16/12/2018 East Grinstead RSPB Outing to Dungeness

Sunday 16 December 2018
RSPB Dungeness

I chose to go to Dungeness with the East Grinstead RSPB Local Group rather than go to the Amex Stadium for the Brighton v Chelsea game - I still can't believe I did this! 

14 of us spent an interesting day on the reserve, thoroughly enjoying ourselves and seeing some super bird species.  The weather was good at the start, got better as the morning progressed but deteriorated in the afternoon by which time we were at Scotney Court Farm.

• 3 Cattle Egrets greeted us as we turned into the reserve and drove towards the Visitor's Centre. From Dennis Hide we saw a number of water birds with Goldeneye perhaps the pick of the bunch.
• We decided to go round the reserve in the reverse direction (anticlockwise) to take the greatest advantage of the lighting conditions.
• From the viewing ramp we saw 6 Bearded Tits in the reeds.  The birds took flight several times, affording everyone the chance to see them  before they returned to the reeds.  A Great White Egret flew in giving us an excellent close view.  We saw the first of several Marsh Harriers here too, with the lighting conditions now at their very best.
• On to Denge Marsh Hide where we saw another Great White Egret, at least one more Marsh Harrier and a Sparrowhawk.
• We called in at Scott Hide and Makepeace Hide on the way back to the car park but we were unable to see the Red-throated Diver.  We were reliably informed later that it had moved from Burrowes onto New Diggings.
• After lunch we stopped off at Boulderwall Farm to see the Tree Sparrows at the feeder.

Then it was off to the ARC Hide where water levels were really high, limiting the number of species to be seen. 

• Nevertheless we saw a decent variety with some more stunning drake Goldeneye perhaps the pick of the bunch.
• The Bewick Swans were showing well in the fields between Cockles Bridge and Lydd.

The original plan was to finish at Walland Marsh but with worsening weather conditions there was no real enthusiasm for this.  Incredibly, very few of the group had been to Scotney so I suggested visiting the area around the farm.  The visit was rather underwhelming with no Little Owl or Corn Buntings around.

• We did however see another Great White Egret, again at close quarters.
• We saw a Buzzard which was hovering a few feet above the ground and cheekily we thought of Rough-legged Buzzard.  Having dismissed this idea because we didn't really have the birding expertise in this particular group it was interesting to read later on that one was in the area!

Another very good outing with over 50 species seen!