RXwildlife Sightings

Fridays shag made a reappearance on Burrowes pit, on the islands in front of Makepeace hide and the two local ravens flew over early afternoon, later being harassed by two peregrines over the power station. After a 12 year absence from the pits, a velvet scoter dropped in to Burrowes late thursday afternoon and was followed two days later by a pomarine skua flying over Scott hide and Burrowes pit, before dissapearing over the shingle and out to sea. The first record away from the sea since 1922!

Highlights today: 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Goldeneye and a Scaup on Long Pit. Waders roosting at high water along Shore Ridges included, 130 Sanderling (pictured), 70 Dunlin and 35 Grey Plover. 400 Golden Plover were roosting on Flat Beach and a Peregrine flew over Lime Kiln Cottage.

There are extensive areas of this shrub (Hippophae rhamnoides) on the dunes at Camber. It is thought that it was originally planted there to stabilise the sand (although it is a native to some parts of Britain). The berries are very tasty, rich in vitamin C and much sought after elsewhere in the world (click here), but I rarely hear of people eating them in Britain. I have eaten them much earlier in the year, but there are still masses on the bushes and today they were being eaten by a flock of about 100 mixed crows…

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