27th June 2020 - RSPB Dungeness

I had nice views of the Gull-billed Tern at Dungeness today on the ARC pit. Initially distant from the road/causeway but a walk past the viewing screen and over the railway line to the other side of the pit allowed for much better and prolonged views of the bird. It was happily feeding up and down the northern bank of the pit and at times came really close although the very strong wind made photography very challenging. On the way back to the car park the Black-winged Stilt was showing nicely near the viewing screen although I had seen on twitter that others had waited 2 hours for it to show! Also noted was an impressive movement of Swifts overhead which were all heading purposefully South presumably shortly about to head out into the English Channel?

Gull-billed Tern, Dungeness, Kent

Black-winged Stilt, Dungeness, Kent

Afterwards I headed to Rye Harbour where it was even windier than Dungeness!! The best I could find here was seven Dunlin, a Grey Plover, an Avocet and a Little Tern.