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