RXwildlife Sightings

37 species of birds along this short but diverse section of old cliffline on a rainy Sunday morning. The dense gorse scrub is populated with numerous Dunnocks, Robins & Chaffinches, and harboured a dozen furtive Song Thrushes, just one of them singing from a tall sycamore. Greenfinches have also begun prospecting the prickly thickets and wheezing in the treetops above. Yellowhammers are easy to find along here, with 9 seen altogether. Out on the fields, Skylarks were singing.

At one point, the traffic of Rooks, Jackdaws, Woodpigeons and Stock Doves was disrupted by the appearance of a Peregrine.

There is a gradual loss of variety along the cliff as gorse and bracken encroaches on the rough pasture and older trees are toppled by gales. Local youngsters, who enjoy making rope swings on the steep slopes, are doing their bit for biodversity by setting fire to sections of gorse, but have also burnt out the core of a battered old Ash, which now lies shattered on the ground.

Along at the Road End flood, there were 22 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 2 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck and a Coot. 

Despite the poor weather, the Avocet total has reached ten birds on the scrape. Mediterranean Gulls are now very vocal with fifteen plus on the islands. There were also two Marsh Harrier over the valley.

A male comon scoter and a group of smew were seen on Burrowes pit.  A white-fronted goose was showing well from Denge Marsh hide, a Slavonian grebe was seen on the ARC pit and a bittern was visible from Christmas Dell hide.

The following event details may be of interest…

Exhibition and sale of paintings by Peter Partington

Sunday 4 to Saturday 31 March, 10am - 5pm

Renowned wildlife artist and illustrator, Peter Partington, will be at the reserve on Sunday 4 March to launch his exhibition, sign copies of the Secret Lives of Birds books that he has illustrated (10am to 1pm) and deliver a talk on his work and techniques (2pm to 3pm).  Booking for the talk is essential so please call 01797 320588 to reserve your place (adults £3, concessions £2, children £1).

The wildlife and birds of Costa Rica - an illustrated talk by John Buckingham

Tuesday 13 March, from 7.30pm (Visitor Centre opens at 7pm)

Tickets (£3 adults, £2 concessions, £1 juniors) are available from the Visitor Centre or call 01797 320588.  Booking is advisable.

A short seawatch from Shore Ridges this morning produced 4 Eider (2 drakes), 300+ Common Scoter and 7 Red-throated Diver. At Ternery pool 66 Mediterranean Gull and two Pintail could be seen from Crittall Hide. Along Narrow Pit around midday a Dartford Warbler showed well in the gorse scrub. At the River Mouth the Purple Sandpiper was again present with Turnstones at low tide.

Today’s sightings included, Slavonian grebe and smew at the ARC pit. A kingfisher was spotted from Firth hide, two marsh harriers were reported and a white-fronted goose and a redwing were seen at Denge Marsh.

A Long-eared Owl was reported from the roost on the Narrow Pits early-afternoon, the first record for several days. On the Beach Reserve at least 51 Mediterranean Gulls were present mid-morning, with small numbers visible from the Crittall Hide.

Two birds associated with rocky shores were at Rye Harbour today. The Purple Sandpiper was still at the river mouth, feeding at low tide with Turnstones on the conrete causeway going out to the “red tripod”…

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A Purple Sandpiper was present at Rye Harbour this afternoon, feeding near the river mouth on the rocks below the new river wall. This is the first record on the reserve since 2002.

Godeneye, smew and goosander could still be seen on Burrowes Pit.  As many as three marsh harriers and peregrine were reported.  A male common scoter was spotted on the New Excavations.