Dungeness Nature Reserve Bulletin
1 July 2008
Bird news (June 2008)
A great white egret, a bird seldom seen here despite its close proximity just across the Channel in France, was the undoubted highlight of the month. It was spotted at Denge Marsh on the morning of the 10th and led us a merry dance as it moved from there to the Boulderwall lakes and back.
One sharp-eyed observer also caught a glimpse of a white stork as it disappeared over Lydd.
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Great white egret - photograph by David Walker (all rights reserved) |
Hobbies were present in good numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 11 seen on 4th. Peregrines and marsh harriers were seen regularly and ring-tail Montagu’s harrier and a female red-footed falcon (both in the Denge Marsh area) caused some excitement on the 8th.
Non-breeding waders began to appear towards the end of the month with greenshank, green sandpiper and common sandpiper seen in small numbers. Two black-tailed godwits and two avocets were seen on 6th.
A turtle dove was at the ARC pit from 1st to 3rd and a little owl was spotted on three occasions. A female red-backed shrike was seen at the Oppen pits on the 5th but a male bullfinch spotted on the bird table at Boulderwall Farm on the 3rd was perhaps a more surprising record.
Management news
Throughout the past two months we have been surveying many of the birds that breed here on the reserve. Last month, we gave you an update on the fortunes of our breeding lapwings - here are some early indications of how some of the others have fared.
Species |
Estimated number of breeding pairs |
Great crested grebe |
28 |
Cormorant |
140 |
Barnacle goose |
1 feral pair! |
Mallard |
70 |
Gadwall |
22 |
Teal |
1 |
Shoveler |
8 |
Pochard |
31 |
Tufted duck |
103 |
Marsh harrier |
2 |
Little ringed plover |
2 |
Redshank |
9 |
Lesser black-backed gull |
4 |
Common gull |
8 |
Barn owl |
1 |
Nightingale |
2 |
Stonechat |
2 |
Cetti’s warbler |
50! |
Reed warbler |
335 – highest ever! |
Bearded tit |
8 – expanding! |
Tree sparrow |
20 |
Reed bunting |
124 |
Yellowhammer |
2 – just clinging on! |
As you can see, some species are just about hanging on as breeding birds on the reserve, e.g. Yellowhammers, some are maintaining their previous levels, e.g. most of the ducks, and others are increasing, such as reed and Cetti’s warblers, tree sparrows and bearded tits. Other reasons to be cheerful are our two pairs of nesting marsh harriers and another successful season for our barn owls.
Odd jobs completed around the reserve during the month include a new directional sign near Denge Marsh hide (so visitors won’t get lost) and a new sign behind the Visitor Centre reception desk (to inspire visitors to become members!).
RSPB Dungeness Nature Reserve
Tel: 01797 320588
mail: dungeness@rspb.org.uk
