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Local weather

Update

The Observatory can accommodate up to 9 people in two dormitories, you need to bring your own sleeping bags and it is self-catering. As well as Birdwatchers, we welcome people from many areas of interest including Moths, Butterflies, Bugs and Beetles or just a general interest in Nature and the local environment. Please forward any Dungeness recording area records to the Warden.
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27th Feb

With a strong SE breeze this morning there was an increase in up-channel movement with 627 Brent Geese, 17 Shelduck, 29 Teal, seven Shovelers, 247 Red-throated Divers, 20 Fulmars, 1404 Gannets, 123 Kittiwakes and three Mediterranean Gulls. In the afternoon, the Iceland Gull reappeared at the Fishing Boats along with a first-winter Caspian Gull and a Sandwich Tern was also the first of the spring.


Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides   Dungeness   27th February 2022

A Porpoise was feeding offshore.

26th Feb

With an onshore breeze there was a bit of movement at sea with the morning producing 34 Brent Geese, three Eiders, two Red-breasted Mergansers, 135 Red-throated Divers, five Fulmars, 187 Gannets, 231 Kittiwakes, two Mediterranean Gulls and 1614 auks. A Brambling was seen at the feeders in the Trapping Area.

A Porpoise was seen offshore.

25th Feb

A Woodlark flew over the Trapping Area this morning and a Pheasant was also seen. It was quiet offshore with just a Mediterranean Gull of note.

24th Feb

Large numbers of gulls were feeding offshore again but with just three Mediterranean Gulls of any note.

A Porpoise was feeding offshore.

23rd Feb

A Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart were seen at the sewage works again and two Mediterranean Gulls and a first-winter Caspian Gull were seen among the huge numbers of birds feeding at the fishing boats.

A Porpoise was feeding offshore.

22nd Feb

A 2.25hr seawatch this morning produced 259 Gannets, 212 Kittiwakes and 229 Razorbills of note. Large numbers of gulls were feeding on the shellfish washing up on the beach and included a second-winter Iceland Gull and two Mediterranean Gulls. A Kingfisher and two Chiffchaffs were seen at the Long Pits.



Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides   second-winter   Dungeness   22nd February 2022

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

21st Feb

Surprisingly quiet offshore with just 13 Fulmars of interest.

After 69 hours of no power we were finally connected back onto the grid in mid-morning.

20th Feb

The Iceland Gull and a Caspian Gull were seen at the fishing boats again and seawatching produced 43 Fulmars and 50 Kittiwakes.

A Porpoise was seen offshore.

The Observatory remains powerless for its third night.

19th Feb

After the ferocity of yesterdays storm it was still pretty quiet offshore. Good numbers of gulls were feeding on the shellfish washing up onto the beach at the fishing boats but most of the interest was in the regular Iceland Gull, two Caspian Gulls, two Yellow-legged Gulls and four Mediterranean Gulls. The only notable birds passing through were nine Fulmars and three Great Skuas. The Observatory still has no electricity.

18th Feb

Storm Eunice arrived with a vengeance this morning and made birding virtually impossible if not dangerous with so much debris flying around. A brief look at the sea before the storm really arrived showed there were very few birds to be seen offshore.

Electricity outage

 There will be no updates for the next day or so due to a power cut since 1.00 pm yesterday, not due to be resolved until tomorrow, Monday, afternoon. Normal service will resume as soon as possible. Apologies and thanks for your patience.


17th Feb

The Iceland Gull and Caspian Gull were seen at the Patch again.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

16th Feb

 A first-winter Caspian Gull was seen at the Patch again and a Woodcock was found at the Long Pits.

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.

15th Feb

A day with rapidly deteriorating weather with the Iceland Gull and a first-winter Caspian Gull at the Patch being the only birds of note. A Black Redstart was seen again at the sewage works.

14th Feb

The Iceland Gull and a first-winter Caspian Gull were seen at the Patch again. A Black Redstart and a Grey Wagtail were seen at the sewage works again. 

13th Feb

The Iceland Gull was seen at the Patch again while a two-hour seawatch this morning produced 13 Fulmars, 111 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull and 820 auks.

A Porpoise was seen offshore.

12th Feb

There was a bit more movement offshore this morning in windier conditions than of late. A three-hour watch produced 33 Brent Geese, two Pintail, 614 Red-throated Divers, 13 Fulmars, 518 Gannets, 289 Kittiwakes, six Mediterranean Gulls, a Great Skua and  2726 auks. Later in the day a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was seen at the fishing boats.

