Recent Bird Sightings at Dungeness 21st-29th October

This week, we've had a mixture of weather from warm and sunny, to cold wet and windy. There are still swallows about, which just shows us that our temperatures are still too mild for them to want to leave! However we have been getting more ducks and geese staying with us over the last couple of days. A beautiful brambling is seen regularly on the bird feeders in the car park and a black redstart seems to be showing off on the visitor centre roof too!

You would have probably started to see more robins and blackbirds in your garden recently, the rise in numbers is due to the migrants coming over from Scandinavia. Also, Bonfire Night is approaching, so please do be aware of wildlife hibernating in your bonfire piles such as hedgehogs and frogs. Please do check your burning pile carefully and thoroughly on the same day you are due to light it as this might save a little life!

We have a Halloween event here today and tomorrow, so pop down between 11am and 3pm to see what spooky activities we have to offer. The weekend is meant to be lovely weather, so come along and enjoy the reserve before the real winter weather sets in!

Recent highlights this week include:

Brent goose – 16 at Burrowes pit on 29^th

Pintail – 5 at Burrowes pit on 29^th  

Goldeneye – two female on Burrowes pit on 29^th       

Goosander – female on Burrowes pit on 27^th

Shoveler – over 600 on Burrowes pit on 29^th    

Black necked grebe – New excavations on 29^th       

Little Egret – on Burrowes Pit on 29^th

Great white egret – Burrowes Pit on 29^th   

Bittern – Denge Marsh on 29^th         

Buzzard – over reserve on 24^th

Short eared owl – by the entrance track on 27^th

Golden plover – 60 flew over Burrowes pit on 20^th

Water rail – at ARC on 24^th

Swallow – at ARC on 27^th   

Caspian Gull – 3 on Burrowes pit on 29^th

Yellow legged gull – 2 on Burrowes pit on 29^th   

Kingfisher – two at visitor centre and one at ARC on 27^th     

Black redstart – on visitor centre roof on 29^th

Redstart – on visitor centre roof on 26^th

Stonechat – on the track on 29^th    

Bearded tit – 5 at Denge Marsh on 29^th   

Great Grey Shrike – Lydd footpath near Hookers on 24^th

Rock pipit – Burrowes pit on 27^th

Chiffchaff –Denge Marsh on 29^th

 Dartford Warbler  - Return trail on 28^th

Brambling – on the car park feeders on 27th    

Redpoll – six in bushes near visitor centre on 22^nd   

Tree sparrows – car park feeders on 23^rd   

Goldfinch – by Christmas Dell on 26^th   

Ring ouzel – Hookers pit on 28^th