Glossy Ibis and Black-winged Stilts at Dungeness

30th April 2023

After a great morning at the Dungeness observatory time to move on to the ARC pits and the RSPB reserve. At the pits the Marsh Frogs were deafening and were drowning out the Reed Buntings which were trying to proclaim their territory.

It's been a few years since I photographed a Lesser Whitethroat and I have been telling everyone how difficult they can be to see let alone photograph. Well I take all that back as this is the third one I have photographed in the last two days!!!

On the RSPB reserve the Sedge Warblers were in full song and some in song flight.

On Burrowes Pit a couple of Whimbrel were resting on a shingle spit, much closer than you might expect, resting up before continuing their journey.

As we approached Hayfields a male Garganey came into view, although unfortunately into the sun. However, still great to see these beautiful ducks.

At that point a couple of Glossy Ibis flew through and landed further up the flood so a quick change of position was called for. Managed to get quite close and take some shots of them both feeding and preening. What amazing birds.

But the stars of the show today were the two Black-winged Stilts which were entertaining the observers.

How can anything walk so gracefully on those legs???

Well, what a day. Seventy five species on the list and as my son said the quote of the day must be "I wish that Black-winged Stilt would get out of the way so that I can photograph the male Garganey" Did I really say that ??