15th Oct

Similar conditions to yesterday saw more birds passing overhead and grounded in the bushes. Of note were a Yellow-browed Warbler, a massive count of 3420 Chaffinches, 13 Crossbills and a Yellowhammer while other birds in good numbers included 119 Stock Doves, two Kingfishers, 15 Jackdaw, 15 Skylarks, 103 Swallows, 50 Chiffchaffs, 30 Goldcrests, 325 Starlings in, 45 Blackbirds, 28 Fieldfares, 537 Redwings, 25 Song Thrushes, two Rock Pipits, eight Bramblings, 19 Redpolls, 300 Goldfinches and 125 Siskins. The sea was a bit more productive with 21 Wigeon, a Red-breasted Merganser, a high count of 348 Mediterranean Gulls, three Caspian Gulls (a first-winter and two second-winters,) two Yellow-legged Gulls and 67 Sandwich Terns.

A Swedish-ringed Goldcrest was also a notable capture in the Trapping Area.

Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

14th Oct

A light NE breeze, heavy cloud and light rain resulted in a big arrival of birds in the bushes and passing overhead with totals for many species being a combination of both. Highlights were two Jack Snipes, a Yellow-browed Warbler in the Trapping Area, a Dartford Warbler, six Firecrests, 18 Brambling, 12 Crossbills and a group of three Twite which landed briefly at the Point. Numbers were provided by 49 Stock Doves, 45 Skylarks, 154 Swallows, 60 Chiffchaffs, 70 Goldcrests, 1616 Starlings in, 95 Blackbirds, 850 Redwings, 43 Song Thrushes, 68 Robins, 370 Chaffinches, 960 Goldfinches and 54 Siskins. Other bits and pieces included a late Whitethroat, a Fieldfare, three Mistle Thrushes, a Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail, four Rock Pipits and nine Reed Buntings. The sea was fairly quiet but ten Shelducks, three Gadwall, 89 Wigeon, eight Pintail, four Teal, a Velvet Scoter, 26 Mediterranean Gulls and a Great Skua were seen.

Two Porpoise and singles of Common and Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.

13th Oct

Calm with drizzle/light rain throughout the morning resulted in a big arrival of birds in the bushes and overhead. A Woodcock, four Snipe, 60 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, a Dartford Warbler, seven Firecrests, 42 Goldcrests, nine Ring Ouzels, 40 Blackbirds, 13 Fieldfares, 415 Redwings, 130 Song Thrushes, five Mistle Thrushes, 85 Robins and a Pied Flycatcher were seen in the bushes and the Yellow-browed Warbler was still present. Birds moving overhead included 49 Skylarks, 64 Swallows, 314 Starlings, seven Grey Wagtails, 120 "alba" Wagtails, 100 Meadow Pipits, 11 Rock Pipits, 155 Chaffinches, 46 Bramblings, ten Redpolls, another 32 Crossbills, 700 Goldfinches, 50 Siskins and 12 Reed Buntings.

Two Porpoise and singles of Common and Grey Seal were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

12th Oct

A quieter day in the bushes but another big movement overhead with a staggering 231 Crossbills of particular note and breaking the previous day record total set only a few days ago. A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in the Trapping Area and a flyover Serin were also of note along with a Little Egret, another two Glossy Ibis, two Short-eared Owls, a Barn Owl in the Trapping Area, a Woodlark, a Rock Pipit, two Bramblings and numbers provided by 35 Skylarks, 47 Swallows, 203 Starlings, three Grey Wagtails, 40 "alba" Wagtails, 400 Meadow Pipits, 216 Chaffinches, eight Redpolls, 1608 Goldfinches and 420 Siskins. Of note among the grounded migrants were 68 Chiffchaffs, eight Blackcaps, three Firecrests, 40 Goldcrests, ten Redwings and seven Song Thrushes. Seawatching was also productive with 1746 Brent Geese, three Shelduck, 164 Wigeon, a Pintail, 17 Teal, nine Mediterranean Gulls, a first-winter Caspian Gull, a Great Skua and two Arctic Skuas.

Five Porpoise, three Grey Seals and a group of Tuna were seen offshore.

The moth traps produced Radford's Flame Shoulder and two Palpita vitrealis.

11th Oct

A calm day again with large number of grounded migrants and passage overhead. Grounded migrants included 170 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, an "Eastern" type Lesser Whitethroat, two Dartford Warblers, 75 Goldcrests, 100 Redwings, 50 Song Thrushes and 90 Robins. Two Short-eared Owls were seen in the broom near the Sanctuary and a Hobby was seen in the Trapping Area. Passage overhead was dominated by finches again with another high count of 51 Crossbills of particular note as well as 1200 Chaffinches, three Bramblings, 25 Redpolls, 365 Goldfinches, 200 Siskins and 13 Reed Buntings. Other birds passing overhead included 18 Skylarks, 28 Sand Martins, 90 House Martins, 150 Meadow Pipits and six Rock Pipits. There was some movement offshore with 660 Brent Geese, 13 Wigeon, 32 Pintail, 83 Little Gulls, ten Mediterranean Gulls, two Arctic Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater.

