RXwildlife Sightings

On 3rd October I posted a picture of the largest stinking hawksbeard in Northiam, predicting that the most vigorous plants at this time of year do not always survive. Well just over a month later this is how the plant looked

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Yesterdays glaucous gull was relocated on the beach this morning looking west from Denge Marsh road resting with other large gulls. At least one Bewick’s swan was feeding in the fields between Lydd and the reserve, viewable from the ramp at Hookers pits and small numbers of finches and thrushes moving through the reserve included 27 bramblings, 6 siskins, 17 redwings and at least 20 fieldfares. A first year Caspian gull was roosting on the shingle island in front of Burrowes pit late yesterday evening and seven marsh harriers roosted in the willow scrub around the Oppen pits.

A still morning allowed good views over the sea where 167 Common Scoter were loafing with a few grebes and two Brent Geese. The two Snow Bunting had moved westwards from the earlier sighting. Two Little Auk very close to the shore having been spotted by visiting birders but these had departed.
A surprise on the shallow pool was a Purple Sandpiper while four Avocet have re-appeared after a prolonged absence.
The fields held 22 Brent Geese but little else of note.

Two Snow Bunting were on the sea-wall opposite the sheep station at Pett Level this morning
John & Rosalie Uhlman

Yesterday, on his monthly WeBS count, John Trowell recorded a very late House Martin over Northpoint Pit, near Camber.

There seem to be quite a few dead broom Cytisus scoparius plants on Dungeness this autumn. This is another of the scrub species that hugs the ground here because salt-laden winds kill the taller stems. I suspect the death of these plants is down to the run of droughts we have had in recent years, culminating in the warm dry April/May weather.

 So, does it matter? Read the rest of this entry »