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.

Nesting Ringed Plover Update

The nesting Ringed Plover was still sitting today, hopefully on remaining undamaged eggs.
5th July update - The Ringed Plover pair had abandoned their nesting attempt.

The four Avocet chicks are still alive and being well looked after by the adult birds.

Two chicks receiving protection from the rain

Drying off

Waders continue to visit ARC, this adult Dunlin was one of three individuals that has now increased to six.

Little Ringed Plovers have bred at ARC without us knowing. Three juveniles and one adult remain on the islands frequently getting chased by the Ringed Plovers.

The female Red-crested Pochard and remaining duckling can sometimes prove elusive to see at ARC but in the last few days have been recorded daily.

Lesser Emperor dragonflies are now also being recorded at ARC, Long Pits and at the Point.

Juvenile Bearded Tits also continue to be seen well from Hanson Hide.

Amongst the migrating waders, a moulting male Ruff

Rose-coloured Starling

Another great find by Jacob of a male Rose-coloured Starling initially near the Moat and then moving around the adjacent area associating with a flock of adult and juvenile Starlings.

Rose-coloured Starling

There have been up to three Little Gulls moving between the various larger pits across the RSPB Dungeness reserve.

Little Gulls

A first for the area was a breeding pair of Red-crested Pochards. First picked up on Saturday 7th June with a female and four ducklings, the family is now down to three ducklings as of Wednesday 11th June.

Female Red-crested Pochard and four ducklings

At the front of Hanson Hide a flock of four noisy juvenile Bearded Tits gave fabulous views amongst the reed stems.

Juvenile Bearded Tit

A Weasel hunting along the bridleway at Hayfield 1, always ran away from me!

Weasel

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