Today saw the first decent drop of migrants into the bushes with 125 Willow Warblers, an excellent 22 Sedge Warblers and a Garden Warbler of note. Birds passing overhead included a Golden Plover, 350 Sand Martins and 16 Yellow Wagtails. Three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on the beach.
A pair of Kestrels have nested in the area. Their first attempt was on a window-ledge at the Old Lighthouse where eggs were laid but they quickly failed. They then moved to the electricity pylon between the Observatory and Power Station, taking over a crow's nest, and quickly tried again. There are now five young and all are very close to fledging. One individual actually made its virgin flight this afternoon.
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus nest with young about to fledge Dungeness 4th August 2022 |
Six Porpoises were feeding offshore and a Badger was seen in the Trapping Area.
A Brimstone butterfly was seen on the Point and a Lesser Emperor dragonfly was seen on the northern Long Pit again.