11th Feb

A Dartford Warbler was seen at the Point and one of the regular Black Redstarts was seen at the sewage works again. The sea was very quiet except for 216 Red-throated Divers passing east in an hour this morning..

10th Feb

Very quiet with just two Shovelers and 290 Red-throated Divers and two Mediterranean Gulls moving west this afternoon.

9th Feb

Very quiet offshore with just 158 Red-throated Divers and two Mediterranean Gulls of interest. The regular Black Redstart, a Chiffchaff and two Grey Wagtails were feeding around the sewage works again.

8th Feb

The Iceland Gull reappeared at the Patch again along with two first-winter Caspian Gulls and two Mediterranean Gulls. The morning seawatch saw 378 Red-throated Divers, 99 Kittiwakes, 328 Guillemots and 134 Razorbills pass through.

The Black Redstart was seen around the power station sewage works again.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

7th Feb

Seawatching today produced 105 Red-throated Diver, 87 Kittiwake and a Mediterranean Gull and a visit to the Patch revealed two second-year Caspian Gulls.

6th Feb

Seawatch Hide (08:00 to 10:30): 350 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (3W/347E), 7 Teal (E), 8 Common Scoter (E), 4 Red-throated Diver (1W/3os), 12 Fulmar (5W/7E), 76 Gannet (18W/58E), 66 Kittiwake (7W/59E), 28 Guillemot (4W/24E), 4 Razorbill (W), 62 Auk sp. (15W/47E). 

1 Harbour Porpoise per RW/JTM/MC

RSPB Reserve: Redhead Smew still present on ARC Pit and 3+ Cattle Egret still at Cockles Bridge

5th Feb

Seawatch Hide (14:00 to 15:00): 6 Common Scoter (E), 11 Red-throated Diver (1E/10W), 4 Great Crested Grebe (1E/3os), 1 Fulmar (E), 21 Gannet (15E/6W), 58 Kittiwake (52E/6W), 59 Guillemot (2E/57W), 3 Razorbill (W), 56 Auk sp. (7E/49W) 

2 Harbour Porpoise per MC

Dungeness Point: Caspian Gull present this morning as well as the usual Black Redstart by the Seawatch Hide.

RSPB Reserve: 4 Cattle Egrets still at Cockles Bridge, 1 Glossy Ibis around Boulderwall, redhead Smew still on ARC Pit 




4th Feb

Dungeness Point: The Black Redstart was still present behind the Seawatch Hide.

RSPB Reserve: 2 Glossy Ibis were seen at Dengemarsh. The redhead Smew was still present on the ARC Pit. Lastly the 4 Cattle Egret were still feeding in the Cockles Bridge area and were joined by a single Water Pipit.

3rd Feb

Seawatch Hide (08:30 to 10:00): 54 Dark-bellied Brent Goose (3W/51E), 2 Common Scoter (W), 286 Red-throated Diver (71W/215E), 7 Great Crested Grebe (E), 116 Gannet (E), 1 Oystercatcher (E), 41 Kittiwake (W), 211 Guillemot (39W/172E), 131 Razorbill (17W/114E) and 327 Auk sp. (E) per MC

 
  

Dungeness Point: Black Redstart still behind Seawatch Hide

RSPB Reserve: Redhead Smew still on ARC Pit

2nd Feb

Only sighting of note today was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in a private garden on the estate.

1st Feb

Seawatch Hide (08:30 to 09:30): 3 Shelduck (W), 5 Common Scoter (E), 112 Red-throated Diver (107E/5W), 10 Great Crested Grebe (6E/2W/2os), 81 Gannet (E), 56 Kittiwake (W), 1 Mediterranean Gull (E), 1 Great Skua (E), 113 Guillemot (E), 65 Razorbill (E) and 884 Auk sp. (E)

1 Grey Seal, 2 Harbour Porpoise per MC

Dungeness Point: Black Redstart still present by Seawatch Hide

RSPB Reserve: Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Boulderwall Farm, 2 Great White Egrets noted here too. 4 Cattle Egret still present at Cockles Bridge. A single Water Pipit was also reported at Hookers Pit. In addition a late report of 31 White-fronted Geese on the Reserve for yesterday.