RXwildlife Sightings

The Black-necked Grebe was still present on the Long Pit this afternoon viewable from the footpath at the western end of the pit. Also here two Goldeneye (one drake) 145 Pochard and 130 Tufted Duck. On the Narrow Pits, two Long-eared Owl were again roosting, while 55 Corn Bunting and a Peregrine were seen from Lime Kiln Cottage mid-afternoon. A visit to the viewpoint at dusk saw 41 Little Egret coming in to roost, three singing Cetti’s Warbler and two squealing Water Rails.

Twenty five people turned out for the annual Pett Level walk led by Phil Jones and were not disappointed. Before we had left the car-park we had already been treated to excellent views of an immature male Marsh Harrier quartering over the edge of Pett Pools, and at least two Ruff feeding among the thousands of Lapwings on the sheep grazing. The walk to the Pannel Valley hide produced a few Little Egret, and several Stonechat, while 20+ Snipe were visible from the hide itself. On the return journey a good range of geese species included White-fronted, Brent, Barnacle (probably feral), Greylag and Canada.

This is a plant that became extinct in Britain in the late 1980’s. It has been grown from seeds originally collected at Dungeness and has been planted out there and at Rye Harbour. Plants are being monitored monthly to reveal what factors affect population viability. Last summer Rye had a record count (since the plant was reintroduced) of 47 plants. The original cause of failure was due to Rabbit grazing, but now there is a small Rabbit “proof” exclosure.

Searching for seedlings in the rabbit-proof exclosure

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A Bittern showed well inflight before crashing into the reeds, 7 Goldcrest and 5 Long-tailed Tit were in the scrub around the pit margins, a Barn Owl was also seen hunting in the nearby fields.