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Local weather

Update

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31st Dec

A murky and increasingly windy day. Nearly four hours of seawatching produced 215 Brent Geese passing east, three Shelducks, nine Wigeon and a Red-breasted Merganser, 392 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull, two Yellow-legged Gulls, 309 Red-throated Divers , two Great Northern Divers and 782 Gannets. Three Caspian Gulls were seen in the roost on the beach.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   first-winter   Dungeness   31st December 2024

A Grey Seal was seen offshore.

30th Dec

A check of the Trapping Area and Long Pits produced four Chiffchaffs

29th Dec

 A Barn Owl was at the north end of the recording area.

27th Dec

 Two Chiffchaffs were seen in the Trapping Area.

25th Dec

 A Black-throated Diver was seen offshore.

24th Dec

A check of the land produced a Merlin, a Chiffchaff, two Dartford Warblers, two Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush

23rd Dec

Just a Mediterranean Gull and 411 Gannets offshore of any note at sea. A total of 20 Fieldfares also  arrived.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

22nd Dec

Very little to report. Seawatching produced just 164 Red-throated Divers and 321 Gannets of any interest.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

21st Dec

 A miserable day that never really got light and with rain throughout. A Yellow-legged Gull was seen at the fishing boats and 388 Gannets passed through.

20th Dec

A quiet day although a short seawatch in the afternoon produced two Velvet Scoters and a Great Northern Diver. Two Chiffchaffs and a Siskin were seen in the Trapping Area.

Increased fees.

 As we approach the time to renew your membership we are reluctantly having to increase our membership charges. The fees have remained the same since 2016 and, with the cost of living increases we have decided we can no longer absorb the rises. Membership will now cost £20.00 a year, with a similar increase in accommodation charges of £20 a night for non-members and £15.00 for members. Please remember to update your Standing Order if that’s how you pay. 

We are very grateful for your continued support of the Observatory.

19th Dec

Two Egyptian Geese, 170 Kittiwakes, a Yellow-legged Gull, 600 Red-throated Divers and 460 Gannets were the highlights from the sea. A Chiffchaff and a Siskin were seen in the Trapping Area.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

18th Dec

There were plenty of birds offshore including 129 Kittiwakes and 1080 Gannets moving west but nothing else of any great note.. 

One Grey Seal was also feeding offshore.

17th Dec

A check of the Trapping Area produced singles of Woodcock, Snipe and Chiffchaff. The sea was fairly quiet with just six Mediterranean Gulls and a Great Northern Diver of note. A Caspian Gull was seen on the beach. 

Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

16th Dec

 Two Chiffchaffs and a Siskin were seen in the Trapping Area.

15th Dec

A Velvet Scoter feeding offshore was the only bird of note.

A Grey Seal was also seen.

14th Dec

A flock of 600 Gannets were feeding offshore and two first-winter Caspian Gulls were on the beach at the fishing boats. A Merlin was also seen on the beach. A Brambling was in and around the Observatory garden and five Redpolls flew over.

A Grey Seal was seen offshore.

13th Dec

Six Shelducks, eight Pintails, two Teals and 128 Red-throated Divers offshore. A Buzzard was on the beach at the Point and a Firecrest was seen at the north end of the Long Pits.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

12th Dec

The Hume's Warbler was still present around the Observatory while seawatching produced 15 Wigeon, a Velvet Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull and 3500 Cormorants.

Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei   Dungeness   12th December 2024


A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

11th Dec

The Hume's Warbler was still feeding in the gardens around the Observatory and a Chiffchaff was seen in the Trapping Area.

A Grey Seal was seen offshore.

10th Dec

Very little change in the weather or the birds. The Hume's Warbler was calling fairly frequently around the Observatory gardens but was very difficult to see again. Seawatching produced 22 Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Great Northern Diver and 699 Gannets. A flock of 80 Starlings also came in.

Two Common Seals and two Grey Seals were seen.

9th Dec

The strong NE wind with almost continuous rain goes on and more or less limiting observations to the sea where eight Pintail, 11 Wigeon, a Red-breasted Merganser, three Mediterranean Gulls and 657 Gannets were best on offer. The Hume's Warbler was still in situ around the Observatory garden but was very hard to get good views in the strong winds.

