RXwildlife Sightings

Friday 26th: A black redstart was hanging around the car park and a Dartford warbler was in the bushes near the start of the return trail. Single brambling and grey wagtail flew over calling and three chiffchaffs were in the bushes around the trail.

Thursday 25th: Most of the action was concentrated around ARC where little stint, knot and bar-tailed godwit all dropped in to feed. Two Caspian gulls were on the islands in front of the viewing screen and a woodcock was flushed from the pines near the railway line at the far end of the track. A continental coal tit, also in the pines, was a good bird for the reserve. The male merlin was over Burrowes pit and the bittern was seen briefly in flight dropping into the reeds at the back of Hooker’s Pits.

Highlights from Castle Water this morning included, 400 Wigeon, 2 Goldeneye and 12 Little Grebe on the main pit, a Bittern and Marsh Harrier gave flight views over the new excavations. From the Viewpoint at dawn, 700+ Starling had roosted overnight in nearby reeds, much to the delight of a pair of Sparrowhawks which had no trouble picking off a bird each for breakfast. A Woodcock also gave flight views infront of the viewing platform. On the Beach Reserve, 104 Brent Geese (pictured), 28 Grey Plover, 325 Oystercatcher and 46 Ringed Plover were present on Flat Beach, the two Little Stints continue to show well on the scrape next to Lime kiln Cottage. 3 Red-throated Diver were fishing close inshore out from Crittall Hide, and a Merlin was again present along Shore Ridges.