Recent sightings at Dungeness 22nd December - 5th January

Happy New Year! Although the weather all year has been pretty horrid, we have had some interesting sightings at the reserve this week. Our long-eared owl decided to spend his Christmas holidays with us and looks like he's made a very cosy home here. Also, considering it has poured with rain all day today we have been lucky enough to see a shag, a male smew, a firecrest and a Slavonian grebe amongst others! Lets hope the winter months continue with more amazing sightings!

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Recent highlights include:

Brent goose –three on Burrowes pit on 31^st Dec

Egyptian goose – Denge Marsh on 1^st Jan

White fronted goose – Denge Marsh on 1^st Jan  

Smew – 3 females, 1 male on Burrowes pit 5^th Jan      

Pintail – 3 on Burrowes pit on 5^th Jan    

Goldeneye –on Burrowes pit and ARC on 5^th Jan       

Scaup – 3 female on Burrowes (by Scott) on 23^rd Dec       

Slavonian grebe – Burrowes pit on 4^th Jan

Shag – 2 on Burrowes pit on 5^th

Great white egret –Denge Marsh on 5^th Jan

Bittern – on Denge Marsh on 4^th January

Hen harrier – a male flying over ARC on 28^th Dec

Merlin – over Burrowes pit on 23^rd Dec

Peregrine – over Burrowes pit on 1^st Jan

Sparrowhawk – 1 at ARC on 3rd     

Water rail – at Denge Marsh on 4^th Jan

Snipe – over Denge Marsh on 28^th Dec

Ringed plover – over Denge Marsh on 28^th Dec

Dunlin – two on Burrowes pit on 1^st

Avocet – Burrowes pit on 4^th   

Caspian Gull –on Burrowes pit on 1^st     

Yellow-legged gull – one on Burrowes pit on 27^th Dec     

Long-eared owl – one roosting in willow on the far side of the dipping pond on 5^th Jan    

Kingfisher – 1 at Burrowes pit on 4^th Jan             

Great Spotted Woodpecker – over Burrowes pit on 1^st Jan

Redpoll – at ARC on 22^nd Dec

Dartford warbler – near Hookers pits ramp on 28^th Dec 

Chiffchaff – by Firth hide 5^th  

Bearded tit – at Denge Marsh on 4^th Jan

Long-tailed tit – 8 near Burrowes (Scott hide) on 22^nd Dec   

Firecrest – by Firth hide on 5^th

Goldcrest – 1 by Dennis’s hide on 3^rd   

Raven – near Denge Marsh on 23^rd Dec     

Weasel – on access track on 28^th Dec