RXwildlife Sightings

The long-staying Yellow-browed Warbler was still in the moat but grounded migrants were generally scarce although a Wood Lark and seven ‘Continental Coal Tits‘ were noteworthy. Migrants passing overhead included 30 Skylark, 24 Swallows, three each of Rock Pipit and Grey Wagtail, a Brambling, 500 Goldfinches and 22 Siskins. There were large numbers of birds feeding offshore in the morning with at least 1500 Gannets,a Sooty Shearwater and two Arctic Terns. Seven Great Skuas also flew east and whilst a variety of wildfowl flew west including 585 Brent Geese, nine Pintail, 81 Wigeon and 39 Teal, a Goldeneye and 22 Red-breasted Mergansers. A first-year Caspian Gull was on the beach at the fishing boats in the morning.

David Walker from DBO website

Following yesterday’s brief visit, the juvenile spoonbill reappeared on ARC, giving good views from both the hide and the viewing screen. Twenty-seven snipe were feeding on the islands and at least two yellow-legged gulls were mixed in with the surrounding lesser black-backed gulls. Three grey plovers were with the lapwings in front of Makepeace hide and a lone swallow was over Hooker’s pits. At least two goldcrests were in the bushes at the back of the car park and a single corn bunting flew over Hooker’s, the first on the reserve for several weeks. A Dartford warbler was reported in the bushes behind Denge Marsh hide late morning.    

While checking the Little Egret roost from the viewpoint (Castle Water) this morning two Penduline Tits showed well infront of the viewing platform, they were last seen inflight before dropping down in reeds near the new excavations. 39 Little Egret were counted leaving the roost, Marsh Harrier, kingfisher, Water Rail, Cettis Warbler and Chiffchaff were also seen.