Dungeness Early December

Today we met Paul for another walk around Dungeness as the original plan to Sheppey has been postponed to the new year. I gained another 5 firsts. 30 mile winds and heavy rain meant that we would spend most of the time in the hides. We started at the ARC hide at 9.30am to see the all the usuall ducks plus a couple of Pintail and a couple of Golden Eye in the distance, 10.30 the wind dropped a little and the rain stopped and immediately a Marsh Harrier was on the scene, but as this happened a disturbed Bittern sprung up from the reeds and flew north past the hide. We then left for a walk around the reserve at 11.00. At the entrance the 2 Glossy Ibis were showing really well
Despite looking from all the hides there was no sign of the Smew seen the previous day, but on Dengemarsh Pit a couple of Black Necked Grebes were infront of the hide and the Great White Egret was still there
On the way back along the trail a pair of obliging Stonechats and a Reed Bunting posed on the fence.
Next stop was for lunch on the beach at the point, seeing many gulls including Kittiwakes we headed off in search of the reported Snow Buntings, like looking for a needle in a haystack they were eventually found pecking around the first line of vegetation from the sea

Next stop was another visit to the ARC hide again hoping to see Bitterns coming into roost but no luck, the Marsh Harriers were still active setting up the Lapwings and gulls but then a male Hen Harrier appeared setting them all off again.
Just as dusk was to become darkness a pair of Bewick Swans landed on the pit right in front of the hide, a perfect ending to another perfect day birding.