RXwildlife Sightings

101 species around the level this morning including Spoonbill, Pintail, Garganey, Red-breasted Merganser, Marsh Harrier, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Curlew (much scarcer than Whimbrel right now) Spotted Redshank, Common & Wood Sandpiper, Med Gull, Little Tern (at last), Wheatear (at last - yes, I’m ashamed)…er…ah yes, and loads of Bar-tailed Godwits (below), with up to 75 on the roadside pool, more on the fields at the back, more on the Scrape, more flying past with Whimbrel…it’s many years since I saw migration like this at Pett.

I also ticked off Rain.
As for the celebrated Spoonbill, it now seems to leave the pool quite early in the day. Yesterday, it left just as I arrived at 06.15. Today, I could see it from a distance at about the same time. It goes off towards Rye, but I don’t see it on the RH lists. So where does it get to? And is this actually the same bird as the very confiding individual earlier in the week?

One hundred and twenty Whimbrel left the Quarry roost this morning, the first birds leaving at 4:35. Also here at least seven Bar-tailed Godwit, three Grey Plover (all males, with one in full summer plumage) and two Knot. On the new pits behind Ternery Pool, four Avocet (with a further six on the pool behind Harbour Farm Barns), two Little Ringed Plover and a Yellow Wagtail were present, while small numbers of Swallow and at least one Swift flew in from the south.

There was a small movement of waders this evening with 130 bar-tailed godwit, 28 knot and 7 sanderling flying east close inshore past West St Leonards. Also flying east were 32 common scoter and small numbers of black-headed gull, sandwich tern, common tern and little tern. A house martin flew north in off the sea.

Two Red-rumped Swallows at Pett Level at the start of the track by the small white cottage off the coast road at 08.05. (From www.birdguides.com).

Red Kite flying over the field next to the Robin Hood Pub in Icklesham at 12.30
Dave Eaton

Eight Arctic Tern were roosting amongst 60+ Common Tern, 28 Bar-tailed Godwit, 47 Sanderling and 2 Knot were also feeding nearby.

This morning, 116 Whimbrel left the roost, a slight increase on yesterdays total. Also here, several Bar-tailed Godwit, at least one Curlew and about 150 Common Tern. On the pits behind Ternery Pool, four Avocet and two Little Ringed Plover were present, giving good views from the path, while small numbers of Yellow Wagtail flew over.  On the shore, a single summer plumaged Knot was present among Bar-tailed Godwit, along with 25 Sanderling and a Grey Plover.

A check of the Little Egret roost at Castle Water found 22 birds leaving the roost at dawn, numbers are generally low from late april, starting to build again in july. Also at the viewpoint this morning, Blackcap, Whitethroat (pictured), Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo and Marsh Harrier. A brief sea watch from the Old Lifeboat House produced, 80+ Common Scoter, Artic Skua, 23 Gannet, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and 11 Whimbrel.

Highlights at Castle Water today included 20+ Swift, 8 House Martin, Common Sandpiper, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Turtle Dove and Kingfisher.

Marsh Harrier at Castle Water this morning

A drop in Whimbrel numbers, 102 left the roost at dawn, the first group of ten left at 4.50am. Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin and good numbers of Common Tern were also present. 12 Corn Bunting and 15 Swallow were the only additional highlights on a cold windy morning.