RXwildlife Sightings

Whereas some migrant birds such as Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches and Wagtails are happy to head off along the seawall, others prefer to follow the Royal Military Canal, skirting the ancient coastline. There is no traffic noise along the canal so calls can more easily be heard and flocks often pass at low level.
This morning an unusual number of Crossbills passed.
Good numbers have been seen at watch-points in recent weeks and I’ve seen a few flocks go over, but today I counted 98 - the most I’ve ever seen here. Most flocks were between 0800 and 0930 (16, 13, 11, 15, 14, 9) but the biggest group (20) flew past me at 1030.
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Black-necked grebe – one on the ARC pit on 16th. Bittern – at Hooker’s pits on 12th and 13th. Cattle egret – on Denge Marsh this morning, present since Monday. Great white egret – on Denge Marsh this morning. Glossy ibis - one on Denge Marsh on 15th. Goldeneye – first two of the season on the ARC pit on 16th. Hen harrier – one over access track on 16th. Merlin – one at Christmas Dell on the 9th. Hobby – one seen all week. Common crane – three seen circling over Dengemarsh Road on 13th. Avocet – one on Denge Marsh this morning. Little ringed plover – one on the ARC pit on 11th. Little stint – one on Denge Marsh from the 8th to 16th. Ruff – three on Denge Marsh on 13th. Snipe – Denge Marsh on 16th. Black-tailed godwit – one on Denge Marsh on 16th. Kingfisher – one on Burrowes pit on 14th. Swallow - several passing through on 15th and 16th. Redwing – one near the main gate this morning. Rock pipit and grey wagtail – flying over on 14th. Blackcap – male near Boulderwall Farm on 15th. Brambling, lesser redpoll and siskin - flying over on 14th.

Highlights yesterday/this morning have included 2 Sandwich Tern, 15 Gannet, 76 Brent Geese and a Grey Seal offshore. Goldfinches have been a feature with about 300 passing through in small flocks, a group of 30 Swallows were present on Harbour Farm were 6 Redwing, 24 Pied Wagtail and 18 Siskin also passed overhead. A nice find this morning was a Firecrest in bramble scrub behind Ternery Pool.

Grey Seal offshore yesterday