RXwildlife Sightings

With all this bird news coming out, I thought I’d be thoroughly perverse and post a photo of a male Scarce Umber moth trapped here in Rye last night. Checking my records, I was surprised to find this was new for the garden – in December!  It’s really a woodland species and not particularly scarce in SE England. Similar species are Mottled Umber, Dotted Border and Feathered Thorn, all of which have turned up several times in my trap. I know this is a male because the females have vestigial wings and cannot fly.

Highlights from three dawn visits since tuesday have included 4 Bittern, 5 Marsh Harrier, 8 Waxwing, 300 Fieldfare, Short-eared Owl, Barn Owl, 28 Ruff and 2 drake Smew. 

Yesterday (Wed) I found c20 Waxwings at the usual place by the bridge at Pett Level, but they only stayed briefly. However James Tomlinson reported a similar number in Fairlight on the junction between Waites Lane and Battery Hill. It could even be the same flock.

The mixed flock of geese is still at the back of the marsh, best viewed from the footpath along the RM Canal. It includes Canadas, Greylags, Whitefronts, Barnacles and both PALE- and Dark-breasted Brents.
More info on RXbirdwalks.