RXwildlife Sightings

If you peer very closely at this picture you can see not only Shelducks in the water but a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and, on the field, a group of Canada Geese. You can’t see the group of 42 Brents with the Greylags a bit further back nor the Barn Owl hunting in the distance, nor the flocks of Starlings arriving to roost in the reeds. Though there were a few hundred, they were a bit disappointing since they didn’t bother with the aerial stunts we expect, just went straight to sleep.
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The beautiful morning encouraged a Chiffchaff to sing, one of at least two birds in the scrub. A steady trickle of overflying migrants included Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Skylark and Brambling on four occasions. Small groups of Starling were coming in off the sea and heading to the northwest.

The warmth of mid morning led to at least three Red Admiral and a Common Darter taking to the wing.

Waders roosting along Shore Ridges at high water this afternoon included, 29 Grey Plover (pictured), 170 Dunlin, 14 Sanderling, 2 Knot, 250 Oystercatcher and 24 Turnstone. Several Red-throated Diver were also fishing close inshore.

Winter talks programme in the Visitor and Education Centre on the third Thursday of the month from 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm).

15 November: Phil Chantler - White cliffs, gateway to Britain

20 December: David Featherbe - Wildlife photography

17 January 2008: Brenda Holcombe - In the footsteps of Scott and Shackleton

21 February: Bob Gomes - Christmas in Sri Lanka

20 March: Paul Trodd - St. Helena, an island odyssey

RSPB members £1.50, non-members £3. Telephone 01797 320588 for more details.

Highlights from Narrow Pit this morning, a Dartford Warbler was in the gorse patch by Corner Pools. 22 Fieldfare, 14 Redwing, 17 Blackbird and 5 Song Thrush (pictured) were present in the Hawthorn scrub near the allotments. Birds passing overhead included 15 Redpoll and 2 Brambling.