RXwildlife Sightings

The first bittern of the autumn put in an appearance on new excavations, taking flight from the reeds opposite the path to Scott hide and dropping down into the pools viewable from Christmas Dell hide. The first sighting since a single summer record on July 5th. Three ring ouzels were seen, with single birds along the entrance track, in the bushes near the water tower at the top of ARC, and from the viewing ramp at Hookers Pits. A redstart was taking shelter from the wind in the bushes at the back of the car park and a single grey wagtail flew over early morning. The best was saved until last when a dotterel was found with golden plovers in the fields between Lydd and Boulderwall farm.

Very few moths trapped recently but in the trap yesterday a Dark Sword-grass. In our garden a Hummingbird Hawk Moth for the second day feeding on Verbena Bonariensis along with 6 Red Admirals, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady & Speckled Wood. Also Rhododendron Leafhopper on sunflower.

Reported by Alan Parker on wildhastings.org.uk

Many coasting passerines including 15 Redpolls, 50 Siskins, 2 Bramblings,3 Redwings. Firecrest along woodland edge west of Warren Glen, Dartford Warbler in gorse east of Warren Glen.

Reported by Alan Parker on wildhastings.org.uk

Highlights this morning, 13 Little Stint, 28 Knot, 4 Ruff, 10 Grey Plover, 306 Golden Plover, 17 Brent Goose and 140 Wigeon were present on Flat Beach Flood. Peregrine, Marsh Harrier and 200+ Goldfinch were on Harbour Farm, 15 Corn Bunting, 5 Siskin and a Fieldfare passed over Lime Kiln Cottage.

Thursday 4th October

I met up in the fog with Phil Newton and John Willsher to look at the results of rush-cutting on some of the overgrown fields. This has revealed much more open ground - more likely to be attractive to waterbirds of various sorts - but has left a lot of mashed-up rush which has to be raked up or left to rot.

Snipe and Meadow Pipits obviously appreciated the new regime, but the full effects cannot be assessed until autumn rains raise the water level further.

Many migrant Reed Buntings and thrushes had arrived, including one or two Ring Ouzels, and a Golden Plover, calling overhead in the mist, was a new bird for the site. Also new was the first singing Cetti’s Warbler for the reserve. A skulking bird was heard rattling on a few occasions last winter, but this male was announcing his presence over the whole area.

By the Doleham Stream pair of Kingfishers sat together on a dead Hogweed.