RXwildlife Sightings

from Paul James by e-mail
On Saturday morning I was leading my Sussex Wildlife Walks group round Rye Harbour. Our first stop was the Parkes hide at the eastern end of Ternery Pool where impressive numbers of both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls were present on the islands. Knowing that some of the group were keen to see a Little Gull, I started scanning through the gulls present in the hope of finding one. Almost immediately I picked up a small gull with a black bill resting on the water not far out from the hide which I at first took to be a young Little Gull. Read the rest of this entry »

Twice this week a Cormorant was seen catching a large Eel in the Quarry. First the chase in shallow water, then the capture and wrestling then, with great difficulty, swallowing, followed by a period of uncomfortable internal wriggling, then resting on the shore…

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This 15cm long fish was found dead this morning on the tide line near the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House. It appears to be a Common Dragonet Callionymus lyra, which lives a life on the sandy sea bed trying to remain hidden and ambush prey – its eyes and gill openings are both on top of the head.

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The Nature Reserve’s first warden, Dave Flumm, started work on 15th March 1970, and reading his annual report it is clear how much progress has been made for the reserve’s wildlife and its visitors. The report is now available from the WildRye website – it’s at the bottom of the publications page and in 2 parts to download - click here.

At 13.00 today, a Red Kite drifted east over Winchelsea town, quite low with its forked tail clearly visible. Graham Rhodda by e-mail

In recent mild winter’s the tiny Common Whitlowgrass has been flowering from late January to early February, but this year it has only just appeared. I noticed a few flowering yesterday on short grass on sandy soils.

Identifying gulls can be very tricky, non more so than the Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans, which is very similar to Herring Gull. Part 1 of a detailed identification article has appeared in British Birds this month and David Walker at Dungeness Bird Observatory often sees them there - click here). John and David Cooper saw one at at Castle Water on 24th January and has written it up - click here. More here.

… one was seen this afternoon, flying down the Brede Valley towards Rye .

Throughout February Cliff Barwood has been seeing an odd bird in his garden in Rye. It resembles a Dunnock in size and shape, but it is very ginger coloured with white wing tips. He has managed to get photos through his double glazing….

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On this website there are links to many local countryside events - click on wildlife events in the column on left…
20th March 2010 - Guided woodland archaeology walk in Brede High Woods @ 10.30am-1pm. Nicola Bannister will guide you through the evidence on the ground which tells the story of Brede High Woods’ rich historical past. TO RESERVE A PLACE - the events are free to attend but book up very quickly. To reserve your place reply to this email or for more information call James Luxton: 0845 2935734 jamesluxton@woodlandtrust.org.uk.