Good evening! It is still light outside whilst I write this, which is very encouraging. The weather is still bitterly cold however. But this did not stop people from venturing out on the reserve today and we were showered with a range of bird and wildlife sightings. I myself was able to spot a kingfisher cleaning its feathers by the pond in our car park, I didn't even need binoculars to see its dazzling colours - I only…

Naturalist and presenter Iolo Williams takes us on a journey through England’s stunning countryside – Kent, Dartmoor, Lancashire, Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, Dorset and New Forest in a new documentary series. 

Welsh television channel S4C will broadcast the first episode of its nature series Natur Gwyllt Iolo on Wednesday 2nd March at 7.30. This episode was filmed in Kent, with parts of the program filmed…

This week a glossy ibis was spotted at the reserve!

Glossy ibis are large, heron-like birds with rich bronze feathers and a slender, curved bill. They usually live in the Mediterranean region and are still rare visitors to the UK, although records are increasing. They occasionally visit Dungeness and how lucky some of our visitors were this week to be able to see one!

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Other sightings on the reserve this week include…

20% off 12.75kg sacks of bird food at the RSPB Dungeness shop until 23^rd February 2016

The visitor centre at RSPB Dungeness is open everyday from 10am to 4pm

Hello! It's been fairly quiet here on the reserve today. Yesterday was a different story however! It was such a beautiful winters day - this was my view from the Visitor Centre window! There was no wind at all yesterday and Burrowes pit was so still it reflected the sky like a mirror. We had lots of happy and fresh faced visitors from their cold but sun-filled walk. A dose of Vitamin D is just what the doctor ordered…

Did you take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend? I did and I discovered that I had a lot more visitors to my garden than I first thought so that was super exciting! I'm now finding myself daydreaming out of the window a lot more than previously, hoping to catch the blue tits on the feeder or the wren hopping around the bare rose bushes!

At Dungeness we've had plenty of birds taking advantage of the…

What a mix of weather we have had here this week. A gorgeous sunny day yesterday to an extremely windy and wet day here today. Some interesting wildlife was seen this week including a slavonian grebe, jack snipe and even a very unseasonal peacock butterfly!

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Recent highlights:

Brent goose – 2 at Denge Marsh on 26^th

Smew – 2 drake 4 redhead Burrowes pit on 29^th

Goldeneye –on Burrowes pit on 29^t…

Thinking of buying binoculars or a telescope? 

Whether you know a bit or don't know where to start, come to the RSPB Dungeness Visitor Centre on 31^st January 2016 between 2pm and 4pm and get some hands on advice from our friendly team and have the chance to try them out.

Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers and staff will be available to assist you. 

 If you cannot make this date, do not worry. Other demonstration…

Great ready for the Big Garden Bird Watch weekend on 30/31 January!

Stock up on feeders and bird food at the Dungeness shop.

We have a special offer at the moment - buy a premium suet ball feeder and 50 buggy suet balls for £15.25 - a saving of £10

Here are some of our bird feeder products in action on the reserve.

(Photos courtesy of Neil Obbard.)

Blue tit and great tit on a Dual suet feeder (£7…

Recent cold weather has brought some extra visitors to the reserve with two Whooper swans near Boulderwall Farm on the 19th, two black-necked grebes on new diggings and a barn owl at Denge Marsh today. The long-eared owl was spotted this afternoon at the dipping pond after a two day absence. 

Sightings list for the last week:

Whooper Swan – 2 at Boulderwall Farm on 19^th

Smew – one drake and two redheads from…

Come along to a weekend of fun activities to get prepared for the Big Garden Birdwatch's main event! Pop down to the visitor centre at 11am on Saturday 16th or Sunday 17th to learn the importance of the Big Garden Birdwatch! Adults are £6. Children £3. A 20% discount applies for RSPB members.

Test your ID skills by watching the birds on the feeders and guess who's who by playing a game of bird bingo…

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…

Prefer to do your bird watching indoors during the wintry weather – try one of our window feeders - available at the RSPB Dungeness store

It is a wonderful way to feed and watch wild birds up close. Made of tough, non-yellowing polycarbonate the bird feeder attaches to your window with three strong suction cups and the tray detaches easily (without removing the suckers) for cleaning and refilling. £10.25 

A pair of Penduline tits were spotted on the reserve yesterday at the ARC screen viewing point and at Hooker's pit ramp viewing point (we are unsure if these are the same pair or different ones). These small and elusive passerines visit Dungeness in the winter time but are infrequently seen. So if you are daring enough to brave the weather, come down and see if you can spot these beautiful little birds.

