I don’t recall Bewick’s Swans at Dungeness last year so was very keen to see them when I read on a Blog that upwards of 14 had turned up in the last week.

Being my only day spare this week and fearing they may move on I headed down there quite early. Regret to say when I arrived it was thick fog and I couldn’t see further than 50 meters or so.
Not being able to wait until late afternoon when they would fly in to roost, I headed off to the Old Lighthouse and around the main Reserve circuit. Each step seemed to clear the fog.

   

By the time I had to head home I thought I’d just give the ARC Hide one quick glance to see if they arrive early, low and behold, two did at 12.30pm!
I have to say, what majestic creatures they are. At first they were pretty distant, then slowly but surely they swam over to the small Island about 100 meters away and I managed a few shots.
It’s interesting I saw these on the day ‘The Swan Lady’ landed her Microlight at Dover after following their passage from Siberia. You can read about her journey here

   
Left; Shelduck – Right; Pied Wagtail on Power Station wall

One interesting thing around the Old Lighthouse was seeing quite a number of Bumble Bees still present, especially as the last few days hasn’t seen a temperature above 5 degrees and well below freezing at night.

Apparently a Peacock Butterfly and Red Admiral have been spotted around in the last few days. Is this worrying? I know these creatures can often appear in December, the concern is when it’s every year. Times and climate are changing!