Recent sightings at Dungeness 6th - 15th October

This week there has been a chill in the air, showing signs that winter is approaching us quickly. The difference in bird sightings has changed too, with less waders being seen and an increase in ducks and small birds from the continent. The highlight of this week was seeing a common crane here at the reserve with it staying here for a few days and last sighted on the 12th.

The crane is a huge, grey and graceful bird that is a rare sight to the UK. It is one of Europe’s largest birds with a wingspan of between 1.8 to 2.2 metres. They sadly disappeared from our country over the last 400 years due to the loss in wetland areas and them being hunted for food. The Great Crane Project was created in 2010 to reintroduce the cranes back into suitable sites. It's been very successful so far with 93 birds being released in Somerset and an 85% survival rate with confirmed sightings of breeding cranes in various parts of the country. Hopefully we might get a chance to see some more here!

Image by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com).

Other bird sighting highlights include:

Brent goose – six at Denge Marsh on 15^th

 

Wigeon – ARC on 12^th   

Pintail – Burrowes pit and ARC on 12^th      

 

Black necked grebe – ARC on 15^th     

 

Crane – On the access track on 12^th

Little Egret – 4 on Burrowes Pit on 13^th

Great white egret – six on Burrowes pit and one by access track on 15^th    

Bittern – at Denge Marsh on 15^th  

 

Hobby – over Denge Marsh on 10^th     

Hen harrier – near Christmas Dell on 15^th

Buzzard – Over Boulderwall on 11^th

Peregrine – Denge Marsh on 11^th

Merlin – over Burrowes pit on 15^th

 

Water rail – at Denge Marsh on 15^th

Golden plover – 2 on Burrowes pit and 140+ at Gull roost on 9^th   

Knot – Burrowes pit on 12^th

 

House martin – 250 flying over Denge Marsh on 7^th

Swallow – over access track on 15^th    

 

Kingfisher – Burrowes pit on 14^th

Great spotted woodpecker – ARC on 12^th

 

Northern wheatear – Burrowes pit on 7^th

Wheatear – two at Denge Marsh on 15^th  

Stonechat – pair at Denge Marsh on 14^th

Black redstart – two by toilet block on 14^th

 

Chiffchaff – at ARC and Denge Marsh on 15^th  

Lesser whitethroat – at ARC on 15^th

Blackcap – at Denge Marsh on 15^th

Siskin – at Denge Marsh on 15^th

Goldcrest – near Denge Marsh hide on 15^th   

Long-tailed tit – ARC on 12^th  

Twite – Burrowes pit on 12^th  

Brambling – at Denge Marsh on 15^th

Redpoll – at Denge Marsh on 15^th 

Tree sparrows – by Denge Marsh on 12^th

 

Ring ouzel – at Denge Marsh on 15^th

Raven – Denge Marsh on 13^th