Two Common Seals and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

8th Dec

The miserable weather continues with a howling northerly wind and frequent rain. The Hume's Warbler continues to be seen but remains fairly elusive in the winds but the front garden was quite sheltered and this was the best place to see it today. Little coverage otherwise.





Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei   Dungeness   8th December 2024


7th Dec

Yet another very wet and windy day and very little coverage. The Hume's Warbler was still around the Observatory but was very difficult to see in the poor conditions. A Black Redstart was seen on the power station wall.

6th Dec

The Hume's Warbler continues to show around the Observatory gardens or in the Moat but is quite skulking for most of the time. A Woodlark which flew over the Observatory was unexpected. Two Chiffchaffs and a Dartford Warbler were seen in the bushes and two Black Redstarts were feeding along the power station wall. The sea was pretty quiet in terms of passage with just two Eiders and eight Mediterranean Gulls of note while a first-winter Caspian Gull was feeding at the fishing boats. A spectacular flock of Gannets were also feeding offshore.


Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei   Dungeness   6th December 2024





Gannets Morus bassana   Dungeness   6th Deember 2024

Four Grey Seals and a Common Seal were feeding offshore.

Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus   Dungeness   6th December 2024



A Painted Lady and a Red Admiral were also seen.

5th Dec

The Hume's Warbler continues its stay around the Observatory but in the thoroughly miserable weather it was even more elusive than previously. The sea was very quiet but the first-year Glaucous Gull was seen at the fishing boats in the morning.

4th Dec

The Hume's Warbler continues to show around the cottages but remains very difficult to get decent photos of it. Three Chiffchaffs were seen in the trapping area.

3rd Dec

The Hume's Warbler was still around the Observatory and cottage gardens and although showing out in the open on numerous occasions it remained very difficult to photograph. Five Black Redstarts were feeding along the power station wall and three Merlins were seen on the beach. The sea was pretty quiet today although a Purple Sandpiper made a brief visit to the beach, two Mediterranean Gulls flew west, two Sandwich Tern flew east and 183 Red-throated Divers passed through.


Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei   Dungeness   3rd December 2024

Three Grey Seals and two Common Seals were feeding offshore.


2nd Dec

A walk around the Trapping Area produced a couple of Chiffchaffs but little else. Shortly after my return to the Observatory the Hume's Warbler announced its presence in the back garden. It was very active but keeping inside the cover for most of the time but eventually gave a few seconds view out in the open. Shortly afterwards it made its way into the Heligoland Trap where it was quickly caught, ringed, photographed in the hand and released and it continued to show around the gardens afterwards. This the fifth Observatory record.

There was very little offshore but the Glaucous Gull was seen at the fishing boats again.





Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei   Dungeness   2nd December 2024 (in-hand
  images taken by Gill Hollamby)

Two Grey Seals and a Common Seal were feeding offshore.

1st Dec

Today's highlight was a Hume's Warbler which was first heard calling from the front garden of the Observatory as I was checking through an empty moth-trap. It was very difficult to see but eventually we were able to get good enough views to confirm its identity but it soon disappeared as the weather closed in and was not seen again after 0830hrs. 

Seawatching produced an easterly movement of 268 Brent Geese, (surely not returning birds already?), three Mediterranean Gulls and 323 Gannets

Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

30th Nov

No question about the highlight of the day when a superb Humpback Whale was found feeding close inshore off the fishing boats and gave some superb views for several hours before it eventually headed off to the west. As far as I can tell this is the first Observatory record.







Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae   Dungeness   30th November 2024

Also feeding offshore were a Porpoise and four Grey Seals.

Birds took second-place today but two Little Gulls, two Sandwich Terns, four Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver were of note. The first-year Glaucous Gull and a first-winter Caspian Gull were seen at the fishing boats again.



