Dungeness with the Ashdown Bird Group

 Sunday 24th March 2024

I was back at Dungeness again - this time with 6 of my friends from the Ashdown Bird Group.  Thankfully it was dry and mild but there was quite a stiff breeze.

• A great northern diver was still present on Burrowes but the other one had left overnight with the black-throated diver and a visiting Slavonian grebe.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• There were 2 little gulls flying around and we got good views from the Firth Lookout.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We saw 2 splendid black-necked grebes on the ARC pit from Hanson Hide.  Yesterday there were 3 but one had departed overnight.

 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

         

• Those of us who had visited the reserve earlier in the year were disappointed not to see the glossy ibis.  That was not the case today.  As we were walking between Christmas Dell Hide and Dengemarsh Hide the bird flew in and landed in the Hayfields area - right in front of us.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• A “booming” bittern and a stunning male reed bunting provided the main memories of our stop at the viewing ramp on the main reserve. 

• My own particular favourite and, I suspect, that of some other members was provided by the goldeneye with well into double figures sighted around the reserve. 

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

We finished the day seawatching over by the power station.  By now the breeze had eased considerably and the sea was relatively calm.

• Phil spotted a peregrine near the top of one of the pylons close to the car park.

• Pick of the birds on the sea was a red-throated diver.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• A second species of diver, probably a black-throated, was also seen.
• There were also several guillemots.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• We had several glimpses of the harbour porpoises that were patrolling the sea close to the shore.

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

A fitting end to another very good outing!

2024 species count=143