Dungeness - July

 So far behind in processing my photos. Selection of July highlights. 

Curlew Sandpiper

Female Red-crested Pochard

Lesser Emperor

Bittern

Green Sandpiper

Black Tern

Eclipse Drake Garganey

Eclipse Duck Garganey

Likely radio-active material from on-going power station de-commissioning. Maybe on its way to Sellafield?

Bar-headed Goose - this was a five goose species morning from Hanson - far too many in my opinion

Male Ruff

Sandwich Tern family

Hobby

Little-ringed Plover

In Lightroom there is a feature called 'assisted culling'. I haven't used it on this photo but i'd like to on these Canada Geese stomping all through the Common Tern colony!

Six of the 11 Wigeon that appeared on Burrowes on 14th July

Common Tern

I reckon this female Marsh Harrier must be a mature lady given the large pale areas on her forewings

A flock of 21 White Storks drifted over the RSPB reserve on the 31st.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

I wasn't in the area on Monday 22nd when a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found at Jury's Gap in the same field used by the Golden Plovers and American Golden Plover. By the time I returned to the area in the afternoon of the 23rd, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper had apparently been flushed by a couple of people and hadn't returned. I checked the same field twice on the 24th to no avail and had more or less given up on seeing it. However, a phone call today from Martin got me cycling out to fields at the back of Scotney where he had relocated it. The sandpiper wasn't associating with any other waders although earlier it had been with a flock of Lapwing. 

Many thanks to Martin for the call and for also staying near the bird so I knew where to go.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

With the exception of Glossy Ibis, the RSPB reserve has been a bit quiet recently in respect of visiting shorebirds however, this flock of Knot at the Firth Lookout was a welcome sight especially as a single Curlew Sandpiper had joined them.

A flock of 22 Redshank were on the islands out from the picnic tables near Dennis's Hide.

A couple of Hobbies have recently been on the RSPB Reserve anywhere between Dengemarsh and Boulderwall. This adult Hobby was perched in Kenny's Fields.

On the 20th September there was a movement of hirundines comprising mostly Swallows but also House Martins and still the occasional Sand Martin. A mixed flock of c.2,000 House Martins and Swallows heading past the New Lighthouse and out to sea was an impressive sight.

Now that the wind has switched to the north-west the rewards of sea watching have become poor but before the switch in wind direction skuas, mostly Arctic, Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Shearwaters and the occasional Leach's Petrel, Storm Petrel and a Grey Phalarope could be seen off-shore.

Up to 20 Arctic Skuas have been lingering off-shore between Lade Bay and Rye Bay terrorising both feeding and migrating Sandwich Terns.

Arctic Skua chasing a Sandwich Tern

Manx Shearwaters

Arctic Skua

Our first Red-throated Diver of the autumn was on the 18th September.

This Yellow-legged Gull looks about as mean as they come!

Hobbies

Back on the 24th May when the female Red-footed Falcon was on the RSPB Dungeness reserve, at least 23 Hobbies were also around. Then the next day I could only find one Hobby, there had been a mass clearout or so it seemed. Yesterday, May 30th Hobbies were back and in even greater numbers than before with at least 25 across the reserve from ARC to Dengemarsh, there were 21 viewable from the Hookers ramp at one point.

Hobby

Hobby

Sometimes it is all too easy to take Marsh Harriers for granted but they are a scarce rare breeding bird in the U.K. and a treat to watch hunting, especially the smart males. 

Male Marsh Harrier

Migrating waders continue to visit the reserve and a flock of 14 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in to Hayfield 1, a couple of them almost in full breeding plumage. Sanderling, Little Stint, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and a 1st summer Little Gull were all on Burrowes Pit. 

Black-tailed Godwits

A smart drake Red-crested Pochard has been on ARC for a while now, quite a lovely looking duck.

Drake Red-crested Pochard

Red-footed Falcon

A damp, cold and overcast late afternoon but brightened by a great find by Tone and David Blakesley of a female Red-footed Falcon initially at Dengemarsh but then preferring to perch and forage at Hookers. 

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon

Female Red-footed Falcon and Hobby