15th Jan

Another increase in auks numbers offshore and with a much higher proportion of Razorbills than of late. Three Great Skuas flew east and two Velvet Scoters flew west. There were also decent numbers of gulls feeding at the Patch with two first-winter Caspian Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull of note.
Two Chiffchaffs were found in the trapping area.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

14th Jan

A first-winter Caspian Gull and a Mediterranean Gull were feeding at the Patch and the male Black Redstart was on the wall behind the seawatch hide this morning. A Woodcock, a Firecrest and five Long-tailed Tits were seen in the trapping area.

13th Jan

A Dartford Warbler was found near the New Lighthouse, a Black Redstart was on the Power Station wall and three Long-tailed Tits were seen at the Long Pits.
Large numbers of birds continue to feed offshore with 300 Gannets and two Great Skuas in attendance and around 2000 Guillemots this morning and also a second-winter Caspian Gull at the Patch.. 

A Grey Seal was also seen.

12th Jan

A fairly quiet day in very dull conditions. Four Great Skuas heading east and a Velvet Scoter heading west were about the best the sea had to offer and just five Long-tailed Tits of interest on the land.

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

11th Jan

A first-winter Caspian Gull and an odd-looking Great Black-backed Gull were seen at the fishing boats and Guillemots continue to feed offshore in good numbers. There were also at least 90 Kittiwakes and two Great Skuas seen. Cormorants continue to be seen in huge numbers with over 3,500 seen today.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   first-winter   Dungeness   11th January 2019 
 (Image by James Dickerson)

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus   Dungeness   11th January 2019
An odd-looking individual.

A search of the Trapping Area and Long Pits was fairly unproductive but a party of five Long-tailed Tits were found.

Two Grey Seals were also seen.

10th Jan

A Firecrest and five Redwings were of note in the trapping area whilst Guillemots continue to feed offshore in good numbers. A count of the Cormorants going into roost across the area this morning produced a new record total for the Observatory of 7550 birds. 

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

9th Jan

Very little change on recent days. Still lots of Guillemots offshore and good numbers of Red-throated Divers and Gannets present. A total of 3,600 Cormorants were counted coming into the roost on Burrowes as the tide rose.
A Brambling was seen at the feeding station in the trapping area and a Firecrest and a Chiffchaff were also seen.

A Brown Hare was seen in the Desert and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

8th Jan

More of the same with 5000 each of Cormorants and Guillemots and 190 Red-throated Divers this morning and a Firecrest in the trapping area.

7th Jan

The sea continues to provide most of the interest in a variety of forms today. The outstanding count this morning was of 7,305 Cormorants flying inland from Lade Bay and into the roost on Burrowes Pit. Guillemots were still present in large numbers but other seabird numbers were well down on recent mornings.
Whilst watching at the fishing boats a Great Black-backed Gull managed to fly into an anglers fishing line. It was quickly caught, disentangled and brought back to the Observatory where it was ringed and released none the worse for its minor ordeal.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus   first-winter   Dungeness   7th January 2019

Two Firecrests and two Stonechats were the best of the birds seen in the trapping area.

Having ended 2018 with a new moth species for the Observatory it was a surprise to catch another Spring Usher overnight

For the second time in the last week a group of immigrants made landfall at the Point. On this occasion they left their brand new boat and engine high and dry before they headed for Lydd where they were later apprehended by Immigration and Police Officers.

Immigrant's boat and officials looking on.

6th Jan

Several thousand Guillemots were feeding offshore again but there are now very few Razorbills. Red-throated Divers and Gannets continue to be feed in good numbers and at least three Great Skuas were also seen. A Marsh Harrier came in from the south.
Three Firecrests were seen in the trapping area.

A Grey Seal and a Porpoise were feeding offshore.