At least 500 Swifts were feeding over Long Pit / Harbour Farm area this evening, very difficult to count, might have been double this! One photo I took of a small section of the sky shows 88. Then at 9.15 pm they all vanished, presumably flying high out over the sea to roost.
CLICK HERE for a QUICK LINK to the details of the wide range of countryside events on 23rd - 31st May. Or download the A4 flyer by clicking here.
Friday 29th May, 1 pm - 4 pm
Dungeness is one of the most important sites in Britain for bumblebees. Nikki Gammans of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust will introduce you to the conservation and taxonomy of these fascinating creatures with a one-hour talk followed by a walk around the reserve nature trail. Free but donations welcome. Booking advisable: 01797 320588.
A Slavonian grebe in summer plumage is still present on the ARC pit. Our bittern has been booming regularly from the reedbed at Hooker’s pits. He is more active in the evening but has been heard at all times of the day. We will have to wait and see whether he has a mate or is still desperately trying to attract one! An unusual visitor to the reserve was a male common scoter, seen at Hooker’s pits on Saturday and Sunday. Waders seen this week include little ringed plover, little stint, black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits, avocet, dunlin, sanderling and turnstone. Yesterday saw small flocks of house martins and swallows on the move and there was a large influx of painted lady butterflies.
The Redshank was often referred to as the ’sentinel of the marsh’ and the explanation often given is because it is “usually the first bird to be disturbed, flying off with a noisy cry”. But I wonder if it is because it stands on top of fence posts when looking after its chicks. Now is the time to see this behaviour and this morning there was a pair near the Parkes hide. Find out more.
For the last ten days there has been an influx of Painted Lady butterflies throughout southern England, so I thought it was about time a photo appeared. Normally an uncommon sighting, but for now they are abundant. It has a worldwide distribution and undergoes long migrations, those appearing now may have flown from North Africa! More detail here.
On Saturday the winners of the RX wildlife photo competition were presented with their prizes.
This morning Alan Parker saw 3 Bee-eaters briefly on the wires at the SW end of the Long Pit at Rye Harbour.
Sunday 24th May 09. Now the pool is drained perhaps more birds will be seen, we can only hope because the last few weeks has been a bit dire to say the least. The pool mainly had ducks on it, mainly Mallards of which there was a brood of 9 chicks with a duck, the others were mainly drakes seemingly starting an early eclipse, also Shovelers,Gadwall,and the drake Garganey was showing well. The only waders on the pool were Lapwing and a Ring Plover at high tide. On the shore at low tide was a Grey Plover in full summer plumage and 3 Sanderling. At Carters Flood the Garganey put in a brief appearance ( probably the same bird) , I think this drake is a bit frustrated because it was trying court a drake Shoveler. It was a good morning for birds of prey as well with good views of Buzzard, Marsh harriers, Sparrow Hawk and a pair of Kestrels. Good bird watching Pete.
Trips to Brede High Wood never fail to please, lots of interesting wildlife can be encountered along the footpaths, many of the paths have been improved by the Woodland Trust. An astonishing collection of dragonflies were found yesterday Downy Emerald, Hairy Hawker, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Beautiful Demoiselle, Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. At the woodland stream near Holmans Meadow several Giant Lacewing (Osmylus fulvicephalus) were found, these insects are easy prey for birds so are rarely seen flying during the day. Numerous Green Tiger Beetles, Rhagium bifasciatum (second pictured), Painted Lady, Common Blue, Comma, Speckled Wood, Grass Snake, Slow Worm and Common Lizard were also seen while walking around the wood.
Giant Lacewing
