Kent Ornithological Society 
Ray O’Reilly, KOS Field trip organiser writes:-
‘On Sunday August 24th we met for our August 2024 KOS Field Meeting.
We had a very successful day in terms of the number of bird species seen - It has been a long time since we reached yesterday's total of 9, despite a blustery afternoon in the Dungeness area Other interesting non bird sightings included Smooth Newts, Migrant and Norfolk Hawkers and Common Darter dragonflies, Painted Ladies and a Brown Hare.
Our morning started with a quiet seawatch at Dungeness point. A few Gannets were moving offshore and Sand Martins and Barn Swallows - visibly migrating - were observed along the beach, often landing on it before taking on the channel crossing.
Two Northern Wheatears, a Whinchat and a pair of Sparrowhawks were around the power station using the fences, and as usual there was a fine Peregrine Falcon often perched up on railings and causing panic responses among the Feral Pigeons.
The patch (the area where the outfall of cooling water is pumped back out into the sea) was working and the warm water from the power station in the English Channel was attracting gulls, terns and Great Cormorants. We picked out a young Yellow-legged Gull among the melee.
We then drove down to the RSPB reserve and visited the ARC gravel pit, which is in fine condition at the moment with good areas of exposed mud and shingle. A couple of rain showers brought in c500 Sand Martins and c150 Barn Swallows, plus a dozen Willow Warblers, with some showing vivid yellow in the sunlight. In addition we had fine views of 6 Cattle Egrets, 3 Garganey and a Glossy Ibis. A European Black Tern was quartering with Common Terns and Lyn picked out a wonderful Bittern to claim the spot of the day prize! It stood with its bill pointing skywards in full view. Memorable!!
We returned to Dungeness point and had lunch at the famous Dungeness Bird Observatory and relaxed - chatting and browsing some of the literature there. (See the Observatory’s website if you would like to become a friend).
Our afternoon visit to the main RSPB reserve was fairly quiet although we did see another Black Tern. However,the nearby sandpit though was alive with shorebirds that included 6 Pied Avocets, 28 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 19 Northern Lapwings, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Common Sandpipers, 10 Green Sandpipers, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 18 Common Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 6 Red Knots, 1 Sanderling, 1 Ruff, 47 Dunlin and 2 Little Stints. Really exciting to see such a fine collection of waders. A Hobby was constantly flying around the pit and landings well which gave us superb scope views.We had a great turnout today and I always find it especially nice that some of the members who attended were also on my first ever led KOS trip all those years ago and have been with us ever since.’
Outings are open to KOS Members only. Contact me for details of how to participate with us.’
Thanks to Yuti Chernajovsky for the Garganey image