An update on our recent visitors

We've had a lovely break from the wet weather with it being cold but a wonderfully bright day today at Dungeness. Visitors have been on the reserve trying to catch a glimpse of our pair of penduline tits up on the viewing ramp over Hooker's pit. The red-faced and grins on visitors faces tells us that the sightings have been successful! The long-eared owl and a Dartford warbler have also been seen today. Three great white egrets have been seen in different places and a sparrowhawk has been spotted hunting over the reserve.

Thanks to Richard Gannon for these photographs of the Penduline tit at Dungeness!

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Other sightings on the reserve have been:

Smew – three redheads on Burrowes pit and one on ARC on 10^th

Pintail – 21 on Burrowes pit on 10^th

Goldeneye – 3 on Burrowes and ARC on 11^th    

Goosander – female on south end of ARC on 10^th

Slavonian grebe – at back of Hookers pits on 10^th

Shag – one immature on Burrowes pit on 9^th

Great white egret – 3 at Denge Marsh on 11^th

Bittern – at Hookers pits on 10^th

Peregrine – over Burrowes pit on 9^th

Merlin – over visitor centre on 11^th

Water rail – at Denge Marsh on 8^th

Golden plover – 40 at Denge Marsh on 6^th

Avocet – over Burrowes pit and Denge Marsh on 9^th

Black-tailed godwit – Denge Marsh on 6^th

Little Gull – over Burrowes pit on 10^th

Long-eared owl – one roosting in willow on the far side of the dipping pond on 11^th

Barn owl – at ARC on 7^th

Kingfisher – ARC on 11^th

Great Spotted Woodpecker – car park feeders on 10^th

Stonechat – by entrance track on 11^th

Chiffchaff – at Dennis’ hide on 11^th

Bearded tit – at Hookers pits on 10^th

Long-tailed tit – 2 at ARC on 6^th

Penduline tit – two from viewing ramp at Hookers pits on 10^th    

Firecrest – by Firth hide on 11^th

Goldcrest – 1 by Firth hide on 11^th

Goldfinch – Firth hide on 10^th

Raven – near Denge Marsh on 11^th

Stoat – on access track on 7^th

Hare – by access track on 7^th