RXwildlife Sightings

A mole cricket was picked up by a baitdigger on Winchelsea Beach, below the High Water Mark this morning. It was trying to dig into the sand. It was then given to another baitdigger at Dungeness. It was transported to Dungeness in a lemonade bottle with a tiny amount of sea water in the bottom !! It has now been put in a tub with some compost and a small number of worms, raw potato and sweetcorn added. It is quite active burrowing in the tub. Bryan Pinchen has been contacted and confirms the ID and state that it is an adult female and of the British form of Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa ! Is there a local colony, or has it escaped from a pot plant??
Sadly, it is not available for public viewing due to the legal restrictions given to mole crickets under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Owen Leyshon, photo David Walker

Today’s sightings include red-breasted merganser, merlin and golden plover.

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still present on Flat Beach Level this morning viewable from either the Wader Pool Hide or the footpath to the river mouth. Also present here 448 Golden Plover, five Little Stint, two Avocet, 4 Grey Plover, three Pintail and a Brent Goose.

There was a small arrival of thrushes overnight with Song Thrush being particularly noticeable. The only other bird of note on a very wet morning was a late Grasshopper Warbler.

An icterine warbler was reported from the West Hill, Hastings yesterday (10th) afternoon. The bird has not been re-found.