Following a case at Northiam, near Rye, the Bluetongue Control Zone in Kent has been extended to include Hastings and Rother Districts. Farmers need to remain vigilant and movement restrictions are in place. The whole of East Sussex was already included in the Protection Zone covering much of South-East England. For more information click here.
Bird of the day went to both the spoonbill, that dropped in to feed briefly on the newly dug islands at ARC pit, and perhaps the more surprising record, a pale morph arctic skua that flew low over the car park and around Burrowes pit, before dissapearing back out to sea. Common buzzard and merlin were the pick of the raptors and small numbers of fieldfares were still moving through early morning, along with the occasional brambling and small groups of siskins. A black redstart was present around the car park early morning.
Yesterday at dusk a Bittern gave flight views along Narrow Pit and a Short-eared Owl also showed well hunting on Harbour Farm. This morning the highlight from a frosty and chilly viewpoint (Castle Water) was a Firecrest, 18 Fieldfare and 10 Redwing were also present in nearby willows.