RXwildlife Sightings

The good news from Rye Harbour LNR is that numbers of one of Britain’s rarest plants, the stinking hawksbeard Crepis foetida, have increased for a fourth successive year, breaking last year’s record of 353 plants. A total of 407 plants have been recorded growing on the reserve this year, and more may yet be found.

It is possible to see some of the plants if you walk from the Ternery Pool bird hide towards the beach. Just before the footpath reaches the junction with the coast road there is a small fenced plot to the left of the path, with a sign publicising the plants. The distinguishing features are shown below.

The buds have a characteristic drooping, or nodding, position. The yellow inflorescences open just briefly for an hour or so in the morning, closing by mid-day to give an orange-red tipped closed flower, and the closed seed heads are brilliant white - and are the most obvious feature at the moment. Read the rest of this entry »

There is public consultation on this important matter, with two exhibitions coming up very soon…

Friday 4 July, 2 – 7pm. Camber Memorial Hall, Lydd Road, Camber

Monday 7 July, 2 – 8pm. Rye Community Learning Centre, Lion Street, Rye

For more info click here.

Highlights from Castle Water today, 70 Sand Martin, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Little Ringed Plover. Dragonfly highlights, 2 Brown Hawker gave good views at the hide, 3 Emperor were along the ditch north of the hide and 2 Downy Emerald were still present at the small pond north of the viewpoint. Black-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser and Common Darter were also seen. The Cuckoo chick is…… well lets say getting huge. What a difference in three days.