RXwildlife Sightings

With clear night skies and a drop in temperatures, there was frost at my feet and a southward Woodpigeon migration overhead. I counted 350, with a few Stock Doves mixed in, but could see other large flocks crossing the valley further away. The other most conspicuous migrants were Skylarks, most of which were invisible. When I could catch sight of them, calls suggesting one or two birds were actually coming from half a dozen, so my count of 50 must have been a fraction of the actual number passing. Flying west with them up the valley were several flocks of Starlings. Small numbers of Goldfinches, Linnets & Siskins were moving south, and I could hear about 5 Tree Sparrows.

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A Black Redstart was around Camber Castle this morning and the Marbled Duck was on view again from Lime Kiln Cottage.

Interesting birds this morning were a late Wheatear at Camber Castle and 3 Egyptian Geese at the little pond (from a doodlebug strike?) at the E end of Pett Level.

From domes of Blackthorn in the fascinating area of 17th century beach at TQ923170, came the song of a Cetti’s Warbler - I’ve not heard them there before.

A Little Auk was found in the middle of one of the roads at Winchelsea Beach on Tuesday night. It was taken to Mallydams where unfortunately it died overnight.

With the very mild weather there are still many summery things to be found in the countryside. Today there was Common Darter, Migrant Hawker, Red Admiral and German Wasp. And many flowers still in bloom, Yellow Horned Poppy, Viper’s Bugloss, Red Valerian, Mouse-eared Hawkweed, Bramble, Gorse, Daisy, Ragwort and Autumn Hawkbit.

A Common Seal was hauled out on rocks between Lime Kiln Cottage and the Sailing Club at Rye Harbour this morning. Although causing some concern with locals, it appeared to be in good health and soon launched itself back into the Rother. Pictures taken by Alan Read

Highlights from the Beach Reserve this morning, 900+ Golden Plover, 4 Little Stint, 300+ Lapwing and 45 Dunlin were on Flat Beach. 2 Rock Pipit were at the Wader Pool, a Merlin also showed well perched on nearby fence post. A Great Skua was roosting on the low tide sand, and a Ring Ouzel was along Narrow Pit. At Castle Water there was a Jack Snipe.

Many Redwings were calling from the darkness beyond the rooftops of Hastings Old Town yesterday evening.

Their long, wheezing contact notes are characteristic of this time of year.

Yesterday while carrying out pond surveys at Hastings Country Park Local Nature Reserve Peter Hodge found a single male Arctocorisa germari. This is the first sussex record of this mainly northern species and has only been recorded once before in the RX area at Dungeness.

More information and pictures of the species can be found at the following links:

www.hydrobiologie.com/Makrozoobenthos.html

www.boxvalley.co.uk/nature/sns/wad48/w48-10.htm

Tuesday 24th

A marsh harrier was seen hunting over Filsham Reedbed, a black redstart and ring ouzels were also seen in the valley and at Glyne Gap. A buzzard was seen soaring over Monkham Wood.

Monday 23rd

A dartford warbler, a ring ouzel, water pipits and 30 stonechats were present in the area. The highlights of visible migration were a brambling and a tree sparrow.

Records reported by Joe Dickens on wildhastings.