RXwildlife Sightings

Wednesday January 31st

Last week was dark and snowy, but today was cheeringly spring-like. I could hear calls and songs of a dozen species of birds before I even left the house, and the total for the return walk was 66 species, including Marsh Harrier, 5 Ruff, Barn Owl, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and c5 Little Egrets. At dusk the reed beds were full of squealing Water Rails. A GC Grebe was fishing in the deep pool where the Pannel Sewer runs into the Canal, which I think was the first I have ever seen on the canal.
Another curiosity was a parakeet sp which flew past us by Newgate Cottages, to perch with Rooks in the tall trees. It appeared mostly green, with a darker head - maybe blue. It seemed a bit heavier and shorter-tailed than Ring-necked, and its single squawk was certainly different from the Sound of Sidcup. According to Phil Jones, this bird has been around the Pannel area for a few days but no-one has yet been able to get a good look at it.

Four Long-eared Owl could be found roosting today, two at the southern end of Castle Water and two at Narrow Pit. Gulls roosting on the new excavations at Castle Water, 2900+ Herring Gull, 343 Great Blacked-back, 133 Lesser Blacked-back, 500+ Black-headed and 225 Common Gull. The Black-necked Grebe was still present on Long Pit.

Another Coprinus from Castle Water Common Inkcap (Coprinus atramentarius). This is a common species and could be found in your Garden or local park growing on the ground in clusters, often near buried or rotting timber.

51 Little Egret were counted leaving the roost, a Bittern gave flight views as it changed position in the nearby reeds, a Kingfisher, 10 Fieldfare and a Chiffchaff were aslo seen from the viewpoint. 82 Mute Swan took off from the main pit.