Dungeness

Go to Dungeness!  This fine weather even made Dungeness look acceptable today.  Such an enigmatic place, strange landscapes, but blessed with a varied habitat that fosters a breadth of species.  It's always good here.

The fun started 50 metres into the reserve entrance where a Great Egret (one of four seen today) was sat up on the bank of Boulderwall farm, with two Whooper Swan present by the pools, and a Tree Sparrow in the cottage car park.

Spirits were high, the sun was beating down, there was warmth in it.

Heading slowly toward the Markpeace Hide, a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff (one of three seen today) were passing through the LEO bush by the pool.

It's always a joy to see a drake Smew.  This one was particularly mobile and characteristically skittish diving regularly but seen well toward the far bank of Burrowes Pit.

There were hundreds of Cormorant here, many of them in breeding plumage, adourning a grey 'shawl' making them look quite dapper.  Also present on the pit were two female Goldeneye, and a flyby Peregrine.

Driving ten minutes over to Scotney and after a good chat with the farmer, made my way past the cattle sheds where after a brief search, located the 1st year Black Redstart as it darted in and out of a disused barn.

On the opposite side, a group of 14 Corn Bunting were chattering away along the telephone wires.

  

It was a great day - a lot of walking - particularly during a late afternoon explore walking from the Dengemarsh Road onto the reserve and back out again.  The retiring sun was particularly striking.