A day of limited coverage but it was clear that after the early morning flurry of finches passing overhead there was very little else in the way of migrants. Three Firecrests were seen in the moat and a Dartford Warbler was seen again near the Railway Station.
Moth trapping produced a Scarce Bordered Straw and our fourth Palpita vitrealis of the year.
As we returned to the Observatory this evening a Badger was seen foraging around the front gardens.
15th Oct
There was an early morning rush of finches
passing over head and at least five Firecrests in the bushes but it was
otherwise very quiet. Birds passing overhead included four Bramblings, 1000
Goldfinches and ten Siskins.
Elsewhere, the Cattle Egret re-appeared amongst cattle in the fields along the entrance track and a Purple Sandpiper was seen on the sluice outfall at Dengemarsh Gully.
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| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Dungeness 15th October 2017 |
14th Oct
Rare grounded migrants often turn up at Dungeness on days when there seems to be little around and today was one of them. Three net rounds produced just two birds but Dave Bunney found a Radde's Warbler in his Southview Cottage garden. It was very elusive but most visitors managed to get views but photographing it was very difficult. A Dartford Warbler was also seen whilst waiting for the Radde's Warbler to show.
There was however a decent amount of passage overhead with two Grey Herons, 60 Swallows, two Grey Wagtails, two Rock Pipits, four Bramblings, 29 Redpolls, 400 Goldfinches, 40 Siskins and 40 Reed Buntings.
Elsewhere, a Red-backed Shrike was found on the RSPB Reserve and a Cattle Egret joined 16 Great White Egrets and 24 Little Egrets at the evening roost at the ARC Pit.
There was however a decent amount of passage overhead with two Grey Herons, 60 Swallows, two Grey Wagtails, two Rock Pipits, four Bramblings, 29 Redpolls, 400 Goldfinches, 40 Siskins and 40 Reed Buntings.
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| Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Dungeness 14th October 2017 A couple of very poor images of this extremely skulking bird. |
13th October
A dull, cloudy but warm day. Grounded migrants were fairly scarce but included two Dartford Warblers near the railway station, a Wood Lark and three Wheatears. Early morning saw a decent bit of visible migration which included 55 Swallows, 39 Tree Sparrows, three Rock Pipits, 17 Redpolls, 850 Goldfinches, 70 Siskins and 14 Reed Buntings.
Seawatching produced four Sooty Shearwaters, five Great Skuas, 17 Mediterranean Gulls and another 1100 Gannets. Three Arctic Skuas continue to linger offshore.
Eight Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
Good numbers of moths were trapped overnight with the highlights being Blair's Shoulder-knot and a Pearly Underwing.
Seawatching produced four Sooty Shearwaters, five Great Skuas, 17 Mediterranean Gulls and another 1100 Gannets. Three Arctic Skuas continue to linger offshore.
Eight Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
Good numbers of moths were trapped overnight with the highlights being Blair's Shoulder-knot and a Pearly Underwing.
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| Blair's Shoulder-knot Lithophane leautieri Dungeness 13th October 2017. Only the 13th Observatory record and the first since 2013. |
12th Oct
A bright and sunny morning resulted in a bit of movement overhead and offshore but very little in the way of ground migrants.
Of note among the migrants flying over were a Wood Lark, 17 Sky Larks, 70 Swallows, three Tree Sparrows, two Grey Wagtails, two Rock Pipits, two Bramblings, 30 Lesser Redpolls, 345 Goldfinches, 25 Siskins and 16 Reed Buntings.
Offshore, another 1100 Gannets moved west along with two Shags, two Great Skuas and 35 Mediterranean Gulls and with a further five gulls on the beach.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
Six Clouded Yellows were noted during the day.
Of note among the migrants flying over were a Wood Lark, 17 Sky Larks, 70 Swallows, three Tree Sparrows, two Grey Wagtails, two Rock Pipits, two Bramblings, 30 Lesser Redpolls, 345 Goldfinches, 25 Siskins and 16 Reed Buntings.
Offshore, another 1100 Gannets moved west along with two Shags, two Great Skuas and 35 Mediterranean Gulls and with a further five gulls on the beach.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
Six Clouded Yellows were noted during the day.
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| Clouded Yellow Colias croceus Dungeness 12th October 2017 |
11th Oct
The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in and around the Lighthouse Garden but proved very elusive in the wet and windy conditions. The main interest was offshore though where 4.5 hrs of watching produced four Sooty Shearwaters, two Balearic Shearwaters, a Manx Shearwater, around 3000 Gannets, 16 Arctic Skuas, six Great Skuas, 23 Razorbills, two Mediterranean Gulls and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.
A Grey Seal, a Common Seal and two Porpoises were also seen offshore.
A Grey Seal, a Common Seal and two Porpoises were also seen offshore.
10th Oct
Not a great deal around today but a Yellow-browed Warbler which appeared in the Old lighthouse Garden was a very welcome find. Birds passing overhead included 80 Swallows, 40 House Martins, a Rock Pipit, 27 Redpolls, 37 Siskins and ten Reed Buntings.
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| Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Dungeness 10th October 2017 |
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| Siskin Carduelis spinus Dungeness 10th October 2017 |
Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.
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