DUNGENESS GLOSSY IBIS TUESDAY 11th JAN

Because the weather forecast is rubbish for the rest of the week I decided to get a quick visit to Dungeness in today. As I drove up the entrance track I noticed a couple of people in cars parked opposite the pools on the right. It turned out they were trying to find a Glossy Ibis of all things that had been spotted yesterday. We eventually found the bird in a poolside reedbed and had good but distant views for about two minutes before it suddenly decided to fly off towards the ARC pit. I had my camera with me but still in it's case and by the time i'd got it out and switched it on the Ibis was disappearing fast. I did manage to fire a couple of quick distant shots of very dubious quality, but at least it shows the salient points, downcurved beak, trailing legs etc.

While searching for the Ibis I spotted a Bittern flying past, the first of three seen today. I noticed the second one (below) standing on the edge of a reedbed on the far bank of the lake just outside the entrance to Scott hide. There were four people in the hide, who came out to have a look and one of them turned out to be Bo Beolens of Kent Birders forum and inventor of the 'Fatbirder Top 1000 Birding Websites' counter. Very nice to meet you Bo! The third Bittern seen flew across the front of Christmas Dell hide and landed in the reeds to the right.

Just opposite Christmas hide is a clump of tangled undergrowth and it was here that I found a Goldcrest and immediately afterwards a Firecrest. I stood there for ages in the biting wind waiting for an opportunity to record the sighting and eventually got my chance when it emerged again for about a couple of seconds, just long enough for the record shot below. This is only my third sighting of these little birds, I hope i've got the ID right!

Other species seen today included about half a dozen Marsh Harriers across the site and a Kestrel opposite Boulderwall Farm. A Black-necked Grebe and Red-head Smew, seen from the comfort of the visitor centre. A Goosander which flew in front of Makepeace hide and landed in front of Scott hide. At least six Pintails and a couple of Cetti's Warblers. Oh, nearly forget, about a hundred thousand Wigeon, well a couple of thousand probably, but it seemed like a lot more!

In all 44 species, it probably would have been more if i'd had time to visit the ARC site. But all things considered I think Dungeness RSPB came up trumps again.