Kent Ornithological Society 
A field outing to Dungeness in September always produces something and our Sunday 19th trip was no exception. We recorded 77 Species, a list that was augmented by our afternoon Seawatch where we had 9 Arctic Skuas including birds that were harassing Sandwich Terns right in front of us. A breeding plumaged Red-throated Diver that sat on the sea was admired by all, a few Brent Geese, Common Guillemot, Common Tern and Common Scoter. A flock of around 40 Kittiwake also rested on the sea and among them were several Mediterranean Gulls.
Our lunch time walk around the Bird Observatory gave prolonged views of a pair of Peregrines. Earlier on the Reserve we saw 2 Black Terns, 5 Cattle and 4 Great White Egrets, 3 Garganey, 6 Ruff, 4 Black-necked Grebes and 80+ Golden Plover in an array of plumages. We had a fair few Northern Wheatears and good numbers of Common Chiffchaffs. Everybody enjoyed close views of a Water Rail that continually showed by the Screen Hide. Critters included good numbers of Clouded Yellow Butterflies and Harbour Porpoise but for me the sighting of the day was a clump of Common Ragwort that was infested with Small Copper Butterflies, it was a beautiful sight (thanks to Dave Walker).
Our participants continued with our international theme with our first ever KOS Argentine birder Yuti Chernajovsky and we look forward to his attendance and photography skills on future outings. Thanks to Yuti for the image of Arctic Skua Jaegering a Sandwich Tern.
