RXwildlife Sightings

Pete Rouse was out early this morning when a sudden downpour grounded a mixed flock of migrating waders, some of which were species so far unrecorded at the Pools this autumn.
Most surprising, in Pett terms, was a crowd of 65 Redshank (15 is more usual), most of which moved on after a short while, along with 5 Greenshank, which joined a flock of 20 flying W, 2 Knot, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper.
Remaining into late morning were 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank and 2 Little Stint.
They accompanied the more regular gang of 30 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Avocet, with ambient Lapwing, Curlew, Turnstone and Oystercatcher bringing the tally to 17 species.
A juvenile Marsh Harrier quartered the marsh, an adult arrived from the sea and 2 Peregrines were overhead.

Quite a lively day began with two lesser whitethroats and a willow warbler in the conifers near the Water Tower. Two wood sandpipers and green and common sandpipers were seen from the viewing screen. Mid-morning a cattle egret was found in the field near Boulderwall Farm (among the cattle!). It was hard to see as it moved behind tall vegetation but took flight occasionally. Later in the day four knot, two garganey and three little stints were seen from the ARC-Hanson hide and 67 greenshank flew south over Burrowes pit. A ring-tail hen harrier was also spotted from Scott hide.

The conclusion of the Rother Woods Project’s first year was celebrated on Saturday with a walk and picnic in the Woodland Trust’s big reserve near Sedlescombe.
The Project seeks to encourage better management of ancient woodland in the area between the Rivers Rother and Brede for the benefit of the diverse lepidoptera found there.
During the past year, no fewer than 29 butterfly species have been recorded there, including White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary and Dingy & Grizzled Skippers.
Even more impressive has been the variety of moths discovered: an astonishing 429 species including Olive Crescent, Clay Fanfoot and Dusky Peacock - an immigrant species whose only known previous colony has been at Ham Street in Kent.
These statistics underline the unique value of woodlands in the RX area.
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On Ternery Pool this morning, four immature Pintail, two Common Sandpiper, two Little Egret and a Knot were of interest, while a few Yellow Wagtail and small numbers of Wheatear were scattered around the Beach Reserve. Cold, wet weather last night resulted in one of the worst “summer” evenings for the Lime Kiln Moth trap, with a total of six moths of four species (three Straw Underwing, and one each of Dark Arches, Vine’s Rustic and Light Brown Apple Moth)! However, a fine female Grey Bush-cricket made up for the otherwise poor show.