RXwildlife Sightings

Post by Andrew Grace:

‘On Sunday I was very pleased to see a pair of Ravens fly low NW over the West Hill. I would have possibly missed them but for the steady croaking call from one of the birds. What was extraordinary was at 11.30 two Ravens came in high over the EAST Hill and also passed NW flying over the townscape.

I suspect a link between feeding areas in the Weald and the prominence of the sea cliffs here. I had also seen a single Raven over Fairlight Glen the previous day. Ravens have a wide territorial familiarity and presumably birds are developing routines with increased familiarity with the landscapes of East Sussex.

There has been a good passage of Whinchats and Wheatears with migrants sometimes dropping in during the afternoons - for instance Reed warbler and redstart were among the lobster pots on the fishing beach noted by one observer. redstarts, Spotted flycatchers and Willow warblers have been noted in smaller numbers - two Whinchats were even flying about on the West Hill among the holiday crowds on Sunday afternoon.

Overhead bands of Swallows, sand martins and a small passage of Yellow wagtails.’

Good numbers of grounded migrants were recorded at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve today including totals of 219 willow warbler, 131 whitethroat, 7 whinchat, 5 wheatear, a redstart and a reed warbler. Highlights of overhead migration were 10 tree pipit, 12 yellow wagtail, a curlew and a little ringed plover west and 2 grey wagtail east.

Two redstarts and 2 spotted flycatchers were recorded from the East Hill on Saturday and a honey buzzard flew over the Visitor Centre at about 10.30am.

At Stade Beach on Sunday a male redstart and a reed warbler were recorded amongst the lobster pots.

Still small numbers of migrants around the reserve. A redstart and a spotted flycatcher were around the back of Christmas dell hide late yesterday evening, with 7 whinchat seen today (including 4 together in fields behind Denge Marsh). An eclipse drake red crested pochard was viewable from Makepeace Hide, and 3 avocet and a grey plover flew over the reserve. 3 little gull and a common buzzard were over Hanson ARC pit and an osprey seen flying over the reserve yesterday afternoon was the first record of the year.

Many waders and birdwatchers this morning at the roadside pool. Nothing rare, but a good variety - a close Wood Sandpiper (photo) was the best, but also 9 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, 2 Avocet and many Dunlin and Lapwing. But the best birds were overhead, 3 Sparrowhawk circling a Raven, then an Osprey mobbed by a Peregrine, then a little later a Red Kite.

Highlights from the Beach Reserve this morning, a Great Skua, 34 Gannet and 50+ Common Scoter were offshore. Waders feeding along the shore included, 6 Knot, 18 Sanderling, 41 Ringed Plover and 34 Dunlin. 2 Kingfisher were fishing at the River Mouth and later the Wader Pool, 8 Whinchat were perched along the fence by Ternery Pool. At Castle Water, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, 4 Ruff, 5 Whinchat and a Redstart were the pick of the bunch, and then early afternoon Spotted and Pied Flycatcher.