RXwildlife Sightings

After a brief appearance at Denge Marsh on Saturday the rather elusive cattle egret is now showing well in the field beyond the lake to the right of the entrance track just past Boulderwall Farm.

A good variety of waders around the site over the weekend included up to 300 golden plovers, 80 knot, three ruff, several common sandpipers and a little stint. Three black terns were seen at the ARC site on Sunday. Passerines around the site included several yellow wagtails and wheatears, a redstart and lesser whitethroat on the return trail and three spotted flycatchers - two in Christmas Dell and one at Hooker’s pits.

Waders at Castle Water this morning included 2 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpiper, a Little Stint and 5 Common Sandpiper. At least 9 Wheatear and 3 Whinchat were present perched along the fence line near the hide and at the northern end of the main pit. A Spotted Flycatcher gave great but brief views in the scrubby area near the viewpoint. Groups of Bearded Tits were also showing well with a group of at least 10 flitting around the reedy margins also at the northern end of the main pit, with additional birds showing at the viewpoint.

Wheatear perched along the fence near the hide.