You may have heard or read in the news recently about the new species of small Maniraptorian dinosaur discovered at Bexhill. There is a freely available Paper - click here - describing the species and the vertebral segment is now on display in the Bexhill Museum. This find and research is the latest in the excellent tradition of Palaeontological fieldwork in the Weald, much of which lies within RX country.
I had the good fortune of locating a splendid adult summer Roseate Tern from the Denny Hide at Rye Harbour at about 3pm today (high tide). It was resting on the shingle in front of the main Sandwich Tern colony. Of interest both legs were ringed. Also nearby was a ‘dark billed’ adult Common Tern.
Stephen Message by e-mail.
Avian highlights at Castle Water over the past few days have included 2 Hobby, Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, 9 Avocet and at least 18 Bearded Tit split between several groups, the long staying escapee (two months plus) Black Swan is still a talking point with visitors. On the Beach Reserve good numbers of Sandwich and Common Terns can be seen from the Denny Hide, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and Turnstone have also shown well from there.
The long staying Black Swan from Castle Water Hide
A week ago Barny Acheson reported a brown petalled flower of Salsify growing at the east end of the new flood bank at Rye Harbour, but it was only today that I also found it! It may be the hybrid Tragopogon × mirabilis a cross between Salsify Tragopogon porrifolius and Goatsbeard T. pratensis. The hybrid was known from the Nature Reserve 15 years ago until sea defence improvements destroyed the site, so it’s good to see it back on a new sea defence structure. Be aware that both species and the hybrid only flower in the mornings - another name for Goatsbeard is Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon. Click here for more info.
The decline of Swifts has been highlighted over the last couple of years by the RSPBs “Help us Help Swifts” project. To raise awareness of this issue we have arranged a talk from Edward Mayer of the Swift Conservation Trust.
If you would like to find out more or discover how you or your community can help these wonderful birds, please join us this Saturday 18th June, 1.30-3pm at The New Hall, Rectory Lane, Winchelsea. Read the rest of this entry »
Sunday 12th June 2011, Arrived at the Pools around 6.30 am. Apart from famlies of Tufted Ducks ( with at least 4 different clutches) and a very large clutch of 9 Mute Swan on the road side pool not much else to report. On the sea much the same, with only Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and a couple of Little Tern of note. But at Carters Flood it was much better with 92 BL.T.Godwit (counted) 2Avocet, with 20/30 Curlew on the marsh. The Little Owl was at the usual place and there was a Barn Owl hunting over the flood off and on through the morning, also good views of 2 Buzzards and Marsh Harriers.There was a nice sight of a pair of Lesser Whitethroat feeding one young, at the begining of the footpath to the R,M.C. Good birdwatching Pete.
Highlights over the last few day have included, at Castle Water, 41 Black-tailed Godwit, three Little Ringed Plover, female Marsh Harrier, four Wigeon and two male Teal. The Black Swan was also present in front of the hide on Sunday. On Harbour Farm a Hobby was seen today while Little Ringed Plover were present on the pools behind Ternery Pool and at the western end of the farm. On the Beach Reserve a summer-plumaged Knot and small numbers of Dunlin, Turnstone and Ringed Plover have been seen on the saltmarsh below Limekiln Cottage while at least 20 Little Tern have also been present.
Turnstone
The Hastings Trust are holding an environmental event on Saturday 18th June, 10am - 4pm at The Old Coachworks, Upper Broomgrove Road, Ore Valley, TN34 3PH.
FREE entry - come along and enjoy a great day out for all.
10am - 4pm at the Hastings Adventure Playground, Ore Valley.
See http://www.hastingstrust.com/EcoFabulous.html for more info.
A young male Cuckoo has recently arrived in Sedlescombe after being fitted with a satellite tag in Norfolk. To follow this bird CLICK HERE.
