This lovely flower is now in full bloom and has seed pods, but it has declined in the RX area due to sea defence works, trampling and rabbits. You can still enjoy it just above the high water mark at Rye Harbour. If you look closely you will see that some leaves have semi-circular cut margins, where the Pea Weevil Sitona lineatus has eaten it.
Avian highlights today included 12 Green Sandpipers, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 15 Curlew from the hide at Castle Water, a Red Kite and Spoonbill were also reported. At Ternery Pool the breeding pairs of Shelduck have now formed a creche, one pair have all the work to do now, but at least they are big enough to be off the menu for the larger gulls.
Shelduck pair with a creche of 31 chicks. Read the rest of this entry »
The pair of purple herons that started nesting on the reserve in early May, are believed to have bred successfully, with increased activity around the nest.
We are seeing more frequent changeovers at the nest, one bird returning from a feeding foray at regular intervals, presumably to deliver food to the awaiting chicks. As this bird approaches the nest often with head and chin feathers raised, its partner normally rises from the nest, after a short greeting ceremony that involves much calling from within the reedbed and departs to nearby marshland.
It is the first time ever that the UK has hosted a breeding pair of purple herons and we set up a round-the-clock Species Protection Scheme to give the birds as good a chance of breeding as possible. It seems to have paid off with the pair at Dungeness looking set to be the first to successfully breed in the UK.
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The usual ups and downs for Rye Harbour’s nesting seabirds. Most of the smaller gulls and Sandwich Terns are now fledging and dispersing, so now is a good time to see a range of behaviour close up, right in front of the hides - lots of photo opportunities.
Sandwich Tern with its fledgling
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The left hand column of this website has much extra useful information. For example within the links section there are are many websites such as…
The Romney Marshes Living Landscape vision is to realise a living landscape from Hastings to Hythe, which is of distinctive character, supports sustainable farming, is rich in wildlife and history, and is enjoyed as a place to live, work and spend leisure time. For more info click here.
At Castle Water hide a fine selection of hoverflies could be found amongst the grass and bramble scrub near the bench, highlights included Xanthogramma pedissequum, Chrysotoxum bicinctum, Volucella bombylans and Helophilus trivittatus. Avian highlights were 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper and 3 Marsh Harrier.
Xanthogramma pedissequum Read the rest of this entry »
Intent on living dangerously tonight I tried to view the bumblebee nest inside one of my bird boxes by torchlight. The nest box cavity was full of silken webs, several large larvae which I assume are young moths, and several small adult moths - rather clothes moth like in appearance.
I cannot imagine that Read the rest of this entry »
Earlier this evening a man was spotted walking the streets of Northiam, examining gardens in a suspicious manner. There are reports of the same individual doing this in previous summers, although links to crime have not been established. Read the rest of this entry »
Cuckoo spit is now abundant in some grassland. It is produced by the nymphs of Froghoppers as a protective structure, made from the watery sap that it feeds on. If you carefully wipe away the bubbles you will find the nymph. Read the rest of this entry »
