Gary Howard's birds and wildlife

I got to Dungeness just before 0700 and went  straight to Denge Marsh road where almost immediately I got a view of a Purple Heron flying back to it's nest. Early morning light conditions made viewing poor from the road so I headed off to the reserve and walked out to Hookers Pits and spent some time on the viewing ramp overlooking the main reedbed. I had a Bittern in flight and the reedbeds were a hive of activity with Bearded Tit's, Cettis, Reed and Sedge Warblers particularly obvious. Marsh Harrier's have bred again and before I left the reserve I had a couple of Hobby's over the lakes by Boulderwall Farm.

Yellow-horned Poppy

Common Tern -rafts look to have brought back Common Terns to breed at Dungeness

Next I had a good look at the ARC pits. The southern end looks particularly good at the moment with lots of shallow water and small pools. I had several Little-ringed Plovers, Ringed Plover and a first-summer Little Gull in amongst a small flock of Black-headed Gulls. Little Egret added to my growing list of herons!

I drove onto the Ness and saw the fog rolling onto the western side, the fog horn had already started. However, on the east side near the Lifeboat Station Prospect Cottage looked stunning in the sunshine. 

Prospect Cottage

Late morning I drove back round to Denge marsh road and found Mike Cottrell and John Tilbrook still waiting for a view of Purple Heron after a 90 minute wait. Sure enough within a few minutes one duly flew in! I stayed and chatted for an hour during which time we had several more views of Purple Heron and good looks at a Great-white Egret - heron species number 5.

It was around 20 C with a cool breeze when I left Dunge around 1300 and 30 C when I got to my boy's school fete in Orpington.