RXwildlife Sightings

Marsh mallow Althaea officinalis is one of a group of nationally scarce wetland plants that can be found on our grazing marshes, growing on the ditchbanks at the edge of the water and occasionally into low lying fields. It is very palatable to sheep however, and in the mid 1990’s we discovered that this plant had suffered a dramatic decline due to changes in stocking levels and a decline in hay cropping. One farmer on Walland Marsh, Howard Bates, had lost the plant from most of his fields, although it still persisted in large numbers on one ditch bank that was not grazed. He was keen to experiment with new methods to encourage recovery of the plant and today I revisited his farm to view the results ten years on. Read the rest of this entry »

On this brilliantly sunny morning, the Common Sandpiper was again present on the Rother by the railway bridge. Early on, a male Sparrowhawk over the river, then at midday a female being chased by a Rook over Rolvendene Farm. At Playden church, still 4 Common Darters, and nearby a Red Admiral and a late Speckled Wood.

I have just received this early 2007 photo of Rye Harbour Farm from the Environment Agency. It shows some of the new habitats that have been created as part of a their sea defence project.

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Yesterday at dusk two House Martin were present over Rye Harbour village, and this morning a Swallow passed over Lime Kiln Cottage.