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Local weather

Update

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11th May

A foggy day, especially along the shoreline, which made observations at sea very difficult but in the occasional breaks there were clearly good numbers of Common Terns still moving through along with 17 Sanderlings, a Pomarine Skua, at least six Mediterranean Gulls, six Black Terns and 11 Little Terns.
There was a very small arrival of migrants on the land with a Common Sandpiper, a Turtle Dove (see image below), a Sedge Warbler and three Spotted Flycatchers of particular note. A Buzzard flew over the area.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur   Dungeness  11th May 2016 (David Campbell)
In addition, I have just received the ringing details from the BTO of a Belgian-ringed Coal Tit which we caught at Dungeness on 1st October 2015. It was originally ringed at Jonkershove, West-Vlaanderen just four days before on 27th September 2015. This individual is shown below.
Coal Tit Periparus ater ater   Dungeness   1st October 2015 Ring.no 14263889    


 There were at least 12 Porpoises feeding offshore along with singles of Common Seal and Grey Seal.

 This slightly odd-looking Small Copper was also seen. It would appear to be outside the normal range of variation but not sure if it is a named aberration.


Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas  variant   Dungeness   11th May 2016  

The Early Purple Orchids are still in pretty good condition.
Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula   Dungeness   11th May 2016

Not rare and clearly a garden escape, nevertheless there are several patches of Bearded Iris growing around the Point and they make for a spectacular splash of colour.

Bearded Iris Iris germanica   Dungeness   11th May 2016

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