29th Nov

Strong easterly winds and rain later limited observations to the sea where 26 Shelducks, four Wigeon, a Long-tailed Duck, a Red-breasted Merganser, 37 Dunlin, four Sandwich Terns, 31 Red-throated Diver and a Sooty Shearwater flew west in just under four hours of recording. The first-year Glaucous Gull was feeding at the fishing boats again and a Merlin was hunting the Point.

Single Porpoise and Common Seal and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

28th Nov

Light NW winds and clear conditions meant for a fairly slow seawatch with just two Mediterranean Gulls, 55 Red-throated Divers, two Great Northern Divers west and the first-year Glaucous Gull and an adult Caspian Gull feeding at the boats. The only notable birds on the land were a Merlin, five Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler and 1360 Starling coming in.

Four Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

27th Nov

More wind and rain and most of the coverage offshore again. Seawatching produced a Pintail, five Red-breasted Mergansers, 26 Mediterranean Gulls, seven Caspian Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, six Sandwich Terns, 174 Razorbills, 82 Red-throated Divers, two Sooty Shearwaters and 250 Gannets. The first-year Glaucous Gull was also showing well at the fishing boats. A Woodcock, a Merlin, two Chiffchaffs, nine Goldcrests and five Fieldfares.


Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus   first-year   Dungeness   27th November 2024

Seven Grey Seals, two Common Seals and a Porpoise were feeding offshore.


26th Nov

Seawatching was the order of the day again with over five hours of coverage producing 157 Kittiwakes, ten Mediterranean Gulls, the Glaucous Gull again, at least 12 Caspian Gulls, three Yellow-legged Gulls, a Sandwich Tern, 1450 Razorbills, a Great Northern Diver and a Little Egret.

Coverage of the land produced a Jack Snipe, a Woodcock, a Merlin, a Woodlark, four Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest, and a Brambling.

There were at least five Grey Seals and two Common Seals feeding offshore.

25th Nov

The wind dropped today and the numbers of birds offshore were much reduced but there were some notable highlights with a Red-necked Grebe, seven Mediterranean Gulls, a first year Glaucous Gull, four Caspian Gulls, two Great Northern Divers, a Sooty Shearwater, a Great Skua and the star of the show in the form of a Great Shearwater but sadly only seen by one very lucky observer. A check on the land revealed three Chiffchaffs, two Firecrests and seven Goldcrests.

A Common Seal and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

A female Southern Oak Bush-cricket was found in the Observatory.

24th Nov

A howling southerly wind and rain restricted any observations to the sea where nearly five hours of coverage were logged. The highlights were a Leach's Petrel and three Sooty Shearwaters while other bits included 42 Brent Geese, two Velvet Scoters, 365 Kittiwakes, six Mediterranean Gulls, three Caspian Gulls, five Yellow-legged Gulls, three Arctic Skuas and 743 GannetsCoverage of the land was very limited but a Woodcock and a Merlin were seen.

Two Grey Seals were seen offshore. 

23rd Nov

A howling southerly gale with rain from early afternoon restricted observations to seawatching. Of note were 212 Brent Geese, five Shelduck, a Gadwall, two Velvet Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 348 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull, three Sandwich Terns, two Great Skuas, a Great Northern Diver, 12 Fulmars, two Sooty Shearwaters and 1611 Gannets while up to five Sabine's Gulls were reported to Birdline but not seen by any of the regular seawatchers. A first-winter Caspian Gull was also roosting at the Point.


Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   first-winter   Dungeness   23rd November 2024

A Porpoise, a Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.


22nd Nov

Very quiet. The only highlights were a Little Egret, three Chiffchaffs and two Firecrests.

A Common Seal and two Grey Seals were seen offshore.

21st Nov

A cold morning with light winds. Seawatching produced a Shoveler, 28 Teal, a drake Eider, 494 Kittiwakes, 43 Mediterranean Gulls, four Sandwich Terns and 384 Gannets. A check of the land revealed just five Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap of note.

Three Porpoises, two Common Seals and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore. In addition, a dead Minke Whale was washed up on Lade Sands.

