STEVE ASHTON'S WILDLIFE GALLERY

August 2008

A day at Dungeness.

I was joined by Gadget and Mike Gould, and the three of us had a day at Dungeness today, with a quick visit to the Dungeness Obs, and the main R.S.P.B reserve, but for the majority of the day, we spent our time between the two hides on the ARC pit, opposite the entrance to the main reserve. We arrived just before nine o clock, and made our way to the viewing screen/hide on the top of the ARC pit, and straight away connected with at least 3 Wood Sandpipers, and there could have been 7 or 8 different birds, and an obliging Common Sandpiper was feeding on the mud in front of the hide. We also noted Green Sandpipers, Common Snipe, and all the usual wildfowl were on the lake, with Pochard and Tufted Duck in large numbers. Next, Gadgets rumbling stomach took us to the Dungeness Obs, with a stop on the way at the café outside the Romney to Hythe steam railway station, where we added Stonechat, Wheatear and Linnet to our list, but light rain stopped a more enthusiastic search of the area, and it was not long before we made our way back to the R.S.P.B reserve, where a Hobby was spotted, sitting on a fence post along the entrance track. Dunlin, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover were seen on the islands in front of the two hides that we visited, and Yellow and Pied Wagtails were seen along the path ways. There were numerous Reed and Sedge Warblers in the Reed beds, both in the main reserve and also around the ARC pit. We returned to the Arc pit, this time visiting the hide to the East of the entrance, and immediately had photograph opportunities, with 2 Black-tailed Godwits and also 2 Greenshank feeding in the pool directly in front of the hide. A Spotted Redshank joined them, and an enjoyable couple of hours were spent in the hide, having been joined by Bob Gomes, from the RSPB. There were several Yellow Wagtails catching flies on the islands on the lake, and another Wheatear was seen. Little and Great Crested Grebes were present, with a Little Grebe coming close to the hide, allowing some pictures to be taken. 4 knot were added to the notebook whilst in the hide. A total of 57 species were noted, with some fairly easy birds missed, but a thoroughly enjoyable day was had, made all the better by Gadget buying the breakfast.

Day List. Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Common Snipe, Reed Warbler, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Common Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Shell Duck, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Spotted Redshank, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Shoveller, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Sand Martin, House Martin, Swallow, Mute Swan, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Lapwing, Starling, Robin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Tern, Marsh Harrier, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, Sedge Warbler, Swift, Dunlin, Linnet, Stonechat, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Rook, Stock Dove, Hobby, Little-ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Reed Bunting, Knot, House Sparrow.