RXwildlife Sightings

Monday 17
Two common cranes were seen flying over at about 9.30 this morning. They appeared to land between the reserve and Lydd. Watch this space for more news…

Sunday 16
A male red-breasted merganser was on Burrowes pit and a Dartford warbler was seen at Denge Marsh. A common buzzard and a single swallow were seen flying over, as were three siskins.

Friday 14
Two Bewick’s swans , which arrived on New Diggings yesterday, were seen today on the ARC pit. A single Slavonian grebe and an avocet were on Burrowes pit.

Wednesday 12
A bittern was seen on the pit near Boulderwall Farm, before flying towards Hooker’s pits. Goldeneye numbers are building with fifteen seen today. A bar-tailed godwit was on the ARC site.

Tuesday 11
A Slavonian grebe was seen on the ARC pit and four swallows flew over.

Monday 10
A Lapland bunting was seen briefly near Makepeace hide and the first smew of the season (a female) was on the ARC pit.

Not a lot to report from a rather grim weekend - a few goldeneyes, avocet, 30 curlews, three marsh harriers and a Slavonian grebe being the only sightings of note.

An exhibition and sale of paintings and prints by Stephen Message.
Sunday 23 November to Saturday 20 December
10 am to 4 pm. Admisson free.

The near continent in a camper van
Thursday 20, 7.30 pm (doors open 7 pm)
The diverse wildlife of France will be the subject of this illustrated talk by Dungeness Site Manager, Bob Gomes. From the Alps to the Pyrenees, birds, plants and butterflies will all feature. Members: £1.50,non-members £3.

5/11 A black-necked grebe, scaup and goldeneye were on the ARC pit along with a bar-tailed godwit. A small flock of long-tailed tits (a rare sighting at Dungeness) and a firecrest were near the hide. A Dartford warbler was once again in scrub at the end of the return trail and a Lapland bunting flew over in the direction of Denge Marsh.

6/11 The black-necked grebe was still on the ARC pit along with ruff, dunlin, snipe and water rail. A bean goose flew over in the company of 21 white-fronted geese and a black redstart was hanging arond the car park all day. Small flocks of brambling, siskin and redpoll flew through this morning and a few could be found in the bushes at Christmas Dell. A Dartford warbler was seen near Hooker’s pits.

30/10 Thrushes were very much in evidence this morning with good numbers of blackbirds and redwings feeding in the hawthorn bushes alongside the access track and fieldfare, mistle thrush and song thrush seen around the trail. A yellow wagtail and a male black redstart were seen in the car park area. Also of note were a bittern at the ARC site, wheatear, chiffchaff and nine marsh harriers.

31/10 A brambling was near Boulderwall Farm early this morning and a black redstart was seen near the Visitor Centre. A Slavonian grebe was on the ARC pit and a male common scoter was spotted on Burrowes pit.

2/11 Slavonian grebe (ARC), black redstart (car park/hide 1) and a short-eared owl were the day’s highlights.

Two Dartford warblers were seen near the boardwalk this morning. Also of note were a merlin (in the car park area), two marsh harriers , two brent geese and several goldcrests.

18/10 Today’s undoubted highlight was an adult rose-coloured starling found in Christmas Dell. Hobby, whinchat and black redstart were also of note.
20/10 A bittern was seen at Denge Marsh. Merlin, common sandpiper, turnstone, goldcrest and a single swallow, battling its way south, were also of note.
21/10 A black-necked grebe on the ARC pit and a Dartford warbler near the return trail were the day’s highlights.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12: Highlights were five marsh harriers, hobby, merlin, golden plover, little stint, ruff, common sandpiper, little gull, rock pipit, yellow wagtail and Dartford warbler.

Tuesday 14: The day started well with a short-eared owl seen quartering the ground east of the access track. It was later seen being harassed by a carrion crow and flew off high towards Lydd. A low-flying peregrine briefly disturbed the lapwings on Burrowes pit mid-morning. Two kingfishers were seen from Firth hide and a Dartford warbler was seen again in scrub near the return trail. Snipe, golden plover and ruff were seen from the ARC hide.

A short walk along the access track on a bright and frosty morning was rewarded wtith the first redwings of the season. A flock of six fed in the blackberry and hawthorn scrub along with several newly arrived dunnocks and robins and a male blackcap. Sightings from the ARC viewing screen (where we waited in vain for the return of the cranes) included wigeon, pintail, marsh harrier, merlin, peregrine, sparrowhawk, dunlin, water rail, two kingfishers, house and sand martins, swallow and jay. Elsewhere on the reserve south-bound migrants included spotted flycatcher (in Denge Marsh gully), whinchat, wheatear, yellow wagtail, willow warbler and chiffchaff.