With the Ashdown Bird Group at Dungeness - Pectoral Sandpiper and Balearic Shearwater

 Sunday 27th September 2026

Dungeness – A Great Day on the Kent Coast

Sunday saw our Ashdown Bird Group heading down to Dungeness for a full day of birding, and it turned out to be a very rewarding visit. With 14 members making the trip, we recorded more than 80 species, including several new to some in the group.

Highlights included a Pectoral Sandpiper at Burrowes Pit, a Bittern at Denge Marsh, several Great White Egrets and Bearded Tits, and some enjoyable seawatching from the power station area where I recorded my first Balearic Shearwater for years. We also had a final bit of excitement on the journey home when we stopped at Jurys Gap to look for an American Golden Plover among a flock of Golden Plovers.

The weather was kind to us, although the bright sunshine wasn’t always helpful for either photography or seawatching! Nevertheless, Alison, Ian, Martin and Phil managed to produce a great set of photographs.

A long day, plenty of walking and a few challenging identifications along the way - but more than 80 species and some memorable birds made the journey to Dungeness well worthwhile.

Bittern - courtesy of Alison Playle

Pectoral Sandpiper - courtesy of Phil Aylen

American Golden Plover - courtesy of Phil Aylen

One of three very friendly foxes

Courtesy of Ian Hodgson

New species for the 2026 Year List:

194   Pectoral Sandpiper

195   Balearic Shearwater

196   American Golden Plover

White-tailed Eagle at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

 

A Bright Start to the New Season of East Grinstead RSPB  Walks

Twelve members joined our first outing of the 2026/27 season at RSPB Pulborough Brooks. Despite the reserve still feeling the effects of a long, dry summer, we enjoyed a productive day and recorded more than 50 species.

Highlights included excellent views of Hobby, a surprisingly cooperative Lesser Whitethroat, and three White Storks spotted by Audrey. After lunch, seven members continued to Rackham Viewpoint, where we were rewarded with views of a White-tailed Eagle perched on Amberley Wild Brooks.

Although waders were in shorter supply than usual, the quality and variety of birds more than compensated, making this a wonderful start to the new season and a thoroughly enjoyable day in great company.

Notable birds: Hobby, Lesser Whitethroat, White Stork and White-tailed Eagle.

Hobby - courtesy of Phil Aylen

Lesser Whitethroat - courtesy of Phil Aylen

White-tailed Eagle - courtesy of Phil Aylen

New species for the 2026 Year List:

193  White-tailed Eagle

Osprey Time

Wednesday 16th September 2026

Thorney Island

I’ve had surprisingly few opportunities to see an Osprey locally this year, so today I decided to take matters into my own hands and headed down to Thorney Island in the late afternoon, timing my visit for around high tide in the hope of improving my chances.

The plan worked rather well. An Osprey sat on a post in the Great Deep area, visible from the eastern outlook. There was just one small problem: it had clearly decided that today was not the day for showing off. It remained firmly attached to its post throughout my stay, and despite my best efforts, I never saw it fly.

Still, an Osprey is an Osprey, and it was good to get a decent view of one.

The Burgh

On the way home, I decided to make a second stop at The Burgh, where I hoped to track down a Grey Partridge. It was approaching dusk, which seemed a good time to try for this notoriously elusive bird.

Once again, the plan worked. I found a single Grey Partridge in a field at the top end of the track from Peppering Farm, and it showed well for as long as I was there.

Two elusive birds in one afternoon - although one was considerably more cooperative than the other!

New species for the 2026 Year List:

191  Osprey

192   Grey Partridge