Ray O’Reilly, Field Outing Organiser and leader, writes: “Yesterday  - October 31st - saw the monthly KOS Field Outing to Dungeness and we were met with surprisingly autumnal weather, with persistent rain until around 1pm that became heavier about noon.

We began our day with a seawatch from inside the beach hide where Gannets were much in evidence in a variety of plumages including the “piano keyed”- wings of the 3rd year birds. Several small groups of Common Scoter and a few hunchbacked Red-throated Divers flew past us, a Great Crested Grebe was admired on the sea as well as a small group of Dark-bellied Brent Geese that headed West. Several groups of Auks went by, probably Guillemots but they couldn't specifically be identified so didn't join our 73 species that we recorded during the day.

It was decided - due to the weather(!) -  that we would go next to the ARC Pit. A Common Buzzard was hunched in the trees sheltering from the rain, but Marsh Harriers appeared impervious to the weather. Great White Egrets were evident at most of the sites that we visited and handsome Pintails had moulted back into their striking plumages. A pair of Glossy Ibis and Goldeneye where added to our list.

Our soggy walk to the ARC screen hide produced a Water Rail, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Dabchick/Little Grebe and Common Gulls. I managed to pick out an adult Yellow-legged Gull in a mixed flock and we went through all the salient features explaining why it wasn't simply a Herring Gull with yellow legs.

We visited the main part of the RSPB Reserve using Dennis' Hide and the shelters to keep out of the rain. 2 Cattle Egrets were feeding around the cows on the entrance track. Dave Perrin picked out a 1st Winter-plumaged Kittiwake hawking over the trees at the back of the pit, its black wing W and its plain mantle were clearly seen as it landed on the New Diggings. Several Egyptian Geese and a smart dark-capped juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit were watched close by. A Greenfinch was on the feeders and many Goldfinch were present today.

We had lunch in the visitors centre before heading off to Galloways which was open to the public yesterday, with no less than three Dartford Warblers recorded,  including a bird in sub-song. We went from there to Scotney Gravel Pits seeing what was surely our final pair of Swallows for the year and a very dapper drake Long-tailed Duck that we all enjoyed immensely.

Our final port of call was The Royal Military Canal between Appledore Bridge and the sluice where we had a pleasant walk and a beautiful end to the day with no Osprey but 5 Mistle Thrushes and 5 Yellowhammers, both declining species in Kent, and therefore much relished. 

Thanks to Dungeness Bird Observatory Warden Dave Walker who showed us Crimson Speckled Moths that had arrived on the SW winds and to Martin Casemore and John Young for local information.

I will be posting our dates for early next year on this page in early December, book fast as the outings fill up within hours.”

Ray O'Reilly: KOS Field Outings Organiser.