RXwildlife Sightings

Hundreds of small birds are still migrating east, flocks passing the whole time. Most are flying along in the lee of the cliff, so if you go down to the edge just below the radar scanner you can see the birds from above or even at eye-level. In poor light (like this week) this is particularly useful if you don’t know the calls - usually the only way of identifying these dots - because you’re close enough to pick up plumage details.
Easiest, and most numerous, are Goldfinches, with broad yellow wing-bars easily discerned even at a distance. Lots of Redpolls are going through too, though Siskin numbers have tailed off. Then there are (still!) Starlings, Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Linnets, alba Wagtails and a few Skylarks, Greenfinches and Reed Buntings.
The only Novelty Species today was a flock of 8 Crossbills. Read the rest of this entry »

This huge bumblebee was found in my moth trap in Rye this morning. It appears to be a queen Bombus terrestris - males and workers are much smaller with whiter ‘tails’. Queens should really be hibernating by now, though this widespread species can maintain active nests quite late in the autumn. The 18 moths of 12 species was also an excellent catch for November and included 2 Red-green Carpets and both Chestnut and Dark Chestnut for comparison. Finally, in addition to the lingering Common Sandpiper on the river and yesterday’s 3 Chiffchaffs and the dragonflies at Northpoint, a flock of 14 Swallows were feeding low over the Love Lane allotments in this afternoon’s gathering gloom.