Dungeness

A bit of time since my last post due to my hands, unfortunately they still cannot cope with too much typing. Trying to edit the pictures gives me the most pain, this is mainly RSI as opposed to the Carpal Tunnel which I also have. I am experimenting with different mouses to see if it helps.

Anyway onto this brief report, last Monday (5/9/11) Alan and I went to Dungeness RSPB where the high winds seemed to keep everything smaller than a Lapwing hidden in cover, that is with the exception of the Great Tits on the feeder in the car park. The high winds also put paid to photography, the continual buffeting made telescope work equally difficult, fortunately Dungeness has a large number of hides. 

Great White Egret - Canon 400D + 100-400mm + X2 extension hand focussed

The day started well with the first four hides revealing Cormorants, Mallard, Lapwing, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Starling, Common Sandpiper, Coots galore, whilst Swallows flew overhead. On the walks between the hides we saw Magpies, Carrion Crows, Great Black Backed Gulls, Wood Pigeon and a distant Marsh Harrier.

Christmas Dell hide was quiet except for a few Sand martins.

Great White Egret and Little Egret - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Denge Marsh hide gave the first 2 new sightings for the year with Great White Egret showing well until it was chased off by a Heron. The second was a Hobby flying low over the hide. Others seen from here were Teal, Gadwall, Greylag Geese and Mute Swans, Great Crested Grebe and Common Tern. At Denge I took the only photographs of the trip.


Great White Egret pounced upon by Heron - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Great White Egret keeps face walking past the antagonist - Canon 400D + 100-400mm

Great White Egret disgruntled strides off - Canon 400D + 100-400mm



Hanson ARC Hide gave another three year firsts, Black Terns were in the far distance, whilst closer on the islands near the hide were Sandwich Terns, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, a solitary Oystercatcher, Dunlin, whilst a Garganey was among some Shovelers. A Sparrowhawk also flew over whilst we were there.

We missed the Cattle Egret, however despite lack of photos and smaller birds it was a nice day with 34 species.