Recent sightings 14th-20th September

The weather here last week may have put some people off - but the wildlife wasn't bothered! If you had braved the rain and the wind, you would still have been lucky enough to spot a fair amount of water birds. Bitterns were spotted regularly throughout the week as were the great white egrets which moved from pit to pit. The cattle egret (whether the same or a different one from a few weeks back) was seen back in the cow fields near Boulderwall. Three spoonbills were also seen last week! Black necked grebes, red crested pochards and pintails were also spotted around the reserve as well as our usual grebes, coots, mute swans, mallards, tufted ducks and goldeneye. 'Perfect weather for ducks!'

Some interesting wildlife that was seen over the week were 4 grass snakes seen in various spots around the reserve. A wasp spider has taken up residence in the disabled parking bay on the path to Hanson hide at the ARC. Lots of smooth newts were out on the pathway by the visitors centre in the wet weather - watch out for them when you come in!

The bird highlights for the week include:

Red crested pochard – ARC on the 14^th 

Pintail  -  six on Burrowes Pit on 20^th

Black necked grebe – two at ARC on the 20^th

Cattle egret – fields near Boulderwall farm on 20^th

Great white egret – on Burrowes pit and at Denge Marsh on 20^th

Spoonbill – at Makepeace hide on 19^th 

Bittern – at ARC and Christmas dell on 20^th   

Peregrine – over shingle by access track on 20^th

Merlin – at Denge marsh on 16^th  

Hobby – over Denge Marsh on 20^th

Buzzard – six flying over reserve on 19^th

Common Sandpiper – two at Dennis’s hide on 20^th

Golden plover – 20+ on access track on 17^th  

Dunlin – five on Burrowes on 20^th   

Ruff – one on Burrowes pit on 20^th

Snipe –  twelve at ARC and four at Denge Marsh on 20^th  

Little stint – Denge marsh on 17^th  

Black-tailed godwit – at Dennis’s hide on 20^th

Knot – six on Burrowes pit on 20^th

Black tern –ARC on 16^th

Sandwich tern – Burrowes on 16^th    

Swift – Christmas Dell on 17^th

Swallow – over reserve on 20^th

Sand martin – over reserve on 18^th

House martin – over reserve on 20^th

Kingfisher – at Burrowes Pit, ARC and Denge Marsh on 20^th 

Wheatear – on return trail on 20^th

Stonechat – two on access track on 20^th

Whinchat – on access track on 20^th

Whitethroat – 2 on Burrowes pit on 18^th

Lesser whitethroat – at Dennis’s hide on 20^th

Willow warbler – at Dennis’s hide on 20^th

Yellow wagtail – four on access track on 20^th

Spotted flycatcher – between Scott hide and Christmas dell on 20^th

Redstart – at ARC and on footpath to Lydd on 19^th

Chiffchaff – all around the reserve on 20^th

Raven – on wires by access track near entrance on 19^th