Dungeness with the Ashdown Bird Group

 

Sunday 28^th September 2025

Dungeness Kent

Ashdown Bird Group

(13 members present)

Trip Report

Despite the long journey, our members turned out in force today - well done, everyone!  Their reward was seeing around 70 bird species.  None of them were particularly rare but all of them contributed to making this a memorable outing.   The weather was ideal with clear, dry conditions and very little wind.  Martin F joined us for the first time. 

 

We met in the car park outside the Visitor Centre and then spent the morning and early afternoon following the yellow route, known as the Nature Discovery Trail.  After lunch, eight of us relocated to the power station area for some seawatching and to look for migrant birds.  Four chose to visit the ARC Pits, viewing from the Screen hide as the ARC Hanson hide was closed for essential repairs to the path.  Martin F drove to Jury’s Gap to look for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper that was reported on Walland Marsh. 

 

 

 

Glossy Ibis

We were confident that we would see a Glossy Ibis today, as there has been a glut of them in the country lately, including at least seventeen seen here in the past week. 

• We had mixed luck as we checked the Boulderwall Farm area on the way to the reserve car park - some got to see the bird but others did not.
• There was no need to worry, however, as three flew overhead as we assembled in the car park, giving spectacular views.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• We got at least two more sightings as we progressed around the reserve, one on the way from Denge Marsh hide to the Viewing area when the trio flew by again and another as we left the reserve, after lunch, when what we thought were nine Cormorants in flight turned out to be Glossy Ibises!

 

What a cracking start!

      

 

Waders

A number of waders were seen today:-

• One of the most interesting was a distant Ruff.  Alas, it stayed just out of range of our photographers.
• This Common Sandpiper was within range of our cameras..

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

• This Dunlin proved popular with our photographers.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• Check out these lovely Lapwings.

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

• Martin F picked out a very well-camouflaged snipe on Denge Marsh.  Thankfully, this one in flight was more photogenic.

 

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

All three egret species were seen today.

• Little Egrets were the most common and were seen at various places around the reserve.
• There were two, possibly three, Cattle Egrets associating with the cows near Denge Marsh hide – unfortunately they were too far away to get a decent photograph.
• There were no such problems with this Great White Egret.

 

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

 

 

Hirundines

There were lots of hirundines around today, mainly Swallows and Sand Martins with a smattering of House Martins. 

• We saw them everywhere we went, flying over the water most of the time. 

 

House Martin - courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Sand Martin - courtesy of Phill Aylen

 

 

• However, at Christmas Dell hide we watched them congregate in a dead bush at the water’s edge, something which many of us had never witnessed before.

 

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

We have one more story to tell about hirundines and swallows in particular but that can wait for the time being.

 

Ducks

• These two Pintail were the pick of the ducks on view.

 

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

• It was good to see some returning Wigeon

 

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

• We also saw Gadwall, Teal and at least one Pochard.

 

 

 

After Lunch

Martin F had no luck with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper when he relocated to Walland Marsh. 

• It seems that the bird was spooked earlier by other birders getting too close, causing it to fly off.  It has since returned and at the time of writing this report it has been seen every day at the same location.

 

Mark, Bob R and Bob and Judy had more luck at the ARC Pits.

• Two Hobbies provided their highlight. 

 

Bob J and Judy then relocated to the seawatching hide, by the power station.

• Here they saw an Arctic Skua.

 

 

The main party, now down to eight, went straight to the power station area, taking in some seawatching as well as looking around the terrain for migrant birds.

• Ian pointed us to our first Black Redstart of the day, on the boundary fence of the power station.  It then flew into the compound and settled on the corner of a metal container, allowing us to get the photograph.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

• There wasn’t too much going on out at sea but we did manage to see several Gannets flying above the waves in the distance as well as two tern species and a Mediterranean Gull.

 

Sandwich Tern

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Common Tern

 Courtesy of Phill Aylen

 

Mediterranean Gull

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

• Alison saw this Black Redstart from behind the seawatching hide – it was one of a pair.

Courtesy of Alison Playle

Our final act was to explore the trapping area near Dungeness Bird Observatory. 

• On the way Phill spotted this Peregrine on one of the pylons inside the power station compound.

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

 

Bird Ringing Demonstration

As we were passing the Bird Observatory buildings, one of the staff came out to greet us and, right out of the blue, he volunteered to put on a bird ringing session for us.  In the mist net area he played some swallow bird sounds on his tape device while we watched on from a hill a short distance away.  Within minutes, scores of swallows arrived in the skies above.  They then started to descend until eventually ten or more of them were trapped in the nets.  They were gathered by the two staff members and taken to a shed at the centre where the relevant data was recorded.  Two of the birds were released from the hands of Jem and Joy while the rest of us looked on.

Recovering trapped swallows from the mist nets

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Waiting for the Swallows to arrive

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

 

Examining the bird

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

About to be Released!

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

What a way to end the birding session!

 

Non-birding Items

Dungeness is such a diverse habitat that all kinds of creatures can co-exist.  What follows is a photographic record of some of the items we wish to share with you.

Common Darter

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

Common Lizard

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

 

Wood Wasp

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

 

 

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

 

Eyed Hawk-moth Caterpillar

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

 

Marsh Frog

Courtesy of Phil Aylen

 

 

 

Foxes

Two Red Foxes deserve a special mention.  They just would not let us leave at the end of the day, coming within 10 metres and then just sitting there enjoying our company in the afternoon sunshine!

 

Courtesy of Alison Playle

 

 

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

Courtesy of Phill Aylen

Species List

Name:	Count		Name:	Count
Arctic Skua	1		Kingfisher	39
Bearded Tit	2		Lapwing	40
Black Redstart	3		Lesser Black-backed Gull	41
Black-headed Gull	4		Linnet	42
Blackcap	5		Little Egret	43
Blue Tit	6		Magpie	44
Buzzard	7		Mallard	45
Canada Goose	8		Marsh Harrier	46
Carrion Crow	9		Mediterranean Gull	47
Cattle Egret	10		Moorhen	48
Cetti's Warbler	11		Mute Swan	49
Chaffinch	12		Peregrine	50
Chiffchaff	13		Pied Wagtail	51
Common Sandpiper	14		Pintail	52
Common Tern	15		Pochard	53
Coot	16		Raven	54
Cormorant	17		Reed Bunting	55
Dunlin	18		Robin	56
Dunnock	19		Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon	57
Egyptian Goose	20		Rook	58
Gadwall	21		Ruff	59
Gannet	22		Sand Martin	60
Glossy Ibis	23		Sandwich Tern	61
Goldcrest	24		Shelduck	62
Golden Plover	25		Shoveler	63
Goldfinch	26		Skylark	64
Great Black-backed Gull	27		Snipe	65
Great Crested Grebe	28		Sparrowhawk	66
Great Tit	29		Starling	67
Great White Egret	30		Stock Dove	68
Grey Heron	31		Stonechat	69
Greylag Goose	32		Swallow	70
Herring Gull	33		Teal	71
Hobby	34		Tufted Duck	72
House Martin	35		Water Rail	73
House Sparrow	36		Wigeon	74
Jackdaw	37		Woodpigeon	75
Kestrel	38

Species count = 75

Bob Hastings

01/10/2025

 

A fabulous trip Martin!

2025 species count = 190

190  Glossy Ibis