A first visit of the year to Dungeness bird observatory and the local RSPB reserve today meant a 4.45am start to pick up local birder Graeme from Stortford before heading off for the joys of the M11, M25 and M20, all in pouring rain. An arrival at Dungeness beach at sunrise, 7.30 was great with a stiff breeze and steady drizzle.Immediately, into good birds with red breasted merganser, gannet and common scoter seen moving west and 35+ sanderling moving east. A solitary brent goose was also recorded along with 100's of gulls.
Before long the breeze etc drove us to the hides on the RSPB reserve where we knew certain unusual birds may be found. We were not disappointed with huge numbers of wildfowl, including 15+ pintails, mostly striking males along with a superb view of a solitary hen harrier over Dengemarsh. Here, as we approached the hide a great egret flew across the lake, my first views of this bird in the UK. Photos shown here of both little egret (with the black beak) and the much larger, if distant, great egret showing its diagnostic yellow beak and long neck. Note the yellow feet on the little egret. Our next target was to track down 2 glossy ibis, a most rare bird for Britain. After a short wait the showed well and are photographed here, if again, somewhat distantly. My second new UK bird for the day! A goshawk then made an entrance heading south and then east over the power station. A rare bird for Kent indeed and one that the bird observatory will require detailed sight records before it is accepted on their list. A tricky job as it was high and really only the size and shape were what gave us the goshawk impression. Much too large to be a sparrow hawk, so unsure what else it could have been. Marsh Harriers were witnessed on several occasions, most notably whilst we waited for a penduline tit that didn't appear. Shelduck, black tailed godwit, more wildfowl and most amazingly, a second bittern of the day. The latter flew in front of the Hanson Hide at the ARC pit. A superb sight.
From here we made our way back to the RSPB office for the car, but not before observing 3 chiffchaffs, a kestrel and a flock of redwings along with a single reed bunting. Off to the Lade Pit for a black necked grebe, of which we got very distant views. A red legged partridge seemed out of place on the shingle whereas a stonechat and skylark did not.
On to Scotney after a unsuccessful search of the trapping area but as we drove along the Lydd road an egret in a horse field caught our attention. A cattle egret! Another first for Graeme. At Scotney pits, the other side of Lydd hundreds of lapwings and golden plovers mingled with a redshank, wigeon and 80 barnacle geese. What a finish to the day as by now the light was fading and time to join the jam that was the M25. A superb day's birding. In all, a most respectful 77 species of bird were recorded, with much quality included.
Photos, from the top;1. mute swan
10. cormorant
As part of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) survey work for the bird atlas of the UK, I have an area around Spellbrook and Twyford Locks to cover. Today, I returned to continue this bird count in the area I used to bird regularly when living in Bishop's Stortford. 
