Dungeness RSPB Reserve Catchup

 On 2nd January the Great Northern Diver has a good right eye.

On 16th January, the diver looks like it has lost its right eye, although it could just be asleep? Seems to have moved on now, last seen on the reserve on Thursday 22nd January.

In the willows near the Pines, a couple of Firecrests were in the company of several Goldcrests and a couple of Chiffchaffs within a roving Tit flock.

The flock of Bewick's Swans remain on Walland Marsh with Nadine the neck-tagged female from north-east Europe.

A large flock of c.1,300 Fieldfare at Hawthorn Corner on Walland Marsh was an impressive recent surprise. Where did they come from? Another 200 flew up from around Coldharbour Farm.

Compared to the winter of 2024/2025 the number of Goldeneye on the reserve is far fewer this winter. The maximum I have seen is six.

Greater White-fronted Geese flying around Dengemarsh. After a gap of a couple of weeks, a flock appeared at Beaconsfield on Walland. 

Always a treat to see, numbers of Jack Snipe being found on the reserve is less than last winter. Without thermal cameras it is likely that we wouldn't be finding them at all. The great aspect of looking for them with thermal cameras is that we don't flush them.

During the strong winds earlier in the month several hundred Lapwings attempted to roost on the islands at Burrowes Pit. 

Never a common bird on the reserve, but recently there have been upto four Pintail making use of ARC and Burrowes Pits.

It can be difficult to record Snipe on the reserve but the islands at New Excavations have become a good place to see them. There are nine in this photo.

Snipe

On ARC, the anti-mammal fencing is used by resting duck as an anchor. Previously I have seen Wigeon making use of it and this time mostly Teal.

Bitterns

An early afternoon visit to Hanson Hide on the RSPB Reserve led to a new birding experience of two Bitterns in view at the same time. A scan from the hide along an adjacent reedbed edge revealed a Bittern stood at the edge of the reeds seemingly warming itself up in the sunshine against the cold north-easterly gusty wind. What I didn't realise was that a second Bittern was also in the reeds just to the right of the one I was focused on. Bitterns are highly territorial and it looks to me like these two Bitterns were potentially having a bit of a tiff.

The Bittern on the edge of the reeds then lept in to the reed bed seemingly chasing the other Bittern.

There then appeared to be a Bittern face off which lasted for 15 minutes before the furthest Bittern disappeared deeper in to the reeds. For all of this time of about 30 minutes, I was the only person in the hide.

On the other side of the reserve there were two beautiful adult Bewick's Swans on Burrowes Pit.

Then of course there are the gulls on Burrowes Pit. Yellow-legged Gull first winter (centre), first winter Caspian Gulls (right) and lower left with Herring Gull and first winter Great Black-backed (rear).

Coldharbour Lane, Walland

 A visit to Coldharbour Lane on Walland Marsh this morning resulted in three species of raptor making an appearance as I was watching the flock of 48 Bewick's Swan that only includes a single juvenile bird. Initially the Bewick's flock were a little distant but gradually started to fly on to a flooded area within the same field. Those on the flooded area started to call and trumpet which is just one of those incredible natural sounds.

The flock of 48 Bewick's Swans

Bewick's Swans

Bewick's Swans

As I was watching the swans I picked up a male hen harrier quartering a ditch beyond them. Despite taking a number of photos, they were all badly out of focus, with this one the best out of a bad lot. The harrier continued to hunt up and down the various ditches but never got remotely near me despite my efforts of chasing after it in the car and trying to anticipate where it might get closer.

Hen Harrier male

Back at the swans, a kestrel had perched up near to the road and seemed very interested in some sound or movement just below it.

Kestrel female

The flock of Black-headed gulls that were roosting on the flooded field suddenly all got airborne and moved away. On scanning the skies for a possible raptor, I picked up two Peregrine Falcons coming down one of which then just flew round and round in small circles with a Black-headed Gull like they were both having a game! The two Peregrines then landed in the field and remained there.

Peregrine Falcon 

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Bewick's Swans at dusk

Once again checking out the gulls washing and roosting on Burrowes pit at the RSPB reserve. At least three Caspian Gulls of different ages, all of which have probably been around for a while. I managed to get some shots of two of them.

Caspian Gull probably 3CY

Caspian Gull probably 3CY

Caspian Gull ad winter

Caspian Gull ad winter

As I was closing the gate today I went back to the reserve at mid-afternoon and had the Great Northern Diver uncharacteristically close on New Diggings. Great Northern Diver really do have very big feet.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

With only two visitor cars left in the car park I wandered towards Firth Lookout to see if the occupants were nearby as it was nearing 16:00 and time to close the main gate on the reserve. However, over 400 Greylag Geese flew onto Burrowes along with 22 Bewick's Swans. Once the awful noise of the Greylags had subsided I could hear the Bewick's calling as they bathed, just superb.

Bewick's Swan

Bewick's Swan