RXwildlife Sightings

Despite the freezing weather across the country the RX area remains relatively mild and the forecast for the next couple of days is to stay above freezing - at least along the coast. This is good news for the birds that find their food by probing. The intertidal areas on the shore and in the estuary will be providing soft ground full of food. Today at Castle Water there were still some small unfrozen areas at the pit margin and in front of the hide there was a Snipe probing for food. In the video below you can see the bird catching a worm at about 10 seconds in. Click on the 4 arrows bottom right to view full screen.

Huge numbers of wildfowl have gathered on two patches of open water at Castle Water over the past few days. Highlights have included 600 Wigeon, 800 Mallard, 450 Gadwall, 400 Teal, 190 Shoveler, 155 Tufted Duck, 800 Coot, 138 Mute Swan and 140 Canada Geese, roosting waders included 650 Lapwing, 8 Ruff and 70 Snipe. At least five Bittern were presnt around the margins of the main pit yesterday, four Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard provided raptor interest, and 4 Woodcock gave great flight views as they flew passed the hide.

Norther end of main pit