Another miserable day of strong winds and almost continuous drizzle or light rain. Singles of Manx and Balearic Shearwaters and an Arctic Skua were noted offshore.
The Black-winged Stilt was showing at the ARC Pit again.
Data Protection
Local weather
Corona Virus Update
2nd July
Still the wind blows and with odd showers during the day. Five Mediterranean Gulls passed west offshore and six Sand Martins and at least one Crossbill flew through.
Single Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
The best of another relatively poor nights moth trapping were a Figure-of-80 and a Double Kidney.
Single Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
The best of another relatively poor nights moth trapping were a Figure-of-80 and a Double Kidney.
1st July
Another wet and windy night gave way to a brighter, sunnier day although it was still windy. Very little to report with just six Mediterranean Gulls and the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the Patch and a Yellow Wagtail and a Siskin flying over.
A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.
The first Gatekeepers were seen.
A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.
The first Gatekeepers were seen.
30th June
Another miserable day of strong winds and almost continuous rain. The sea continues to be very disappointing despite the stormy conditions although a Manx Shearwater and a flock of 13 Black-tailed Godwits which flew west this afternoon were of note. The first juvenile Yellow-legged Gull of the summer was seen on the beach at the Patch this morning.
Singles of Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the beach near the fishing boats.
The Gull-billed Tern and Black-winged Stilt were seen at the ARC Pit again although the former may not have been seen after about 0900hrs.
Singles of Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the beach near the fishing boats.
The Gull-billed Tern and Black-winged Stilt were seen at the ARC Pit again although the former may not have been seen after about 0900hrs.
29th June
A wild and windy day with very little to report other than two Manx Shearwaters on the early morning seawatch.
Elsewhere, the Gull-billed Tern and Black-winged Stilt continued there stay at the ARC Pit.
Elsewhere, the Gull-billed Tern and Black-winged Stilt continued there stay at the ARC Pit.
28th June
A very windy day with little to be seen other than six Fulmars, a Mediterranean Gull, a Cuckoo and 400 Swifts.
Over the weekend we received some very exciting news concerning an exhausted small bat which Sam picked up off the shingle beach on 13th June. A quick once over back at the Observatory immediately rang alarm bells as to its identity when we saw the clear white trailing edge to the wing along with the relatively pale brown fur of the upperside, a non-contrasting darker face and large (for a pipistrelle) size. All of these features in combination strongly suggested that it might be a Kuhl's Pipistrelle. We called John Puckett of the Kent Bat Group who was quickly on site to take the bat into care. He cautiously agreed at the time with our concerns over the identity of it and later that day he called me to say that they also thought it was highly likely that it was indeed a Kuhl's Pipistrelle but added that a DNA analysis would be needed to confirm this. Yesterday morning JP called me again to say that the DNA analysis had been carried out and that it confirmed the identification as a Kuhl's Pipistrelle. It is unclear how many records of wild Kuhl's Pipistrelles there have been in Britain but it looks as if it probably less than ten.
Given the covid restrictions at the time, the condition of the individual bat and the laws regarding the handling of bats it was felt that we couldn't make the bat available for others to see and I suspect before it was taken into care. While it is planned to release the animal again once it is back to good health I have no idea when and where this might be but I suspect that it will not run as a public event.
Elsewhere, the Gull-billed Tern and the Black-winged Stilt were still present at ARC.
Over the weekend we received some very exciting news concerning an exhausted small bat which Sam picked up off the shingle beach on 13th June. A quick once over back at the Observatory immediately rang alarm bells as to its identity when we saw the clear white trailing edge to the wing along with the relatively pale brown fur of the upperside, a non-contrasting darker face and large (for a pipistrelle) size. All of these features in combination strongly suggested that it might be a Kuhl's Pipistrelle. We called John Puckett of the Kent Bat Group who was quickly on site to take the bat into care. He cautiously agreed at the time with our concerns over the identity of it and later that day he called me to say that they also thought it was highly likely that it was indeed a Kuhl's Pipistrelle but added that a DNA analysis would be needed to confirm this. Yesterday morning JP called me again to say that the DNA analysis had been carried out and that it confirmed the identification as a Kuhl's Pipistrelle. It is unclear how many records of wild Kuhl's Pipistrelles there have been in Britain but it looks as if it probably less than ten.
 |
| Kuhl's Pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii Dungeness 13th June 2020 |
Elsewhere, the Gull-billed Tern and the Black-winged Stilt were still present at ARC.
27th June
 |
| Pine Hawkmoth Sphinx pinastri and Yponomeuta irrorella Dungeness 27th June 2020 |
26th June
Very quiet on the bird front with just a Grey Plover, a Green Sandpiper, three Mediterranean Gulls and a Siskin flying over.
Moth trapping continues to provide plenty of interest with our fourth record of Sub-angled Wave and generally considered to be a migrant when they occur on the coast away from Folkestone. Other noteworthy moths included three Sussex Emeralds and singles of Sciota adelphella, Acrobasis suavella and Ancylosis oblitella. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen on the wall at the Red and White gate There was also a small arrival of Red Admirals.
The now Nationally rare Red Hemp-nettle is just starting to come into flower.
Elsewhere, the Black-winged Stilt is now almost resident at the NW corner of the ARC Pit but the Gull-billed Tern is much more mobile. It did however spend most of the afternoon and evening feeding at the ARC Pit.
Moth trapping continues to provide plenty of interest with our fourth record of Sub-angled Wave and generally considered to be a migrant when they occur on the coast away from Folkestone. Other noteworthy moths included three Sussex Emeralds and singles of Sciota adelphella, Acrobasis suavella and Ancylosis oblitella. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen on the wall at the Red and White gate There was also a small arrival of Red Admirals.
 |
| Sub-angled Wave Scopula nigropunctata Dungeness 26th June 2020 |
 |
| Ancylosis oblitella Dungeness 26th June 2020 Dungenes is a stronghold for this nationally scarce species |
 |
| Sciota adelphella Dungeness 26th June 2020 Another nationally rare moth and the fifth record from the Observatory trap. |
 |
| Red Hemp-nettle Dungeness 26th June 2020 Dungeness is a stronghold for this rapidly declining species and here being visited by a Green-eyed Flower Bee. Anthophora bimaculata |
25th June
A bright, sunny and very warm day. Quiet for birds with just two Mediterranean Gulls at the Patch and a Grey Wagtail passing overhead were the only birds of note.
Five Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
The most unexpected and significant record was the finding of an Ornate Shieldbug. A very rare migrant insect.
The highlights of the moth trapping were an Acrobasis tumidana and three Acrobasis repandana and a Pale Shoulder was found in the rough vegetation in front of the Observatory during the day.
Five Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
The most unexpected and significant record was the finding of an Ornate Shieldbug. A very rare migrant insect.
 |
| Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata Dungeness 25th June 2020 |
 |
| Acrobasis rependana and Acrobasis tumidana Dungeness 25th June 2020 |
 |
| Pale Shoulder Acontia lucida Dungeness 25th June 2020 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)