EAST FROM DOGSHILL

27 March 2023 I ventured into the RHNR this morning from the Dogshill end and went as far as Flatbeach and back hoping at least for a Wheatear ( none ). There were thousands of Gulls out on the low tide line, mopping up after the recent gales. Along the way Linnet males are showing pink breasts now, Reed Buntings and Skylarks are singing and Ringed Plovers are dozing on the shingle ridges. At Ternery Pool water levels are again high and the Common Gull island is covered in Black-headed Gulls with two pairs of Med Gulls also present ( one with a readable white colour ring ). Two Ruffs were lurking in the weeds on another island. In all there were about five more pairs of Med Gulls on the other islands mingling with the Black-headed Gulls so hopefully they will stay to breed. At the east end in the distance the Greater Whitefront Goose has yet again popped up paired with a Greylag. Little else was new but there is a nice show of Coltsfoot at the west end of the Salt Pool. A very fresh looking Peacock Butterfly was on the wing and I recorded an early Sedge Warbler singing in the reeds, amazingly it was the only Spring migrant around apart from numerous Chiffchaffs.

BREEZY AT THE POOLS

21 March 2023 Some sun at last so this morning I popped down to Pett Pools just before high tide. Rather quiet in the blustery breeze but plenty of Gulls and the usual Geese and Coots around as well as four Med Gulls on the Roadside Pool. There were still 60+ Curlews out at the back of the Pool and 4 Brent Geese but no Barnacles. The sea was rough after the recent gales. A drake Pochard was preening upside down on its back, very odd. No sign of Hirundines and Redshank were down to one. So Spring Migration is only progressing at Snail’s Pace.

RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME

19 March 2023 During the last week the wind swung round to the south and at last small Spring migrants trickled into the RX area. So an early start at the RHNR with two thirds of Slow but Sure promised much. In the end we missed at least three Wheatears elsewhere on the Reserve but did see many Sandwich Terns and a Ruff, rather a damp squib. Otherwise standard fare with Avocets everywhere and Winter visitors diminishing. There were still Sanderling around and a sub adult GbbGull appeared to have a yellow colour ring on it marked V70 though very distant.

With it being sunny I decided to pop over to Camber again to see the Scaup. It was on display but right over on the far side of the Pool so record shots only though you can see that it is now in full breeding plumage ( compare with my closer photo from a few weeks back ). Two very dark LesserbbGulls were on the edge of the Pool along with an assumed much paler bird, differing races perhaps. If only I had hung around for another five hours I would have seen the superb pair of Alpine Swifts over the Scaup Pool reported by Linda Williams, better luck next time, right place, wrong time.

UP THE PANNEL

16 March 2023 Yesterday I walked up the RMC from Pett Level as far as the Scrape in the Pannel Valley. As usual 30+ Med Gulls were feeding on the pastures next to the Canal. Both a female and male Kestrel were doing what Kestrels do. A Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were also seen. Some of the Greylags are now paired up and two of last years’ young Mute Swans were taking it easy. A Grey Heron was standing on its nest near Carter’s Flood. Up at the Scrape itself unfortunately both Hides are still padlocked but views can be had by those tall enough through the reed heads from mounds of earth near the Main Hide. All the islands have been cleared for the coming breeding season and Black-headed Gulls and Med Gulls are actively prospecting. I could just make out through the reed heads a Ringed Plover, four Dunlin, 10+ Avocets, as well as hearing calling Redshank and Lapwings. So busy already with also a smattering of Ducks. In the morning from near the Main Hide you are looking into the sun, not ideal, so a visit in the afternoon would have much better light.

IN BETWEEN

12 March 2023 It is that time of the year again, is Winter over and has Spring started bird-wise? Yesterday I went solo down onto the RHNR. Certainly some Spring migrants and potential breeders have arrived, Med Gulls, Avocets, and Sandwich Terns for example. On the other hand no small migrants have yet arrived. On the Reserve resident breeding birds are pairing up Skylark, Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Tufted Ducks, Black-headed Gulls etc. but many Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, and Pochard are still present. At the Crittall Hide on the left hand island the breeding Common Gull pair have reappeared with a second winter bird in tow, these are rare breeders in East Sussex. Note the difference in head sizes, male and female, similar is seen in Herring Gulls. Representative photos of some of the above, the female Tufted Duck is interesting and although a dowdy bird compared to the males it has an interesting tail when diving.

A PRODUCTIVE DAY

05 March 2023 Cold and very overcast at the RHNR this morning with AP. The Martello Tower GBbGulls are back in residence, one bringing in nesting material. The ever present DC Little Egret is now fully plumed. It was good to finally locate the two Little Stints out on Flatbeach feeding near Dunlin and with a Ringed Plover for size comparison ( distant record shots ). A Bar-tailed Godwit with the Oystercatchers was the first for months. Only 4 Brent Geese were around and Turnstones are still in winter plumage. Unusually no Golden Plover this morning. At the Crittall Hide the water level is down and the first Black-headed Gulls are bagging the islands near the Hide. Over at Cuckoo Corner and nearer to the Salt Marsh we had distant views of two different wintering Dartford Warblers consorting as usual in each case with Stonechats. A Spotted Redshank on one of the Salt Marsh Pools gave cracking views. The last two photos of the Spotted Red show a large cropped close up and the original photo indicating that the R7 camera allows good cropping without losing too much detail.

Later I headed over to Camber where the drake Scaup is now in near full summer plumage. Back at Pett Level Med Gulls continue to strut around near the road giving close views.

SWAN UPPING

03 March 2023 A nasty breeze from the NE down at the Pools yesterday. All the usual Ducks and Geese were present ( including the 6 Barnacles and 2 RbGeese of dubious origin ) as well as still good numbers of Wigeon. A Great Egret was in the distance and male and female Marsh Harriers were showy. A roosting flock of Oystercatchers on the shingle was unusual. On the Roadside Pool a pair of Mute Swans are now staking their claim and parading around regally. They spent a lot of time in contortionist preening and generally looked all loved up. One decided to carry out some wing flapping and was literally standing on water whilst doing it, stretching upwards at the same time, maybe all part of its breeding display.