25th June

Another windy day and few birds to report other than good numbers of Gannets and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls offshore.

A Grey Seal was also seen offshore.

Good numbers of butterflies were on the wing and included the first Essex Skipper and Gatekeepers of the year.A Hummingbird Hawk-moth spent most of the afternoon and evening feeding at the Tree Mallow flowers in the Observatory garden.

At least 50 plants of Black Spleenwort were found growing on one of the few brick buildings near the Pilot and it appears to be a new species for the Observatory recording area.

24th June

In fairly windy conditions the sea provided four Manx Shearwaters, a Whimbrel and three Mediterranean Gulls of note. It was very quiet on the land with just a few Swifts passing through of interest.

A Grey Seal and a Porpoise were seen offshore.

23rd June

Not much to report. A few Swifts passed through and a Mediterranean Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull were seen offshore.

There was a decent overnight catch of moths with V-Pug, Swallow-tailed Moth, Bird's Wing, the pyralid Sitochroa palealis and 24 Diamond-backed Moths of note.

22nd June

The day began with thick fog but this eventually cleared to bring more warm and sunny conditions. Coverage was a bit limited today but two Manx Shearwaters, two Grey Plovers, 11 Little Terns and five Mediterranean Gull were of note.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

21st June

Not much to report from land on the hottest ever June day on record. The sea fared better with three Manx Shearwater, five Common Scoter, four Mediterranean Gulls, nine Kittiwakes and Guillemot.


Grey Seal and two Harbour Porpoise were feeding offshore.

Unfortunately the two Obs Moth Traps were quite exposed to the wind last night so a quite low catch although L-album Wainscot and Herald were nice. Splendid Brocade and Langmaid's Yellow Underwing were trapped on the RSPB Reserve.


A Honey Buzzard was seen over Denge Marsh early afternoon.

The Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix    Dungeness   20th June 2016 (Lee Gregory)

L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album   Dungeness   20th June 2016  (Lee Gregory)

Splendid Brocade Lacanobia splendens   Dungeness   20th June 2016 (Lee Gregory)

Langmaid's Yellow Underwing Noctua janthina   Dungeness   20th June 2016 (Lee Gregory)

20th June

A few bird of interest on land today with Marsh Harrier hunting the Long Pits, Cuckoo, Black Redstart and a Siskin over. Offshore 38 Common Scoter and five Mediterranean Gulls east.

On the RSPB Reserve the first returning Green Sandpiper was noted on the ARC Pit. 

A Grey Seal and three Porpoises were feeding offshore.

Higher overnight temperatures meant a busier Moth Trap this morning with 51 Macro and 49 Micro Moth Species recorded although nothing of real note except a nice Bird's Wing which are always nice to see. Migrant Moths caught at Pluto were Sub-angled Wave and Angle-striped Sallow which was just the second area record. Fourteen Red Admiral and a Large White were noted.

Bird's Wing Dypterygia scabruiscula   Dungeness   19th June 2017 (Lee Gregory)



Angle-striped Sallow Enargia paleacea   Dungeness   19th June 2017 (Lee Gregory)

Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata   Dungeness   19th June 2017 (Lee Gregory) 

19th June

Another very hot day, fortunately an easterly breeze kept the temperature more bearable. A Swift was the only bird of mild interest from land. The sea fared better with 16 Common Scoter, four Oystercatchers, four Mediterranean Gulls, 28 Sandwich and three Common Terns.

Two Grey Seals and two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

Last night's moth trap was much quieter than the previous with 77 species recorded and of these only 30 species were Macro moth. No real surprises amongst the haul although migrants were represented with 2 Silver 'Y' and two Diamond-back Moth.