from DBO website

14 Clouded Yellow butterflies were counted during a walk along the coastal path through Hastings Country Park. 2 of these were the pale form, helice.

The highlight was a juvenile white-ramped sandpiper spotted in the late afternoon at Denge marsh providing good views from the hide. 

A black-necked grebe was spotted on the New Diggings and two black terns and a common tern were visible from hide one. 

A red-breasted merganser was showing nicely and feeding busily, right outside the visitor centre. 

A stonechat and a chiffchaff were reported whilst a large number goldfinch were seen passing through. 

Swallows, sand martins and house martins were still passing through.