20th Nov

There was a handful of birds on the land with highlight of a briefly seen Lesser Whitethroat (presumably of an eastern subspecies) along with three Woodcocks, a Merlin, eight Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest and seven Goldcrests. Three Water Rails were also calling in the Trapping Area. Seawatching produced five Shelducks, a Goldeneye, two Red-breasted Mergansers and two Sandwich Terns.

A Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.  

19th Nov

 Dismal weather and no real coverage.

18th Nov

Another quiet day with eight Shelducks, four Sandwich Terns and a Common Tern offshore and eight Chiffchaffs, three Dartford Warblers, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, a Brambling, two Redpolls and six Siskins on the land.

A Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

17th Nov

Slightly better today with a Mediterranean Gull, 17 Sandwich Terns and 334 Gannets offshore. A Merlin, a Dartford Warbler, seven Redwings and a Brambling on the land.

Two Porpoises and four Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

16th Nov

 Very quiet. Five Sandwich Terns offshore and a Merlin on the beach were the only birds of note.

15th Nov

A quiet day with three Egyptian Geese and 150 Gannets offshore and a Woodcock, two Merlins, three Dartford Warblers, a Firecrest, three Bramblings, three Redpolls and 50 Goldfinches of interest.

Four Porpoises were feeding offshore.

14th Nov

A few birds on the land including two Merlins, ten Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, 12 Goldcrests, two Fieldfares. 30 Redwings, three Brambling and 49 Goldfinches. Two Mediterranean Gulls and four Sandwich Tern were seen offshore.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore. 

13th Nov

Little of interest but what there was mostly offshore with 14 Shelduck, two Pintail, five Eider, 43 Kittiwakes, two Mediterranean Gulls, four Sandwich Terns, 66 Red-throated Divers and 417 Gannets. Singles of Woodcock, Snipe, Merlin and Brambling were of note on the land.

Three Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land. 

12th Nov

With freshening NE winds and increasing rain most of the interest was offshore with 66 Brent Geese, 16 Shelduck, 25 Wigeon, single Pintail and Red-breasted Merganser, 69 Mediterranean Gulls, 25 Sandwich Terns, a late Common Tern, 25 Red-throated Divers, 590 Gannets and a flock of four east flying Little Egrets. Birds arriving included a Woodcock, 36 Skylarks, 3340 Starlings and 46 Chaffinches.

Two Porpoises and five Grey Seals were seen offshore.

11th Nov

Quiet on the land with just two Swallows, five Chiffchaffs, three Dartford Warblers, a Firecrest, nine Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, eight Song Thrushes, a Mistle Thrush and six Bramblings of note along with the roosting Long-eared Owl again. There was a slight improvement offshore with 70 Mediterranean Gulls, nine Sandwich Terns and 433 Gannets of interest.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

10th Nov

Another decent arrival of birds on the land with two Short-eared Owls, two Woodlarks, ten Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, two Firecrests, 15 Goldcrests, two Ring Ouzels, 15 Fieldfares, 75 Redwings, four Mistle Thrushes, 55 Bramblings, two Bullfinches, 12 Redpollls and ten Siskins. A Long-eared Owl was also roosting in the Trapping Area and five Dartford Warblers were scattered around the recording area.

Long-eared Owl  Asio otus  Dungeness  10th November 2024


9th Nov

A damp, overcast morning grounded a decent numbers of migrants with a six Chiffchaffs, a Siberian Chiffchaff, a Blackcap, four Firecrests, 50 Goldcrests, 40 Blackbirds, five Fieldfares, 130 Redwings and 40 Song Thrushes. There was a bit of wader passage with eight Lapwing, three Golden Plovers, eight Woodcocks, a Jack Snipe and four Snipe while finches passing overhead included 60 Chaffinches, 15 Bramblings and 15 Siskins. Five Dartford Warblers were also seen.

8th Nov

Most of the significant birds were on the land again with a Woodcock, four Snipe, a Hen Harrier, ten Chiffchaffs, four Firecrests, 30 Goldcrests, a Ring Ouzel, a Fieldfare, 40 Redwings, ten Song Thrushes, 25 Chaffinches, nine Bramblings, 20 Redpolls, 90 Goldfinch and ten Siskins. A couple of interesting captures from the nets were a Belgian-ringed Song Thrush and a British-ringed Lesser Redpoll.

