Most of the interest was offshore again with a juvenile Pomarine Skua and a Little Auk this morning along with 257 Kittiwakes, three Mediterranean Gulls, ten Sandwich Terns and a Great Skua during the day. Three Merlins, four Chiffchaffs, a Grey Wagtail and a Rock Pipit were about the best on offer on the land.
A Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
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Ongoing Excavation Works.
10th Nov
Seawatching in the fresh easterly breeze produced a surprising total of 86 Sandwich Terns heading into the wind this morning along with a Black-throated Diver, 109 Kiittiwakes and three Great Skuas while a Great Northern Diver flew west in the afternoon.
A briefly seen Long-eared Owl was the best of a handful of birds seen on the land which also included a Marsh Harrier and five Firecrests.
A briefly seen Long-eared Owl was the best of a handful of birds seen on the land which also included a Marsh Harrier and five Firecrests.
9th Nov
Seawatching produced a few interesting bits and pieces with a Long-tailed Duck, a Black-throated Diver, 18 Sandwich Terns and a Great Skua of note.
Very quiet on the land with just 19 Stock Doves, a Firecrest, a few Blackbirds, a Fieldfare and a Brambling of interest.
A Weasel was seen.
A late Painted Lady was also seen.
Very quiet on the land with just 19 Stock Doves, a Firecrest, a few Blackbirds, a Fieldfare and a Brambling of interest.
A Weasel was seen.
A late Painted Lady was also seen.
7th Nov
The morning seawatch produced five Teal, two Mediterranean Gulls, two Sandwich Terns and two Great Skuas and later in the day, a drake Goosander of note while five Swallows, a Firecrest, 20 Redwing and a Rock Pipit were the best on offer on the land.
Two Porpoises and singles of Grey and Common Seal were feeding offshore.
Two Porpoises and singles of Grey and Common Seal were feeding offshore.
6th Nov
There was a trickle of birds overhead and offshore but very little in the way of grounded migrants. Highlights on the land included a Great White Egret (feeding in the flood waters in the Desert), three Marsh Harriers, a Buzzard, a Woodcock, four Merlins, five Bramblings, five Rock Pipits and six Redpolls of note. The Shore Lark was still at the fishing boats.
Four hours of seawatching produced a female Goosander, 327 Kittiwakes, three Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Sandwich Terns, a Great and an Arctic Skua and best of all, a lone Little Auk in the afternoon.
Four hours of seawatching produced a female Goosander, 327 Kittiwakes, three Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Sandwich Terns, a Great and an Arctic Skua and best of all, a lone Little Auk in the afternoon.
5th Nov
After heavy overnight rain the day itself was very pleasant but generally quiet for birds. The Shore Lark continues to show very well around the puddles at the fishing boats and five Firecrests and two Blackcaps were seen in the bushes. Seven Swallows, three Bramblings and a handful of Siskins and Redpolls flew over.
Very quiet offshore other than a steady passage of Razorbills.
The feeding station in the trapping area was stocked with food for the first time this autumn having been abandoned since April. It was interesting to see just how quickly the Great and Blue Tits and Chaffinches discovered the food with five minutes between walking away from the feeders and the first visits by birds.
Very quiet offshore other than a steady passage of Razorbills.
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| Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris Dungeness 2nd (top) and 5th (bottom) November 2019 Quite a contrast in its appearance during the storm conditions of last Saturday and today. |
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| Feeding Station |
4th Nov
A calm and dry first few hours but then extremely wet for most of the rest of the day. There were a few migrants in the bushes with 70 Goldcrests, 11 Firecrests, ten Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, two Bullfinches and the highlight of a Yellow-browed Warbler at the Long Pits. The Shore Lark was still feeding around the puddles at the fishing boats. There was also some visible migration including 28 Skylarks, four Swallows, three Bramblings, 28 Redpolls and 11 Siskins.
A White-speck moth was trapped overnight.
A Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.
A White-speck moth was trapped overnight.
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| White-speck Mythimna unipuncta Dungeness 4th November 2019 |
3rd Nov
A pleasant morning after yesterdays storm with a decent movement of birds both offshore and overhead and a few birds in the bushes.
The morning seawatching produced ten Egyptian Geese, two Velvet Scoters, 39 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Sandwich Terns, two Great Skuas, a juvenile Pomarine Skua and 483 Razorbills of note.
The Shore Lark was still feeding at the fishing boats while the bushes held at least ten Chiffchaffs, 17 Firecrests and 120 Goldcrests. Birds moving overhead included seven Sparrowhawks, a flock of 400 Golden Plovers, 128 Skylarks, four Swallows, 78 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, 16 Siskins and 48 Redpolls.
Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Stoat was seen on the land.
The morning seawatching produced ten Egyptian Geese, two Velvet Scoters, 39 Mediterranean Gulls, 22 Sandwich Terns, two Great Skuas, a juvenile Pomarine Skua and 483 Razorbills of note.
The Shore Lark was still feeding at the fishing boats while the bushes held at least ten Chiffchaffs, 17 Firecrests and 120 Goldcrests. Birds moving overhead included seven Sparrowhawks, a flock of 400 Golden Plovers, 128 Skylarks, four Swallows, 78 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, 16 Siskins and 48 Redpolls.
Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Stoat was seen on the land.
2nd Nov
A dismal day once the weather closed in with storm force winds and prolonged rain. Very little of interest with the Shore Lark and the long-staying colour-ringed Caspian Gull still on the beach for much of the day and a couple of Firecrests in the moat.
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