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.

The moth traps were very productive with a Vestal, a Red-green Carpet, a Scarce Bordered Straw, a Radford's Flame Shoulder, a Clancy's Rustic, three Pearly Underwings, seven Pinion-streaked Snouts and five Palpita vitrealis.

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10th Oct

Another calm day produced more overhead passage with a new day record count of 80 Crossbills along with two Little Egrets, a Fieldfare, three Grey Wagtails, a Rock Pipit, 90 Redpolls, 115 Goldfinches, 90 Siskins and seven Reed Buntings. Grounded migrants included a Snipe, 50 Chiffchaffs, nine Blackcaps, a Dartford Warbler, three Firecrests, 15 Goldcrests, 30 Redwings and 20 Song Thrushes. There was also a bit of movement offshore including 515 Brent Geese, a flock of nine Eider, 44 Common Scoters, 36 Little Gulls, 25 Mediterranean Gulls, two first-year Caspian Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls, four Arctic Skuas and 16 Red-throated Divers.

An excellent total of 38 Porpoises were feeding offshore along with seven Grey Seals and five Common Seals.

A Common Toad was seen in the Trapping Area.

A few Tree Crickets were still singing in the Trapping Area.

9th Oct

A bright and sunny morning with a light NW breeze saw more visible migration and a small arrival of grounded migrants. Of note in the bushes were 40 Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, four Dartford Warblers, a Firecrest, 23 Goldcrests, 14 Redwing, 15 Song Thrushes and a Redstart while birds passing overhead included 23 Skylarks, 28 Swallows, a Grey Wagtail, a Rock Pipit, 240 Chaffinches, four Bramblings, seven Crossbills, 68 Goldfinches, 57 Siskins and 35 Reed Buntings. The sea was very quiet with just 15 Mediterranean Gulls of note.

Nine Porpoises were seen offshore and two Brown Hares were seen on the land.

A Dewick's Plusia moth and five Clouded Yellows were seen during the day.

At least four Red-veined Darters were seen amongst the broom at the Point and 11 Mediterranean Stick-insects were found around the Observatory garden.

Red-veined Darters Sympetrum fonscolombii   Dungeness   9th October 2025

8th Oct

Light westerly winds and overcast skies produced another decent arrival of birds on the land and passing overhead. The highlights on the land were two Merlins, 135 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps, two Dartford Warblers, 21 Goldcrests, a Ring Ouzel, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart, two Wheatears and five Tree Sparrows. Of note among the birds passing overhead included 150 Swallows, 139 House Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, four Grey Wagtails, 265 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit, two Rock Pipits, 40 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, six Redpolls, ten Crossbills, 112 Siskins and 13 Reed Buntings. The sea was quiet with just 17 Brent Geese, nine Shelducks, a Grey Plover, 25 Mediterranean Gulls and 26 Razorbills of interest and two Purple Sandpipers were feeding along the strandline.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima   Dungeness   8th October 2025

Eight Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

A Common Toad was heard calling in the back garden.

The highlight from the moth trap was our third record of the rare migrant pyralid Hellula undalis. Two Clouded Yellows were also seen.

Old World Webworm Hellula undalis   Dungeness   8th October 2025

A male Polistes biglumis was found in the Observatory garden. An example of  this rare wasp was added to the area list in the spring so this possibly suggests that it may have bred this year. 

Polistes biglumis   Dungeness   8th October 2025

A few shieldbugs were found and included a Box Bug. Two Mediterranean Stick-insects were found in the garden.

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus   Dungeness   8th October 2025

7th Oct

There was another very decent arrival of migrants on the land in calm conditions with 160 Chiffchaffs, 34 Blackcaps, two Ring Ouzels and two Redwings while birds passing overhead included 15 Skylarks, 270 Swallows, two Grey Wagtails, 515 Meadow Pipits, three Rock Pipits, three Bramblings, 12 Redpolls, 640 Siskins and ten Reed Buntings. Very quiet offshore with just ten Mediterranean Gulls, a Caspian Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull of interest.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   first-winter   Dungeness   7th October 2025

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.

6th Oct

A lighter westerly wind today saw an increase in grounded migrants and passage overhead. Of note on the land were 100 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, a Firecrest, 25 Goldcrests, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart and five Tree Sparrows while a party of four Glossy Ibis (continuing a remarkable series of sightings of this species), 30 Skylarks, 205 Swallows, 45 House Martins, a Grey Wagtail, 850 Meadow Pipits, 205 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, 35 Redpolls, 28 Crossbills, 280 Siskins and 10 Reed Buntings passed overhead. Seawatching produced 14 Brent Geese, four Shelduck, four Grey Plover, 28 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 45 Mediterranean Gulls, two Caspian Gulls, 60 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern and four Black Terns.

Elsewhere, the American Golden Plover was at Jury's Gap and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Scotney again.