Here is the latest newsletter from Dungeness:
Reserve News Updates
We’ve had some seabird successes on our islands this year. A total of 75 common tern nests have been recorded across the reserve with approximately 40 fledglings seen so far. This is great considering we had 72 nests in total at the end of last season and there is still time for our terns to have second broods too. Lapwing fledglings have been spotted in our Hayfields. We’ve seen little ringed plover chicks, oystercatcher chicks, common and herring gull chicks and plenty of ducklings and goslings too.
Coot feeding almost grown chick at Dungeness © Dave Clarke
Bee wolves have been sighted a lot around the reserve recently. These are one of the largest solitary wasps in the UK which predate on bees, particularly favouring the domestic honey bee. They are found in sand dunes and lowland areas and are slowly increasing in numbers in southern England. Dungeness boasts an array of unique and interesting insects and this is the best time of year to see them. We’ve also had three adult Sussex Emerald moths caught in our traps this month. This moth species doesn’t really live up to its name any more as now it only breeds on Dungeness (Kent!) but it is a really beautiful green colour. We manage certain parts of our reserve to maintain a stronghold for this endangered species.
Bee Wolf with prey at Dungeness ©Dave Clarke
This month, as well as plenty of bird, bee and moth monitoring, the team have been undertaking a whole host of different tasks. Preparing our Discovery Area for the Big Wild Sleepout is one of them, making sure areas for tents are as good as possible and the paths are accessible. Our Sleepout is now fully booked! Unfortunately we have had to close our boardwalk at the ARC due to extreme rot. We have been removing parts of the boardwalk which we hope to replace again in the future.
We’ve hosted six school groups this summer which is great. We had outstanding feedback from the visits and all the children were so engaged with the wildlife here on the reserve. Connecting children to nature is an important part of what we do. We are educating the next generation about how important wildlife is for us and the planet and hopefully inspire them to look after it too.
Volunteering opportunity!
Want to try something different? Then volunteer for RSPB Dungeness! We need people who are willing to help our reserve team of staff and volunteers with important conservation tasks around the reserve. Get up close to nature and see a different side of our spectacular reserve by undertaking a variety of habitat management and site maintenance tasks. Opportunities available every Tuesday or Thursday, 9am-4pm. Please contact the reserve on 01797 320588 and ask for Craig or craig.edwards@rspb.org.uk
If you don’t fancy all that manual work, the visitor centre is also looking for friendly and chatty volunteers to help manage our counter and reception area. Volunteer for a full day or half a day based on a rota that is flexible around you. If you love talking to people, particularly about wildlife and are happy to serve people in our shop then please call the reserve on 01797 320588 and ask for Michelle or email michelle.clifford@rspb.org.uk
Education programme
We are taking school visit bookings for this year’s summer and autumn terms. We will be exploring the reserves pond habitats, seeing what minibeasts live under the water and also trying to identify birds that live on top of it! For more information, please contact Louise on 01797 320588, email louise.kelly@rspb.org.uk or visit: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-teachers/school-trips/
Events
There is plenty to see and do at RSPB Dungeness! See below or check out our website www.rspb.org.uk/dungeness for more details about all our events.
To book contact 01797 320 588 or dungeness@rspb.org.uk
Booking is essential for all events apart from free ‘drop-in’ events.
RSPB members benefit from 20% discount on event prices where stated.
Children attending events must be accompanied by adults.
Summer Wildlife Walk
Sunday 4th August
10.30am – 12.30pm
Come and see which birds and insects visit Dungeness in the summer time. Summer is perfect to see swallows, swifts and hobbies as well as bees, butterflies and dragonflies. Led by a friendly guide with expert knowledge on all things wild!
Adult £7. Child £3.50.
20% discount for RSPB members & Wildlife Explorers.
