It's been hot this week! It's lovely to finally feel like summer is here, plus the bonus of being at Dungeness during a 'heatwave' is that there is nearly always a breeze to keep you a little bit cooler on your walk around our amazing nature trail.
As the birds rest up after their busy breeding season of raising their chicks, this is the time to shine for our invertebrates! Dungeness is awash with dragonflies, butterflies and bees, so there is always something new to discover on each visit.
Red-veined darter
The summer school holidays are here and we've got a few fun activities on the reserve to keep the little ones entertained. Follow our trail that is part of our Big Wild Summer event or pop in for some self-led pond dipping. Prices start from £3.50.
We have opened up one of our wildflower meadows for you to enjoy this summer, a temporary trail with information boards have been created for you to follow. This is a great chance to see a bit more of our nature reserve that normally isn't open to the public.
Vipers bugloss - Dave Clarke
Enjoy summer responsibly this year and please take your litter home with you. Seaside bins are often full and rubbish can be easily blown from them so it's best to bag up what you bring and dispose of it at home.
Some of our wildlife highlights this week include; a brown hare, seen by the entrance to the car park. Common terns are still raising young on our islands on Burrowes pit. Bearded tits have been sighted regularly from the viewing ramp, especially easy to spot in stiller air. Egyptian geese have been the stars of the show recently, parading their chicks around the car park and the area by the dipping pond! Sometimes the male can be seen perched on top of the shelter poles, looking down proudly at his family whilst they paddle in the shallow water.
Hare - David Featherbe
Egyptian geese - Dave Clarke
The swan who nested by the entrance track has two cygnets which are growing very fast! Common lizards have been spotted quite regularly basking in the sunshine. Clouded yellow butterflies have also been seen quite regularly recently.
Clouded yellow - Graham Parry