RXwildlife Sightings

In amongst hundreds of Canada and Greylag Geese at Castle Water today there was a hybrid family that appears to have parents of each species. The result of this mixing is varied among the 5 juveniles - 3 are shown above with the Greylag parent.

Highlights from the Beach Reserve, Grey Phalarope and 2 Green Sandpiper on the pools behind Ternery Pool, Red-breasted Merganser on the Quarry and a Merlin showed well perched at Parkes hide. At Castle Water highlights included 8 Bearded Tit, Barn Owl, 4 Green Sandpiper and a Hobby.

A short walk along the access track on a bright and frosty morning was rewarded wtith the first redwings of the season. A flock of six fed in the blackberry and hawthorn scrub along with several newly arrived dunnocks and robins and a male blackcap. Sightings from the ARC viewing screen (where we waited in vain for the return of the cranes) included wigeon, pintail, marsh harrier, merlin, peregrine, sparrowhawk, dunlin, water rail, two kingfishers, house and sand martins, swallow and jay. Elsewhere on the reserve south-bound migrants included spotted flycatcher (in Denge Marsh gully), whinchat, wheatear, yellow wagtail, willow warbler and chiffchaff.

Highlight this morning was a Grey Phalarope on the new pits behind Ternery Pool. The bird was first found at about 10:30 and was still present to at least 16:15. Also present here a Green Sandpiper and small numbers of Dunlin, Redshank and Ringed Plover. Also seen today, a Short-eared Owl over Harbour Farm and a Red-breasted Merganser on the Quarry.

First frost of the autumn this morning, and the October feeling further emphasised by meadows white with dry Crested Dog’s-tail, windswept Hawthorns crimson with berries and Robins ticking from every other bush.
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Mosaics have been produced by the members of ARRCC at the Memorial Care Centre, Rye.  ARRCC - Activities, Respite Rehabilitation Care Centre - a holistic approach to care and the quality of life, serving people with physical and sensory disabilities in the Rye, Hastings and Rother area. The mosaics are displayed on old groynes around Lime Kiln Cottage information centre. They show some of the special wildlife of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, including Hummingbird Hawk-moth (right), Oystercatcher (below), and Bittern (below).

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A grim old morning at the viewpoint Castle Water but still a few highlights, 42 Little Egret left the roost, 1500 Starling roosted overnight in the nearest reed bed,  2 Kingfisher and a probable Long-eared Owl were also seen. Yesterday on the Beach Resreve a Red-breasted Merganser was reported from Ternery Pool in the afternoon, 4 Whinchat were present around the Wader pool and an Arctic Skua gave brief views at the River Mouth.

It can be fun to rear caterpillars, and captivity makes for a safer environment for them. I thought you might like to see some photos of one of my latest. On the 14 May 2008 I found 3 caterpillars while out walking in Brede High Wood. They were on the trunks of Oak trees tucked into the crevices on the bark. I took them home and fed them on Oak leafs. One made a pupa on May 24, and the other two on the 25. Over the last few days they have just emerged, and they are truly beautiful. They are called Merveille du Jour - Dichonia aprilina. I have released them all back into the wild, where I hope they will find mates and start the process all over again.

Dave Monk by e-mail

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… entitled “Long-term Change in Kent’s Flora & Fauna” will be held on Saturday 11 October at Canterbury Christ Church University. This is your last chance to book! Full details and a booking form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Highlights this morning, 2 Raven overhead at Ternery Pool, a Merlin showed well perched on a fence post at wader Pool and 32 Golden Plover were roosting on Flat Beach. Birds roosting along Shore Ridges included 13 Sandwich Tern, 15 Turnstone, 112 Oystercatcher and 47 Ringed Plover. Yesterday at Castle Water a Redstart was present in scrub near the hide and 3 Ruff were on the new excavations.