RXwildlife Sightings

After 10 years of living in Peasmarsh this is the first recording of a Redwing in my small garden and after three days of trying, I finally managed to get a photo through my patio window. What I have noticed in particular as the three days has gone on is how the Redwing has become more used to us sitting close by. It is not flying off as soon as we approach it as Redwings  normally seem do in the open countryside when the weather is reasonable. They are almost ignoring us now. Hunger driven no doubt.

Highlights from Castle water this morning included 3 Bittern (1 infront of the hide, 2 in flight) , 4 Marsh Harrier (2 male, 2 female/imm type), 8 Woodcock, 58 Fieldfare, 90 Redwing, 22 Ruff and a pair of Smew.

Bittern at Castle water hide this morning

At least 43 Bewick’s swans roosted on the ARC pit on the night of 8th, with eight present at 4 pm and another 35 flying in at 4.30, just before dark. A barnacle goose, a brent goose and three pairs of red-crested pochards were on the Water Tower pits on 7th and three drake goosanders were on Burrowes pit. There were at least two black-necked grebes on Denge Marsh. Eleven marsh harriers were seen flying north-west across Burrowes pit at dusk on 7th.
Good numbers of fieldfares (120+) and redwings (20) are around the site today and smaller numbers were seen yesterday. A Slavonian grebe is still on New Excavations and a bittern was seen at Hooker’s pits this morning. A penduline tit was seen briefly near the bridle track at Denge Marsh before flying off towards the gully.