RXwildlife Sightings

Common whitethroats are nesting all along the Cadborough cliff, and a number of newly fledged birds are on the wing.  Linnets and Chiffchaffs are also present in good numbers there. Walking into Gibbets marsh a Turtle dove was purring from the poplars where there is often a territory or two - but I have not seen the species further along the cliff today. Hobby falcons seen twice and adult Mediterranean gull overhead. A Cetti’s warbler nearby singing from near the Tillingham canal TQ915202 - a nesting species for Rye Town! The hoverfly Merodon equestris on the wing - a golden haired morph imitative of the carder bees. At Winchelsea a cleg fly (the horse fly Haematopota pluvialis, see here) - more widespread generally than the more local species photographed so well recently - thanks for that great picture Sam! Celery leaved buttercup in the ditch at Gibbets and Hedge woundwort now in flower at Winchelsea.
Andrew Grace by e-mail

It is quite sad that today, in the middle of June, I was quite excited to see 2 Little Terns at Rye Harbour. There are none nesting here this year, for only the second time since the nature reserve was established in 1970. The other absence was in 2000 and we hope they follow the same pattern and return next year. We do not know why they failed to nest, but last year they did not raise any young and departed very early.

Plenty to see on Harbour Farm this morning, Barn owl, Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobby were all hunting, at least 400 Swifts were catching insects over the fields and the pits opposite, and 3 Raven passed overhead heading east. Also of interest this morning, two pairs of Avocet with chicks were fighting for feeding space at the Wader Pool. Avocets chasing off other birds has been a regular sight recently, so it was strange to see them aggressively attacking each others chicks. Peace was eventually restored and both chicks survived.

Barn Owl hunting this morning

You never know what you are going to find when searching along the ditches at Castle Water, yesterday this superb Elephant Hawk-moth was found resting amongst the emergent vegetation. These moths are often caught at lime Kiln Cottage and are popular with visitors which attend the Moth Mornings, the next one is held on sunday 29th of June.