Spent another enjoyable morning at Dungeness, starting with a visit to Hansen hide where we were told there was a Little Stint on one of the islands on Arc Pit.
After a few scans it was picked out among a small group of Dunlin. A single Ruff (Reeve) was also seen feeding among the numerous Mallards and Coots. Good numbers of Lapwing were also present.
Several Little Ringed plovers were noted on the islands and after scanning back and forth along the far islands a single Wood Sandpiper was eventually located.
From here we headed for the beach, At the fishing boats we tried and failed to find any Yellow-legged Gulls among the roosting birds on the shoreline. With only the usual Black-headed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and the odd Great Black-backed on show along with Sandwich and Common Terns.
Another scan from the beach hide opposite the power station finally produced a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls. One seen quite close eating what looked like some kind of flat fish. It eventually took to the air and after a brief rest further along the shoreline, circled back and headed for the patch. Three Common Scoter flew East followed by a single Auk species.
A good number of butterfly species were also on show this morning, Small Blue, Common Blue, Painted lady, Gatekeeper, Large White to name a few. There were also several Hawk Moths on the wall of the power station as we headed back to the car.
A drive along the entrance track to the reserve produced very little bird wise, with a family party of Lesser Whitethroats the most notable.
For the third time in as many visits we found the reserve centre closed. Not sure why this is, the sign on the door just said "sorry we are closed".
Heading back down the entrance track a surprise sighting was a Stoat running cross the road, then another and another. As we sat and watched from the car a Mink then emerged from the same area. It ran across the road and disappeared into the grass. Eventually we counted five Stoat (family party?) and two Mink. Brian managed to grab the shot below from the car window.
After a few scans it was picked out among a small group of Dunlin. A single Ruff (Reeve) was also seen feeding among the numerous Mallards and Coots. Good numbers of Lapwing were also present.
Several Little Ringed plovers were noted on the islands and after scanning back and forth along the far islands a single Wood Sandpiper was eventually located.
From here we headed for the beach, At the fishing boats we tried and failed to find any Yellow-legged Gulls among the roosting birds on the shoreline. With only the usual Black-headed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and the odd Great Black-backed on show along with Sandwich and Common Terns.
Another scan from the beach hide opposite the power station finally produced a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls. One seen quite close eating what looked like some kind of flat fish. It eventually took to the air and after a brief rest further along the shoreline, circled back and headed for the patch. Three Common Scoter flew East followed by a single Auk species.
A good number of butterfly species were also on show this morning, Small Blue, Common Blue, Painted lady, Gatekeeper, Large White to name a few. There were also several Hawk Moths on the wall of the power station as we headed back to the car.
A drive along the entrance track to the reserve produced very little bird wise, with a family party of Lesser Whitethroats the most notable.
For the third time in as many visits we found the reserve centre closed. Not sure why this is, the sign on the door just said "sorry we are closed".
Heading back down the entrance track a surprise sighting was a Stoat running cross the road, then another and another. As we sat and watched from the car a Mink then emerged from the same area. It ran across the road and disappeared into the grass. Eventually we counted five Stoat (family party?) and two Mink. Brian managed to grab the shot below from the car window.
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| Mink
A final drive alongside the MOD land and we found a couple of female Wheatear, a few Stonechat, several Linnet but had no luck finding any Whinchat. The next couple of weeks should see the numbers building and a return visit will be arranged hopefully.
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