North Salts update
16th October 2008, Thursday
The very high spring tide today flooded the saltings opposite North Salts. As it ebbed, a Grey Wagtail was feeding with 15 Pied Wagtails and 3 Little Egrets, while below on the mud 2 Common Sandpipers bobbed about by the waterline. Yesterday a couple of Goldcrests were among the Blue Tits flitting along the hedge by the tennis courts, while yesterday morning Clancy’s Rustic (see photo), Red-line Quaker, L-album Wainscot, Silver Y and a very late Straw Dot were among the 14 species in my moth trap. Clancy’s Rustic (Platyperigea kadenii) is a very recent colonist from the Continent. Since the first British example, trapped by Sean Clancy in 2002 at his home in New Romney, many more have been caught at Dungeness and Rye Harbour, elsewhere along the south coast and up the east coast to Suffolk and inland. The RX area is well placed for “firsts for Britain”!
