A Visit to the Dungeness Estate

12th May 2021

Time for our annual spring pilgrimage to that most wonderful place, the Dungeness Estate. I have been coming here birding for over 30 years, but also have a photo of the old lighthouse when it was still operational by leaning out of the window of the train with my Brownie Cresta in about 1957!!

As soon as we stepped out of the car Meadow Pipits were everywhere and if you stood still they would run towards you. How good is that?

In the Gorse bushes towards The Moat a male Stonechat was doing what it is supposed to do, sit on top of a Gorse bush. Absolutely stunning little birds.

Then on to one of my favourite places at Dungeness, the fishing boats. Probably best in the winter when large flocks of Gannets fish just off-shore, but worth a look at this time of year for terns and Kittiwakes. Not much today apart from a dozen or so Great Crested Grebes.

On the way back I heard a song I was not familiar with which turned out to be a cracking male Wheatear. It was fairly flighty at first but then allowed us to get a bit nearer and then gradually walked towards us.

Not far away was the female.

On the RSPB reserve the hides were still closed, but they had erected a couple of viewing screens to overlook Burrowes Pit. Here a pair of Common Gulls were setting up residence with the female constantly begging for food from the male. Also the Common Terns were fairly active allowing a couple of flight shots.

Along the trails Reed Buntings and Whitethroats were in good voice and luckily were posing very well.

At the site of the old Scott Hide a couple of crows were doing battle high in the air, and definitely a case of little and large. So what were they, a Carrion Crow and a Jackdaw? No, the size difference was too large for that and at that point came the tell-tale "cronk" confirming that it was a Raven and a Carrion Crow. Just look at the size of that bill.

Down by the Christmas Dell Hide a Hobby was hawking insects, the first of the year for me, and hopefully there will soon be many more.

Well, Dungeness never disappoints and I am sure it won't be too long before I will be back.