RXwildlife Sightings

March 28th 2007, saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in my garden, (The Ridge, Hastings), earliest I’ve ever seen one, can only assume either a hibernated adult or very early pupa hatching.
Michael Watson

Just the 27 Avocets on the roadside pool at Pett Level at the moment (11.40) and a Black-tailed Godwit.
John Trowell

I was astonished to see the size of prey a Cormorant can tackle, the eel caught in the picture below was at least 24 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. The Cormorant finally swallowed the eel after struggling for 15 minutes. The Black-necked Grebe showed well nearby.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Flame Shoulder moth emerged today from a pupa I collected on 24th February in the Lime Kiln Cottage Garden. The species is so named because of the pale flashes on the wings, and is fairly common throughout Britain. The larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants including Ribwort Plantain and various bedstraws.

Flame Shoulder

A Buzzard seen soaring over Rye Harbour Village around 2pm was an unexpected highlight yesterday.

Highlights this morning 2 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Goldeneye (1 drake) and 15 Avocet were on new pools on Harbour Farm. 11 Knot were on the Wader Pool.

Two still present on Long Pit. One in full breeding plumage at the SW end this afternoon. Blackcap singing in the Wood.

Two ravens were in the East Hill area late morning/early afternoon, mainly flying along the cliff top giving excellent views. A barn owl was present feeding on the farm early morning.

In the Warren Glen area a Dartford warbler, 3 chiffchaff, a willow warbler and a mixed flock of linnet and goldfinch were reported. Also 40 meadow pipit flew over.

This wheatear was caught in a spring trap on the quarry field and is the first migrant to be ringed this year at the site.

On Flat Beach Level this morning, 150+ Golden Plover, 40 Dunlin, three Grey Plover, ten Brent Geese and 18 Shelduck. At least four Wheatear were present on the reserve, two of these at the river mouth, at least 50 Sandwich Tern on Ternery Pool, and 12 Avocet on Harbour Farm. In addition, 2 Black Redstart and a Firecrest were present near Harbour Farm Barns throughout the day, while 42 Corn Bunting overflew Lime Kiln Cottage during the afternoon.

13 moths of 7 species in the trap today, including (left to right) a male Early Thorn, one of 2 Double-striped Pugs, and the pyralid Eudonia angustea.