Photo …

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…

Bewick’s swan – 15 on Walland Marsh near wind farm on 14^th

Egyptian goose – Denge Marsh on 9^th

Brent goose –Burrowes pit on 17^th  

Black-necked grebe – at Firth hide on 13^th  

Smew – 3 redheads on Burrowes pit on 21^st     

Pintail – two drake and two female on Burrowes pit on 12^th    

Goldeneye – 1 male, 2 female on Burrowes pit and 2 male, 3 female at ARC on 21^st  

Goosander…

As the shortest day approaches us next week and Christmas comes ever closer, get away from the stress and come down to Dungeness to enjoy our fabulous sunsets.

The flat landscape makes a sunset here at Dungeness exceptional viewing. So  join us at the reserve all next week before Christmas for a hot drink and a relaxing afternoon watching the sun set over the horizon and watch the birds as they fly up to find a place…

The Dungeness store Christmas sale has started!

Products from Christmas cards to metal sculptures are now reduced.

Pop in and pick up a bargain or a last minute Christmas gift.

The visitor centre at RSPB Dungeness is open every day, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, from 10am to 4pm

 Cockerel standing was £33.34 now £24.99

 Set of three forest lanterns was £14.99 now £9.99

 Six…

The RSPB are delighted to have accepted the land known as Lade Pits from building materials supplier CEMEX UK. Lade Pits is a restored gravel quarry covering 70 hectares and is located next to RSPB Dungeness Nature Reserve in Kent. The site was handed over to the RSPB this year, which will allow the RSPB to give nature a home on a site that previously produced over four million tonnes of sand and gravel for local construction…

Sheep have now been released onto the wider shingle to graze grassy areas around some of the natural pits to reduce grass dominance and encourage floral diversity. This means that they will roam the reserve freely. They will be free on the reserve until March next year.

If you are visiting the reserve please watch out for them when driving in and walking around and please shut gates behind you. Also could you please…

A black throated diver was seen flying and diving on Burrowes pit all day today. A grey wagtail was also seen flying over the access track. The long-eared owl is still here in his favourite roosting spot by the dipping pond. Peregrines, buzzards and marsh harriers have also been seen today! Lovely :)

Black throated diver summer (back) and winter (front) plumage. By Mike Langman.

Egyptian goose – Denge Marsh and Boulderwall Farm on 4^th

Smew – 4 redheads on Burrowes pit on 4^th    

Pintail – at Burrowes pit on 1^st   

Goldeneye –on Burrowes pit and ARC on 3^rd   

Goosander – 3 female, 1 male on Burrowes pit on 4^th      

Little Egret – on Burrowes pit on 3^rd  

Great white egret – Denge Marsh and ARC on 3^rd   

Bittern – Hookers pits ramp and Denge Marsh on 4…

The new RSPB HD binocular range of binoculars is now available in store at RSPB Dungeness.

High quality binoculars, superb image clarity

• Double ED glass front objective lenses
• Waterproof and nitrogen filled  to prevent fogging
• Lightweight magnesium alloy body
• Close focus under 2 metres
• 10-year warranty

8x32 HD £479

8x42 HD £499

10x42 HD £519

Drop in and try them out.

The visitor centre…

Thinking of buying binoculars or a telescope? 

Whether you know a bit or don't know where to start, come to the RSPB Dungeness Visitor Centre and get some hands on advice from our friendly team and have the chance to try them out.

Our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers and staff will be available to assist you. 

 If you cannot make these dates, do not worry as the visitor centre is open every day from 10am to 4…

Our long-eared owl has become the main attraction at the reserve this week! He seems very content in his roosting spot in the trees at the back of our dipping pond. He has been showing very well this morning too. Below is a lovely photograph taken by one of our visitors who kindly let us use his photo:

Photo credit: John Caddick, http://johncaddick.co.uk/photo/long-eared-owl/