RXwildlife Sightings

A bittern was present at Hooker’s pits all week. Up to three drake garganey could be seen on Denge Marsh and five hobbies were seen hunting over the reserve. Waders of note were: little ringed plover, grey plover, ruff, whimbrel, spotted redshank, greenshank, and common sandpiper. Forty Sandwich terns passed through on 27th and two common terns were present from 25th. Two ravens were seen on 26th and three the following day. Yellow wagtails, sedge warblers, reed warblers and whitethroats were all present in good numbers and there were occasional sightings of lesser whitethroat. Cuckoos were heard daily.

News has just come in of a CRESTED LARK at Dungeness.
This robust lark is typical of arable land right across Europe from the Middle East but stops abruptly at Calais Docks!
It hardly ever makes it across to this side of the Channel but can be heard among portside gantries and found grovelling in gutters close to Gravelines.
Its fondness for the Calais Hoverport led to it being renamed Carpark Lark.

Highlights over the past few days have included 6 Little Tern, 15 Swift, Greenshank and 7 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Beach Reserve, along the shore 3 Arctic Skua have been chasing Common or Sandwich Terns. On Harbour Farm 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 16 Avocet, Little Ringed Plover and Marsh Harrier. From the viewpoint at Castle Water 3 Hobby, 19 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Turtle Dove and 2 Garganey.

Always a good place to visit especially on a sunny spring day, highlights yesterday included Brimstone, Orange-tip and Green Tiger Beetle encountered often along the paths, Speckled Yellow (moth), Speckled Wood and Peacock were present in the woodland clearings, Azure and Large Red Damselflies were present around the footbridge near Holmans Meadow.

Green Tiger Beetle

Read the rest of this entry »