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.
An afternoon walk from Rye to Winchelsea and back brought few birds under Cadborough Cliff, perhaps due to the number of walkers, but the return via Rye Marsh Farm and Gateborough Farm was more productive. Over 20 Whinchats were spread atop the reedy ditches separating the many stubble fields where a dozen Wheatears could be found using the straw bales as vantage points.
More than 70 Reed Buntings were also seen, and good numbers of Linnet and Greenfinch were enjoying the stubble, along with several Yellowhammers and Goldfinches.
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Last Thursday the immature Night Heron had moved to the W end of Shornden Reservoir, TQ802104, easier to watch than at Buckshole, though hard to get a good photo in the gloomy weather. I’ve been away since then, so this is now old news - but maybe it’s still present. The photo doesn’t show the bird’s vivid yellow legs and feet.
An Osprey was spotted mid morning carrying a fish and heading up the valley. About half an hour later it was flying low over the fields and reedbeds, often being pursued by Carrion Crows.
A good range of species in the Lime Kiln moth trap this morning, the commonest being Large Yellow Underwing (33 individuals) and Setaceous Hebrew Character (22). Highlights were Webb’s Wainscot, a species whose larvae feed on a range of wetland plants, Oblique Striped (probably a stray from Camber where there is an eastablished population), and Shore Wainscot (below), while other notable species included Evergestis extimalis and Viper’s Bugloss Moth. A small number of migrant micros were also present: Rusty-dot Pearl, Rush Veneer, and Diamond-back moth.
Shore Wainscot
An arrival of migrants was noted around the reserve, highlights being a grasshopper warbler in Denge Marsh Gulley, and a male redstart, 3 spotted flycatchers and a tree pipit along the entrance track. 7 whinchat were scattered around the reserve (2 in Denge Marsh Gulley, 3 around the trail and 2 along the entrance track) and at least 80 yellow wagtail were on the shingle near the car park. Other migrant totals included 16 Willow Warblers, 4 lesser whitethroat, 2 blackcap and a garden warbler.
It seems that after all this poor weather we have been having, invertebrates have been very quick to take advantage of the sun. At Lime Kiln Cottage this morning, at least ten Wasp Spider were found, the first adults this year, as well as a couple of Grey Bush Cricket and both Long-Winged and Short-winged Conehead. Butterflies on the Buddleia included 14 Small Tortoisehell, two Red Admiral and a Painted Lady, while at least two Clouded Yellow were patrolling along the road to the village.
Long-winged Conehead female
This afternoon there were 9 Ruff with the many Lapwing roosting in front of the Castle Water hide. Ruff are one of the few wading birds where the sexes are of very different size, so in the photo the male is on the left with 2 females (or Reeves) on the right.
A wryneck was seen at about 1.30pm at Castle Rocks, Hastings. It was seen flying into the seaward end of the wooded gulley.
A black tern, three turnstones and a grey plover were seen on Burrowes pit this morning. A kingfisher and two hobbies were seen at the Hanson-ARC site.