Wild Families – Ponds, pellets and potions
Thursday 8th & 22nd August, 11am – 3pm
Do you want to learn more about the creepy crawlies that hide under the surface of a pond? Want to learn what our resident barn owls like to eat for dinner? How about creating potions and paint out of plants and petals? Then join us on one of these events to be amazed and excited by what we can find and create on our nature reserve. Be prepared to get mucky! Please wear sensible clothing and bring a packed lunch with you.
Child £8. Accompanying adult £2.
20% discount for Wildlife Explorers.
Wild Families – Bushcraft
Sunday 11th August, 11am – 3pm
Ever wondered what it is like to live in the wild? Come and experience it for a day learning fun and useful skills such as den building, tying knots, the use of signalling and messages to communicate, purifying water and much more! This activity is more suitable for children aged 6+. Please wear sensible clothing and bring a packed lunch.
Child £8. Accompanying adult £2.
20% discount for Wildlife Explorers.
Wild Families – Damsels and Dragons
Wednesday 14th August, 11am – 3pm
Do you want to learn more about dragonflies and damselflies at Dungeness? How to identify them, find out about how and where they live? If the answers is yes, join us on an exploration around our reserve to search for dragonflies and damselflies in their own habitat. Afterwards, we will be making our own
dragonflies using found items from the reserve and our imaginations! Please wear sensible clothing and bring a packed lunch with you.
Child £8. Accompanying adults £2.
20% discount for Wildlife Explorers.
Dungeness in the Dark
Friday 16th August, 8pm – 10pm
Ashford Astronomical Society are joining us on the
reserve to tell us about the wonders of the night sky. This is the time of year to watch the Perseid meteor shower, so if the night is clear we hope to see some comets racing across the sky! Use telescopes to spot constellations and planets whilst enjoying a
marshmallow-topped hot chocolate. Suitable for all ages and all levels of knowledge and enthusiasm!
Adult £10. Child £5. 20% discount for RSPB
members and Wildlife Explorers. Please pay in
advance for this event.
Borrow a Birdwatcher
Friday 23rd August
10.30am – 1.30pm
Giving Nature a Home in the Wildlife Garden
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August, 11am – 2pm
Drop-in to our wildlife garden over the late summer bank holiday weekend to explore ideas for giving nature a home in your own back garden. We will be looking at different ways to encourage wildlife into your garden including
creating flower bombs and mini-ponds, hedgehog houses and toad abodes. Plus tips and suggestions on how to prepare your gardens for autumn and look after our wildlife through the cold winter months.
Free event, donations appreciated.
Wild Families – Brilliant Bees and Beautiful
Butterflies
Wednesday 28th August, 11am – 3pm
Do you want to learn more about our wonderful bees and butterflies? Want to learn how to identify them, find out about how they live and how important they are? If the answers yes, join us on an exploration around our
wildflower meadows to see how many bees and
butterflies we can find buzzing around the flowers. Then after lunch, learn how to feed a butterfly and give bees a home. Please wear sensible clothing and bring a packed lunch with you.
Child £8. Accompanying adults £2.
20% discount for Wildlife Explorers.
Birdwatching for Beginners
Sunday 8th September
2pm – 4pm
Love birds but want to know more about them? Then come on a summer-time walk around our reserve with a friendly guide who will help you identify the birds and their calls along the way. And don’t worry if you don’t own a pair of binoculars, they are available to hire from the visitor centre for a small fee.
Adult £7. Child £3.50.
20% discount for RSPB members & Wildlife Explorers.
Sound Mirror Open Day
RSPB Dungeness welcomes you to visit these unique historic monuments. Come and see what this fantastic place has to offer and get up close to our Sound Mirrors! Spend the day surrounded in nature and history. Have a wander around the site and talk to our staff and volunteers about what we are doing to give nature a home here.
Saturday 31st August, 10am-3pm
Talks held on the hour between 11am and 2pm on both dates.
Prices:
£5 adult, £2.50 child, £3.50 student. Family rates available. Free entry for RSPB members. Dogs on leads welcome. Just turn up, no booking in advance required. Cash only payments to be made at the Sound Mirrors on the day.