An Early Autumn Visit to Dungeness

5th September 2021

A break in the weather and an easterly breeze so time for a visit to Dungeness. At this time of year Dungeness should be reasonably quiet people-wise, but because of the Covid-enforced staycations it was absolutely rammed. However, the layout of the estate does make it relatively easy to escape the madding crowds.

Not too surprisingly at this time of year the fishing boats were very quiet with just a few Sandwich Terns and a couple of juvenile Mediterranean Gulls passing by.

And this Swallow heading off to Africa from Dungeness beach is probably one of the most evocative photos I have ever taken (thank you Glyn Evans for that).

At the ARC most of the action was not from the viewing screen but the bank further along. The Garganey was hunkered down in the aquatic vegetation and was asleep most of the time. This seems  to be their modus operandi so perhaps they feed mostly at night

On the far bank a Great White Egret was fishing in the shallows, but the "little egret" to the left turned out to be a Cattle Egret which promptly flew off..

However, the star bird at the ARC was the Glossy Ibis. It has been around for quite a while now albeit sometimes a bit elusive, and we have missed it on our last two visits. But today it was on full view and having a preen.

Just look at those colours when the light catches them.

Back at the Observatory the main action was near the trapping area. The Wryneck that had been present for a few days seemed to have moved on so it was very much a Chataday. There were several Stonechats and Whinchats about but fairly mobile so it was hard work.

But today the undoubted stars of the show were the Wheatears. I have seen several falls of Wheatears on my visits to Fair Isle, but the fall of Wheatears today was exceptional. They were everywhere and when we were photographing them up to six would be on view. A conservative estimate across the site would be 100+, but there could have been several more.

I love this last shot in particular on a rusting container near the fishing boats, Although it is not a natural background, it epitomises the character of Dungeness.