6th Mar

A day of light, variable winds and cloud backed by some light showers this afternoon. Not exactly seawatching weather but a small amount of passage was noted offshore with 15 Brent Geese, 20 Pintails, one Fulmar and 10 Sandwich Terns being about best. The land was slightly more productive, with a westbound first-winter Eurasian White-fronted Goose, the first two Collared Doves of the year, a Snipe, a Merlin, eight Chiffchaffs, 28 Goldcrests, four Firecrests, two Song Thrushes, three Redwings, 42 Stonechats, four Black Redstarts, 56 Chaffinches, a Brambling and two Siskins. 

The light winds meant the sea was calm but only six Porpoise and two Grey Seals were seen. The moth trap held 30 moths last night including Waved Umber and Dotted Border. 

Elsewhere, the two Whooper Swans and 15 Cattle Egrets were still at Cockles Bridge. 

5th Mar

A disappointing morning seawatch considering the south-easterly breeze. The only birds of note include 104 Brent Geese, four Gadwall, 21 Sandwich Terns, eight Mediterranean Gulls, 107 Red-throated Divers and three Fulmars. On the land, just a Woodcock, a Redwing, a Black Redstart, 10 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and a Chiffchaff. 

Mammals seen offshore were three Porpoise, a Grey Seal and a Common Seal. 

Black Redstart    Phoenicurus ochruros    Dungeness

4th Mar

A dreary day with a colder wind from the east bringing in heavy fog throughout. A few birds were still noted on the land however with a Golden Plover, two Woodcocks, four Chiffchaffs, 22 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and four Redwings. 

3rd Mar

A very quiet seawatch with just 28 Brent Geese, four Shelducks, a Pintail and two Mediterranean Gulls. There was a bit of passage overland however with 20 Shovelers, two Greylag Geese, a Golden Plover and 700 Starlings heading east and out over the sea. There was a decent arrival of grounded migrants with a good total of three Woodcocks recorded as well as two Snipes, six Chiffchaffs, 16 Goldcrests, four Firecrests, two Song Thrushes, a Redwing, 26 Stonechats and 52 Linnets. 

Offshore, 26 Porpoises, two Grey Seals and a Common Seal were present. 

Elsewhere, the Whooper Swans were still present with three at Scotney and two at Cockles Bridge. On the reserve, two Eurasian White-fronted Geese, a Water Pipit and three Firecrests were present. 

Peacock Butterfly    Aglais io    Dungeness

Starlings flying east out to sea    Sturnus vulgaris    Dungeness

2nd Mar

An excellent morning seawatch with most of the passage coming between 0900-1100hrs. The highlights being 169 Brent Geese, 158 Shoveler, two Gadwalls, a superb 403 Pintails, 10 Teals, a Eider, two Red-breasted Mergansers, two Sandwich Terns, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and six Fulmars all heading east. It was quiet on the land with the only notables being a Song Thrush, a Redwing, the first Black Redstart since the 5th January and 15 Stonechats. 

A few mammals were recorded including nine Porpoises, a Grey Seals and two Hares. On the lepidoptera front, the first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year as well as a Peacock. 

Elsewhere, the RSPB reserve had two Eurasian White-fronted Geese, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Firecrests. The regular two Whooper Swans and 17 Cattle Egrets were at Cockles Bridge. 

A flock of Pintails (Anas acuta) taken by Martin Casemore

A view of the Barry Banson hide this morning taken by Owen Leyshon

1st Mar

A few birds passing on the sea being the only birds of note with 28 Brent Geese (west), five Mediterranean Gulls and three Fulmars. 

28th Feb

 A quieter day with little to be seen. The best being 11 Chaffinches over the Trapping Area. 

27th Feb

A blustery, murky and horrible day with winds originating mostly from SSW resulting in seawatching giving any worthwhile action. Notable birds included 198 Brent Geese, seven Tufted Ducks, two Velvet Scoters, four Mediterranean Gulls, 209 Red-throated Divers and 18 Fulmars. The only noted passerine movement was an increase in Linnets with 13 around the Power Station. 

Elsewhere, the flock of 17 Cattle Egrets were still at Cockles Bridge. 

26th Feb

A quieter day than of late but still spring passage was plodding on. A day of strengthening winds from the south-west meant the sea was slower but the best being 472 Brent Geese, three Sandwich Terns, six Mediterranean Gulls and two Fulmars - all of which eastbound. A small bit of movement on the land included the first Merlin since the start of the year, four Snipes, three Redwings, 29 Chaffinches, a Siskin and eight Linnets. 

Mammals included two Porpoise and a Grey Seal, while the moth traps held six Hebrew Characters. 

Elsewhere, a Spoonbill flew over the RSPB Reserve where there was also two Eurasian White-fronted Geese. The pair of Whooper Swans were still present at Cockles Bridge, as were 15 Cattle Egrets. 

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus at Cockles Bridge (taken by Martin Casemore)

25th Feb

A lovely, spring like day with cloudless skies and light winds originating from the south. The sea was the main focus of the day producing plenty of eastbound passage, focused mostly on the morning watch. The highlights from eight and a half hours of watching include 261 Brent Geese, three Greylag Geese, 86 Shoveler, three Gadwall, another excellent total of 142 Pintail, a drake Eider, four Velvet Scoters, 131 Common Scoters, five Curlews, 10 Little Gulls, 403 Black-headed Gulls, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 345 Common Gulls, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 131 Red-throated Divers and five Fulmars. There was a definite decrease in grounded migrants with just a Redwing, nine Blackbirds, four Goldcrests, a Firecrest and a Dartford Warbler of note. 

There was a couple of Peacock Butterflies on the wing in the Trapping Area and the Observatory moth trap caught four species of moth of the standard fare for the time of year. At least four Porpoise fed offshore.

Elsewhere, the two Whooper Swans still entertained at Cockles Bridge as did seven Cattle Egrets. 

Brent Geese Branta bernicla

Mixed flock of Pintail Anas acuta and Shoveler Spatula clypeata

    

Common Buzzard    Buteo buteo