Dungeness Bird Observatory

21st Jan

Two Black Redstarts and two Firecrests were seen on the land along with a Jack Snipe and six Snipe in the pools just north of the trapping area. Very quiet offshore today with just a Mediterranean Gull and a few hundred auks of interest.

Three Porpoise were feeding offshore.

20th Jan

A nice day with frost/ice at first. There was very little movement offshore there at least 300 Razorbills and 2000 Guillemots feeding in the Bay and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull flew west.

Various checks of the land were quite productive with five Snipe, at least seven Long-tailed Tits, two Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests and two Black Redstarts of note. There was also a noticeable increase in pigeon numbers with at least 44 in the area. A party of 14 Bewick's Swans also flew over the area in the late afternoon.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

19th Jan

Very quiet offshore this morning except for auks with 705 auks passing east in 90 minutes. A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull came to bread at the fishing boats and a Little Egret which dropped into the puddles briefly was a surprise.
Seven Long-tailed Tits were coming to the feeders in the trapping area.

18th Jan

The morning seawatch produced 627 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull and 840 auks in 90 minutes but it was otherwise very quiet.

17th Jan

Not a great deal to report today except for a significant improvement in the weather. The morning seawatch produced 571 Kittiwakes and over 1200 auks west in 90 minutes. An adult Little Gull and first- and second-winter Yellow-legged Gulls were seen in the afternoon at the fishing boats.

Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

16th Jan

Another breezy day but dry for a change. Plenty of birds offshore again and including 11 Fulmars, 744 Kittiwakes, 20 Mediterranean Gulls, over 1500 Guillemots and 820 auk species.
At least one Firecrest was seen in the trapping area, five Long-tailed Tits visited the feeders and a Snipe was flushed.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

15th Jan

Violent winds overnight and a dark and wet morning restricted most of the coverage to the sea where three Fulmars, two Velvet Scoters, 52 Common Scoters, 340 Kittiwakes, two Mediterranean Gulls and 43 Razorbills of note.
A Firecrest was seen in the Moat.

14th Jan

Yet another stormy day with high winds and lots of rain making seawatching and paperwork the only viable options. Seawatching during the morning produced four Velvet Scoters, 272 Common Scoters, 182 Red-throated Divers, seven Fulmars, 389 Gannets, 269 Kittiwakes, 1178 Guillemots and 128 Razorbills.

13th Jan

Lots of birds offshore again and an Eider, seven Fulmars and 400 Kittiwakes of note. Two Firecrests were seen on the land.

12th Jan

A very windy morning produced plenty of birds feeding offshore but not a great deal of through passage. Good numbers of gulls were roosting on the beach at times and included an adult Mediterranean Gull, a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull and a third-winter Caspian Gull.