RXwildlife Sightings

I had a very interesting 3 hours at the hide yesterday. The Bittern was giving fantastic views as it walked from the reeds on the left right through to the reeds on the right and back again over course of my time there. At the same time another was in full view ‘feeding’ over the far bank. Also present were 2 male Smew and 4 females and 1 Scaup. Marsh Harriers giving good views also.

Ray Barry by e-mail

This is the history of monthly unique visitors to this website.

Yesterday morning the “Sunday Walkers” were sitting in the hide at Castle Water (enjoying our customary tea and biscuits/cake) when we spotted a couple of Carrion Crows feeding on something. Closer examination revealed it was a rabbit, on which a stoat was also feeding. Presumably the stoat had killed the rabbit. A female Marsh Harrier then landed nearby and seemed to take no notice for several minutes. She then decided it was her turn and chased off the stoat and Crows, which kept trying to get back in on the action, only to be chased off again by the Harrier. Stunning views of the male Smew as well helped make it a memorable visit to Castle Water.
Michael Prince by e-mail

Here is a little puzzle of five jumbled Rye Bay seabirds… with answers tomorrow.

Advert Dried Other……….Red-throated Diver

Come Corn Most……….Common Scoter

Macro Torn……….Cormorant

Multi Ogle……….Guillemot

Beggar Desert Erect……….Great Crested Grebe

In the last few months the number of unique monthly visitors to this website has remained level. August - 9252, July - 9232, June - 9918, May - 9828.

Butterfly Conservation in partnership with the Forestry Commission (and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders) is focusing on the Rother Woods area as a focus for education, events, training and conservation of woodland management, flora and fauna. The project offers a wonderful opportunity for local people to have fun and get involved and there will be some very long lasting benefits for local people and wildlife. For more information click here.

This year Robins seem very common throught the RX area with several reports of very tame birds on this website.

Today we associate robins with Christmas, and the bird often appears on Christmas cards. A common explanation is that the Victorian postmen who delivered Christmas cards wore red uniforms, and were nicknamed “robin redbreasts”. On early cards the birds were often shown with cards in their beaks.
A Merry Christmas to all our readers…

Yesterady there was a flock of at least 80 Barnacle Geese and nine hybrid-type, presumably Snow X Barnacle Geese, at Scotney gravel pit.
So what, I hear you say - “they are obviously escapes/naturalised birds!!!”
The point is that at least one of the Barnacles was colour-ringed, red on the right leg. I could not read the ring code in the murky conditions. Having seen lots of similarly colour-ringed birds (wild) amongst the dutch wintering populations it is therefore possible that some (or at least one) of these birds may actually be of wild origin.
So two requests.
1) If you are at Scotney and see this flock can you please try and get the ring code. I will happily chase up the ringing details.
2) Has this flock been seen elsewhere in Kent or Sussex in recent days.
David Walker DBO

29th - A Snow Bunting which flew SW over the Long Pits during the afternoon was the only bird of note.
28th - A miserable, dull and wet day produced a first-winter Caspian Gull on the beach at the fishing boats, seven Red-breasted Mergansers flying west at sea and a single Brambling over the Observatory.
David Walker from DBO website

Our winter bird counts started yesterday the highlights being a woodcock in one of the arable fields and a blackcap along Barley Lane. Numbers were provided by 41 yellowhammer, 47 meadow pipit, 35 goldfinch, 18 siskin, 12 redwing but only 92 woodpigeon. The huge flock of woodpigeon that have been feeding in the arable fields over the last couple of weeks typically didn’t appear as it was a survey day. Also of interest were 3 skylark, a fieldfare and 9 stonechat. In the last couple of years stonechat are becoming more numerous on the farm fields than amongst the cliff-top scrub in winter.