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Local weather

Update

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19th June

A Greenshank, 310 Mediterranean Gulls and four Grey Herons passed overhead.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

The moth traps were productive again with our fourth-ever Small Marbled being the highlight along with a Green Silver-lines, a Beautiful Hook-tip, a Delicate and another Argyresthia retinella of note.


Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana and Small Marbled Eublemma parva 
Dungeness   19th June 2025


18th June

Fifteen Swifts, a Little Ringed Plover, a Curlew and eight Grey Herons flew over while 208 Mediterranean Gulsl flew west offshore this evening (with another 33 birds loitering).

Two Porpoise, seven Grey Seals and two Common Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced another Striped Hawkmoth, a Four-spotted Footman and the micro Argyresthia retinella of note.

17th June

At least 100 Swifts and a Grey Wagtail passed overhead and 11 Mediterranean Gulls flew west offshore.

Two Bordered Straws were trapped overnight.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus   Dungeness   17th June 2025
The breeding male.


16th June

Another quiet day with just three Little Ringed Plovers and a Mediterranean Gull of note.

Moth trapping remarkably produced another Speckled Footman along with a Clouded Silver (only the eighth Observatory record), a Bordered Straw and a Palpita vitrealis


Speckled Footman Coscinia cribraria and Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata   Dungeness   16th June 2025

Two Norfolk Hawkers were also seen.

15th June

Very quiet on the bird front with just two Manx Shearwaters offshore of any note.

A Brown Hare was seen on the land.

However, the moth traps rescued the day with the catching of the very rare micro-moth Aproaerema polychromella. This is the first record for Dungeness and only the third county record.

Aproaerema polychromella   Dungeness   15th June 2025


14th June

Very quiet with just a Mediterranean Gull offshore of note.

A pair of Kestrels are  nesting on  "Mr.T" at the Point and are now feeding at least four young birds.


Kestrel Falco tinnunculus chicks   Dungeness   14th June 2025


13th June

A Golden Plover flew over the Observatory, even singing as it went by and a Mediterranean Gull was feeding offshore.

The highlight from the moth traps was our third-ever Speckled Footman while two Small Seraphims, an Oak Nycteoline and an L-album Wainscot provided some padding.

Speckled Footman Coscinia cribraria   Dungeness   13th June 2025

Two Mediterranean Stick-insects were showing in the Observatory garden.

12th June

The run of rarities continued with another Bee-eater over the Point and a Serin giving good views at times around the Observatory. A flock of six Crossbills also passed overhead.




Serin Serinus serinus   Dungeness   12th June 2025

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.


11th June

A brilliant day with a Bee-eater seen/heard on several occasions during the morning followed by a superb adult Rose-coloured Starling among a large flock of Starlings feeding around the Point. A Great Northern Diver in summer plumage which flew over the Point for a few minutes was also unexpected. Also of interest were 17 Swifts and six Mediterranean Gulls







Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus   Dungeness   11th June 2025

Two Porpoise and a two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced a Water Ermine and a Chamomile Shark of note.


Chamomile Shark Cuculia chamomillae and Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae   Dungeness   11th June 2025 


10th June

Strong westerly winds brought a bit of seawatching with four Whimbrel, a Mediterranean Gull, six Fulmars and a Manx Shearwater of note. A Teal seen was on the Long Pits.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.