Re-tern Project

Dungeness RSPB - Next week, commencing Monday 31st July, the long awaited Re-tern project gets underway on Burrowes pit. The plan is to use a mechanical digger to improve the existing islands by raising their height so that even with high winter water levels there will always be a safe refuge for birds to use. New islands will also be created, as depicted on the site plan below, while the sand bar in front of Firth hide will be enlarged.
  The ultimate long-term aim, as the project name suggests, is to encourage breeding terns to re-colonise Dungeness on the newly created islands, along with three new tern rafts that will be put in place next spring; the habitat enhancement will also benefit passage and breeding waders. The work is due to be completed by October.
  Many thanks to the warden, Craig Edwards, for the briefing and supplying the site plan. Further information on the Re-tern project is available in the Visitor Centre.

                                             Working site plan of Burrowes pit

0700hrs -  An early morning saunter along the beach at Dungeness yielded at least six Wheatears, plus several Mipits, Linnets and Skylark. A brief look at the sea from the fishing boats with LG revealed the expected fishing Gannets and terns, plus a distant Balearic Shearwater.