18th June

A Curlew, 31 Swifts and a Grey Wagtail flew over the Observatory this morning and five Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.

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

A Red-eared Terrapin was seen in the Southern Long Pit.

The moth traps were a bit better than of late with a Rest Harrow and a Rosy Wave of note. In addition, another 61 Rest Harrow moths were seen at the three locations around the Long Pits. 

A Marbled White in the Moat was the first of the year.

17th June

A Buzzard, 40 Swifts and a Grey Wagtail flew over.  Five Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore.

A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

A new colony of Rest Harrow moths was found inside the Power Station perimeter but the moth traps themselves were disappointing.

16th June

Two Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at the Patch this morning and a Mediterranean Gull flew west this evening. Quiet on the land except for 60 Swifts flying over the Observatory this morning.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

A White Colon was the highlight of another small overnight catch of moths and a Variable Damselfly was seen at the Long Pits.

The long-staying Serin was seen at Littlestone again.

15th June

A Mediterranean Gull was seen offshore and 72 Swifts and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the Observatory.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

The Serin was still singing from its chosen trees at Littlestone.

14th June

Two Manx Shearwaters this morning were about the only birds of note.

A single Porpoise was feeding offshore.

The first Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria of the year was seen in the trapping area.

Volucella zonaria   Dungeness   14th June 2019

13th June

Very little in the way of new migrants but a Cuckoo was a nice capture in the Heligoland Trap in the moat and an Arctic Skua flew east offshore.

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus   Dungeness   13th June 2019

Checking of the moth traps last night showed that there were very few moths on the wing but whilst outside I witnessed as a brief but spectacular display of a rare Noctilucent Clouds.

Noctilucent Clouds at 2300hrs  last night   Dungeness   13th June 2019

12th June

The highlight of the day was a Honey Buzzard which came in and passed over the trapping area before heading off west and over to the RSPB Reserve at around 0935hrs. Other migrants were virtually non-existent.

Late news from yesterday concerns two Great White Egrets which flew out to sea during the morning.

The Serin was still singing in its usual place at Littlestone.

11th June

A much nicer day but still not a great deal to be seen. A Corn Bunting was seen on the power station wall and two Tufted Duck flew west offshore.

The first Small Skippers of the year were seen and two Variable Damselflies were found at the Long Pits.

The Serin was still showing well at Littlestone.

10th June

A thoroughly miserable day of almost constant rain which severely limited any coverage but allowed plenty of administration to be done.

The Serin was still showing itself at Littlestone.

9th June

Another fairly uninteresting day on the bird front with three Mediterranean Gulls offshore and a lone Willow Warbler at the Long Pits. There were lots of young Stonechats and at least two family parties of Black Redstarts in the area.

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.

The first Rest Harrow moths are starting to appear.

Rest Harrow Aplasta onoraria   Dungeness   9th June 2019