June 2008
A trip to Dungeness.
29/06/08
Two Drake Ruddy Ducks, seen on the Arc pit this morning.
As yesterday proved fruitless at Grove Ferry, it was decided that a trip out was the order of the day today, and I met Martyn Wilson and Allan Ashdown at the car park out side of the Grove Ferry reserve, and then travelled down to Dungeness, meeting Steve Ray by the lighthouse at approximately 07.45 am. We visited the patch first, where all the common Gulls were noted, Sandwich and Common Terns, a single Fulmar flying North, and several Juvenile Little Gulls being seen, with at least ten Adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS noted also. Several GANNETS were seen offshore, mostly travelling South down the channel, and 2 GUILLEMOTS were spotted, flying South, low over the water. We persevered for over an hour, struggling into a stiff on shore wind, but no luck with any Skua species, so we then moved inland, with a walk around the Moat and trapping area. En route, a pair of BLACK REDSTARTS were seen, on the main power station building. A pair of Stonechats were noted by the Obs building, and a Tardy looking Male WHEATEAR was seen in the Moat. We then moved on to the Arc pit at the Dungeness RSPB reserve, where all the common wildfowl boosted the day list, and 4 Ruddy Ducks gave us a photo opportunity, as did a pair of Little Grebes with 3 chicks. 4 TREE SPARROWS were seen along the entrance track to the main RSPB reserve, a national rarity nowadays, and a quick visit to the first 3 hides revealed Ring and Little ringed Plover, Green and Common Sandpiper. 2 Hobbies were noted, and just 1 Marsh Harrier. All in all a creditable 63 species seen, in a leisurely amble around Dungeness, a welcome change from the usual Sunday visit to HQ.
Day list. Linnet, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Common Whitethroat, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Tern, Little Gull, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Gannet, Guillemot, Fulmar, Sandwich Tern, Black Redstart, Magpie, Grey Heron, Stonechat, Skylark, Wheatear, Kestrel, Crow, Canada Goose, Sand Martin, House Martin, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Blackbird, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Lapwing, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Ruddy Duck, Hobby, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Great Tit, Tree Sparrow, Swift, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Common Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Curlew, Rook, Goldfinch, Collard Dove.