It’s funny how one bird can completely change the way a day is going. After seeing several reports of interesting species at and close to Dungeness I set off to enjoy a sunny day with several species as targets. The first of these was Spoonbill which had been reported on several days at Scotney Gravel Pits. However, despite much searching and waiting a failed to find these birds, instead I spent the time photographing the feral Barnacle Goose flock. Next it was off the Dungeness RSPB reserve where a number of species were possible but despite seeing the Wood Sandpiper which had been present on my previous visit to Dungeness last week, there was very little to see, just Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and a few Golden Plover.

The next birds to miss were a flock of Black Terns that had been reported near the nuclear power plant but had departed only to leave Herring Gulls and a single juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and I also could not find any Black Redstarts which are resident at the power station. At this point I was setting a record for failing to see any target birds but as I was sitting eating my sandwich, parked close to the beach screeching Herring Gulls alerted me to a bird that was to totally turn around my run of poor luck.Rather than the normal calling of gulls I heard a very aggravated screeching which made me immediately think that they may be mobbing a raptor but when I looked at the commotion I could see straight away that the object of the mobbing gulls was a Black Stork! The Stork was attempting to circle and gain height but the constant attention from Herring Gulls forced it closer to me; very nice, I was able to get great views and get some photos.

Over the last week there have been a number of reports of Black Storks in northern England, with at least three birds involved in the sightings but this one turning up at Dungeness was a complete surprise to me; a real rarity. As I watched it evade gulls the Black Stork flew towards the power station and beyond, along the coast – just a few minutes flight from Rye Harbour where no doubt there would be other birders. Unfortunately, I did not have any internet access so could not report the sighting but another couple of birders walked along and they confirmed that they had already reported the bird.

After this excitement I had time to look out to sea where there were several Sandwich and Common Terns fishing and a single Common Scoter bobbing around on the sea.

My last stop of the day was back at the RSPB reserve where I walked around to Denge Marsh to see two Great Egrets, both of which were very kindly sitting up in some low reeds preening, so that everyone could get a good view. Previously a rarity Great Egret seems to be a permanent fixture at Dungeness these days and I have seen at least one on every visit I have made there in the last 5 years, which a maximum number of eight birds a few years ago.

Thanks to Black Stork a fairly unsuccessful day suddenly became a very memorable day of birding.