There was another considerable drop of Chiffchaffs this morning with 120 seen and also a Siberian Chiffchaff trapped along with 15 Blackcaps, four Firecrests, a Mistle Thrush and a Spotted Flycatcher. Large numbers of hirundines passed through with 3050 Swallows and 2500 House Martins counted as well as a Yellow Wagtail, ten Grey Wagtails, four Rock Pipits, two Bramblings, three Redpolls, 322 Goldfinches, six Siskins and 28 Reed Buntings. Ringing ceased as the wind increased and attention turned to the sea in the afternoon where 812 Brent Geese, 46 Common Scoters, a Little Gull and five Arctic Skuas were seen and two first-winter Caspian Gulls were on the beach.
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| Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus tristis Dungeness 3rd October 2022 |
A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Weasel was seen on the land.
A check for insects around the Observatory produced 20 Ornate Shieldbugs and also a Bee-wolf which is only my second sighting in the Observatory recording area.
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| Bee-wolf Philanthus triangulum Dungeness 3rd October 2022 |