RXwildlife Sightings

In my previous post I showed evidence, gained from maps and aerial photos since 1878 of the gradual destruction of Wickmaryholm Pit on the south coast of Lydd Ranges. To discover what happened at the beginning of the story you have to burrow into the sediments of this pit.  They tell the story of what happened in its early years.  The layers of peat in these pits contain pollen, higher plant remains and diatoms, that identify the vegetation that used to grow in and around the pit, describe the environment throughout its history, and can be used to date the development of the pit.

It appears that Wickmaryholm pit was probably formed sometime between Read the rest of this entry »

7.30am to 12 noon.High tide around midday, sea rough, temperature 2C all morning. Pett sea wall is not the best place to keep warm on a day like today, so on days like today you hope that the bird life keeps your mind off the cold, but this morning the cold won hands down. Not much difference in the way of birds but numbers have increased, Grey Plovers were in good numbers with 65 roosting at high tide along with 300 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, Ruff, Redsank, Turnstone, Curlew, Lapwing, Snipe, most of these were seen at the Winchelsea end.
Other birds seen were 3 Marsh Harriers at the pools, large numbers of Commom Scoters and G.C.Grebe on the sea with few R.T.Divers and 1 Razorbill east over the sea.
There seemed to be geese all over the marsh mainly Greylag and Canadas but there was 9 White-fronted Geese and 3 Brent with them.
Ducks were also in good numbers with Wigeon 300, Teal 60, Gadwall 20, Shoveler 10, Pochard 8, and 1 Tufted Duck. Diving ducks are not very common at the pools nowadays due to the water level being kept lower, but you can’t have everything.
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and I hope you all have a Happy New Year, Good Birding from Pete Rouse.

A bittern and a Slavonian grebe were seen from Christmas Dell hide and a black-necked grebe was on Denge Marsh. A male and two female red-crested pochards were on New Excavations and two goosanders were on the ARC pit. Seven smew (including two males) were seen around the site. Firecrest, long-tailed tit and chiffchaff were seen from the willow trail and a kingfisher flew past the Visitor Centre.