The second PBC out-of-area trip, this time to Rye Harbour (East Sussex) and Dungeness (Kent) was accompanied by glorious weather – 20 degrees C, no rain and a gentle breeze.

We started at Rye Harbour where we were given a guided tour by James, a local volunteer warden. James was a larger-than-life character and a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. The highlights included a Kingfisher flying over the sea, an Osprey fishing out at sea, some Wheatear and some Yellow Wagtails, and a little group of a Dunlin, a Knot and a Redshank (really useful for honing ID skills). James also introduced us to Least Lettuce which is very rare apparently. See pic.

Our next destination was the ARC Pit at Dungeness RSPB. But at James’s suggestion we stopped off en route at Scotney Sandpit (this isn’t a reserve and it’s not marked on the map; it’s literally just a sandpit at the side of the road between Camber and Lydd). As we got out of the car, we disturbed a large flock of Golden Plover – some in summer plumage, some in winter plumage and some in transition. After a short flying display, they forgave our intrusion and settled back on the ground in search for food. At the pit itself, we stood at the top and looked down. This gave us excellent views of whatever was inside. And on Saturday afternoon, this included a Red-necked Phalarope, 3 x Green Sandpiper, 2 x Common Sandpiper, 3 x Avocet, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Hobby. 

We then headed to the ARC Pit where we had clear views of a Pectoral Sandpiper and a less good view of a Glossy Ibis which was just leaving as we arrived. The light was fantastic and it afforded us the opportunity to study a drake Gadwall in detail. Gadwall are lovely birds which mustn’t be overlooked.

At 5pm we called it a day and headed off to the local Premier Inn (Ashford) which was uncannily similar to the Premier Inn that we stayed at in Bridlington with the only exception that the menu didn’t include fish pie. 

On Sunday we headed back to Dungeness where we spent the morning exploring the area around the Old Lighthouse, the Bird Observatory and the Nuclear Power Station. On Dungeness Beach, Owen, Reserve Manager, gave us a fascinating talk on the area, its history and its wildlife. We watched a number of Arctic Skua pass by heading west, a few Common Scoter headed east and some very noisy Sandwich Tern fishing just offshore. Owen spotted a Balearic Shearwater, but it was too far out at sea for him to guide any of us on to it. However, we all saw lots of Porpoises enjoying themselves in the sun.

Black Redstart, Peregrine and Raven nest around the power station and we saw all three. The Peregrines and the Ravens were very vocal which gave us the opportunity to learn their calls. Not far from the power station is the observatory where we saw lots of Wheatear and Stonechat and one Whinchat.

We then moved a couple of miles to Dungeness RSPB where an American Golden Plover had been seen the day before. We found a plover and along with a hide full of birders, tried very hard to convince ourselves that we were looking at a US vagrant, but the collective conclusion was that our bird was a Eurasian Golden Plover. However, we did find a couple of juvenile Black Terns.

It's interesting to reflect on what birds weren’t seen. We didn’t see a single thrush, not even a Blackbird, and apart from ubiquitous Linnets, no finches either. That is, until we were loading the car before heading home, when a single Chaffinch appeared, to thank us for our visit.  

Summer finally arrived for the 19 members and guests who attended the Club's trip to Lakenheath Fen and Weeting Heath.

We started out at Lakenheath Fen and were rewarded with 39 species, the highlights being a single Crane (amazingly spotted at some distance in tall vegetation), Bittern in flight, a good number of Marsh Harriers, slightly less good numbers of Hobbys, and a pleasing number of Swifts. The "aaah" moment was the sight of a Great Crested Grebe carrying it's young (or "humbug" as someone called it) on it's back.

The full list of birds seen at Lakenheath Fen can be found here.

A picnic lunch was had at Lakenheath Fen before we all drove to NWT Weeting Heath for the Stone Curlews. Good sightings of the adults and their young were had from the West Hide. A visit to the East Hide revealed little else of note apart from a distant Buzzard.

A coach party of RSPB members from Lincoln were also at Weeting Heath, and earlier in the day they'd seen a male and female Nightjar in the woodland adjacent to the Heath. Stewart Short and Ian Gordon went to investigate and found the male on a low branch in bracken.

Thanks to Ian Wilson for leading this trip.

A few of us braved the weather in Norfolk, but on arrival at Kelling Heath we were rewarded
with the “purring” of a Turtle Dove. We walked onto the Heath and after a while we found a
Dartford Warbler. We had excellent views of the male feeding its young. We then heard the calls of
Woodlark with at least two landing on the fence next to us.

We moved onto Cley for lunch at the visitor’s centre. With the rain continuing we decided to go
to the hides first, listening to Sedge and Reed Warblers on the way. As the weather eased we walked
along the East Bank and , with a Spoonbill in the distance, we could hear the “pinging” of Bearded
Tits. A male duly perched on the reeds for all to see.

With the rain getting heavier and the forecast for more, we decided to abandon the trip and
retreat to the visitor’s centre for more tea.

The list of birds seen at both sites can be found here.