Dungeness, Kent - 27th September 2023

It has been many years since I was last at Dungeness and I had forgotten what a great place it is! First stop was at the old lighthouse and we were lucky to bump into a local who pointed out a great area for Black Redstart. As we walked across we spotted a Wheatear and a couple of Stonechats as well as this Dunnock.

There appeared to be about six Black Redstarts feeding in the scrub and at times hovering to feed. I managed to get some shots of a female/juvenile.

And finally this cracking male bird!

Time was moving on, so a spot of sea watching was next. To give some perspective however a few landscape shots showing the old and new lighthouses and the power station. A strange area, and the nearest thing we have to a desert in the UK.

Initially, the sea was fairly quiet with Cormorants, Great Crested Grebe, one Razorbill and a handful of Gannets. Also a few Brent Geese.

Things picked up with a party of Sandwich Terns - a nice mix of adults and juveniles.

Sadly no passing Shearwater's but a couple of Arctic Skua's were great consolation.

It was then on to the RSPB Reserve with a stop off at Cook's Pool. Another friendly local had told us it was a good spot for the three Glossy Ibis that were in the area. We quickly saw Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret as well as eight Cattle Egrets which rather pleasingly were with the cattle.

And right on cue the Glossy Ibis appeared out of a shallow depression.

Driving into the reserve yielded this Common Buzzard.

The reserve was fairly quiet, but I don't think I have ever seen so many Great Black-Backed Gulls before.

Not too many waders around apart from this solitary Ruff.

And two Curlew Sandpipers.

A really great day out!