The RSPB Dungeness nature reserve has recorded Avocets and Sand Martins nest building for the first time in over 20 years, with Little Terns recorded attempting to nest for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Staff were encouraged in 2024 by a pair of Avocets nesting at the reserve for the first time in over 20 years. Avocets are a distinctively patterned black and white wading bird with a long up-curved beak, and are the emblem of the RSPB. It symbolises the bird protection movement in the UK more than any other species. Its return in the 1940s and subsequent increase in numbers represents one of the most successful conservation and protection projects.
Craig Edwards, RSPB Dungeness Site Manager said: “The appearance of nesting Avocets at RSPB Dungeness reserve once again in 2025 is a hugely encouraging sign, particularly as they are making use of new islands created by the reserve in 2022. This island creation was part of a wider island-focused scheme beginning in 2017, which saw island levels raised to tackle the increasing water levels from climate change. Island creation work at Dungeness has been funded by Natural England as part of the Species Survival Fund, and also Affinity Water.”
Little Terns have also made use of these islands, with a pair attempting to nest at RSPB Dungeness for the first time in nearly 50 years. Whilst their nesting was ultimately unsuccessful, it stands as an encouraging sign that the island-creation work undertaken at the reserve will continue to benefit a wide variety of species.
As their name suggests, Little Terns are the UK’s smallest species of tern, weighing in at just 40 to 60g – that’s about the same as a tennis ball. Instead of building their nests in trees or bushes like many birds, Little Terns nest on beaches and lay their perfectly camouflaged eggs directly on the sand or shingle. While blending in with the beach helps hide the eggs and chicks from predators, it also means they’re vulnerable to being trampled by unsuspecting beachgoers. The island-creation at RSPB Dungeness therefore may prove important to Little Terns nesting in this area of Kent, protecting them from both human and predator disturbance through both the natural barrier of water surrounding the island and also via predator exclusion fences that have been installed around the islands, discouraging mammals that may predate on the eggs from accessing them.
Staff at the reserve have also recorded Sand Martins nesting at RSPB Dungeness for the first time in at least 30 years, making use of the nesting wall installed at the reserve a number of years ago.
Sand Martins are the smallest European hirundines (the collective name for martins and swallows). They have dark brown upper parts and dark under wings, contrasting with pale under parts divided by a distinctive dark chest stripe. They are agile fliers, feeding mainly over water, and migrate to the UK from Africa to breed. Sand Martins dig burrows to nest, usually making their nest holes in steep sandy cliffs, riverbanks, or gravel pits.
Find out more about RSPB Dungeness here.
Image Credits: Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) , Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) , Our Media (rspb-images.com) .