A trip to the RSPB reserve at Dungeness in East Kent with Bexley RSPB group. The reserve is on a large shingle ridge which has been built up over the years and has then been used for gravel excavation leaving a series of pits which have now filled with water.
Our first stop was the ARC pits – the highlights here were a couple of male Goldeneye amongst the commoner ducks and a patrolling Marsh Harrier over the reed-bed. This is often a good spot for Great White Egret but not today.
We then move onto the main part of the reserve. It seems very quiet, a common complaint this winter as there does not seem to have been the usual influx of winter migrants into the UK. One exception is a male Smew and I set off to find it on one of the pools. I have not seen one for a few years now as they have become less and less common in the south-east of the country so this is a real treat. Eventually, with the help of a few other birders, we locate it on a channel on the far side of a field and we have good views through the telescopes.
The main pools were very busy, but only with Great Cormorants. I was told there are over 3000 on the reserve, which is I was told a all time high. The seemed to take up every tree and every island.
I did find a small party of Black-tailed Godwit on one small island and saw a very close male Goldeneye.
Not the highest total of species but the male Smew was the highlight of the day
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