RXwildlife Sightings

Raptors were the order of the day. First up was a female merlin over Makepeace hide, followed by a common buzzard, mobbed by a pair of marsh harriers and an osprey, over New Excavations. A fantastic start for those on the guided walk at the time! The list ended with a honey buzzard flying over the reserve late afternoon. Other sightings of note included two flyover bar-tailed godwits, a juvenile black tern over Burrowes pit, and the two long-staying red-crested pochards.  Eleven pintails and a garganey were on Burrowes pit late yesterday evening.

A warm, still, overcast night produced around 40 species in the Lime Kiln moth trap, a pretty good total here for this time of year. Highlights were Large Thorn, a national rarity which is infrequent at Rye Harbour, and the scarce micro Evergestis extimalis, while Feathered Ranunculus, a typically autumn species, was new for they year.

The Osprey was present at Castle Water again this morning visible from the viewpoint. Initially reported as flying off to the the south at around 10am, the bird was still present at 1.30pm