Song Thrush Turdus philemelos   Belgian ringed   Dungeness   8th September 2024


Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret   British-ringed   Dungeness   8th September 2024

 A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

7th Nov

Most of the interest was on the land again with two Woodcocks, a Snipe, seven Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, five Firecrests, 35 Goldcrests, 12 Fieldfares, 30 Redwing, seven Song Thrushes, six Black Redstarts, six Bramblings, 100 Goldfinches and 11 Siskins. Nine Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua were seen on the sea.

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.

6th Nov

A quieter day with a Woodcock and three Snipe, 16 Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, six Firecrests, 20 Goldcrests, seven Fieldfares, 33 Blackbirds, 40 Redwing, nine Song Thrushes and eight Bramblings of note. A Hen Harrier also flew through.

5th Nov

Birds continue to arrive in reasonble numbers on the land with two Woodcocks, ten Chiffchaffs, three Firecrests, 40 Goldcrests, eight Fieldfares, 16 Blackbirds,  30 Redwings, 11 Song Thrushes, a Mistle Thrush, 40 Chaffinches and ten Bramblings. Six Dartford Warblers were also seen.

Fourteen Porpoises were feeding offshore.

4th Nov

There was a reasonable arrival of birds on the land and good numbers of thrushes and finches passing overhead. Of note on the land were 15 Chiffchaffs, a Siberian Chiffchaff, two Blackcaps, two Firecrests, 55 Goldcrests, 20 Fieldfares, ten Redwings, six Song Thrushes, a Mistle Thrush while passing overhead included 200 Chaffinches, 35 Bramblings, 40 Redpolls, 33 Goldfinch, 18 Siskins and the star of the day in the form of an Hawfinch in the afternoon.

Elsewhere, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes were seen on the RSPB Reserve and 18 Cattle Egrets came into roost on ARC.

3rd Nov

A nice arrival of migrants today. A flock of 20 Golden Plover were flying around the Point early doors and a Woodcock was flushed from the Trapping Area. Twenty Chiffchaffs were scattered around the recording area along with, three Dartford Warblers, five Firecrests, 25 Goldcrests and two Black Redstarts. 3000 Starlings were seen coming in off the sea throughout the day. Smaller numbers of thrushes were coming in too with 110 Fieldfare, 45 Redwing, 80 Song Thrushes, three Mistle Thrushes and a Ring Ouzel. There was some excellent overhead passage with the bulk being 850 Chaffinches together with 12 Brambling, eight Redpoll, 60 Goldfinches and six Siskin.

2nd Nov

One of yesterdays Yellow-browed Warblers was still present. Eighty Redwing and 20 Fieldfare were mobile around the recording area. There was some wildfowl moving past the Point with 3809 Brent Geese, four Shoveler, 116 Wigeon, 16 Pintail and 26 Teal all heading west.

1st Nov

A nice arrival of migrants to the area. Twenty-five Chiffchaff, three Dartford Warblers, four Firecrests, 25 Goldcrests, 10 Blackbirds, four Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, five Song Thrush, three Yellow-browed Warblers, two Siberian Chiffchaffs and a Bullfinch. There was some obvious finch passage with 20 Chaffinch, 12 Brambling, 60 Linnet, 120 Redpoll, 30 Goldfinch and 20 Siskin.

31st Oct

A small arrival of migrants with 30 Chiffchaffs, six Goldcrests, one Firecrest, seven Redwing and two Dartford Warblers still. There was some light overhead passage with 28 Redpolls, four Chaffinch and two Brambling.

30th Oct

A quiet day, the only notable sightings were two Dartford Warblers and two Black Redstarts.

29th Oct

Five Dartford Warblers and three Black Redstarts were the only notable grounded migrants. Overhead passage was poor with 12 Redpolls, 21 Goldfinches and eight Siskins the best.

28th Oct

Today was very quiet with no notable sightings and changeable weather led to poor coverage.

27th Oct

There was some overhead passage today with 16 Skylark, 14 'Alba' Wagtails, seven Chaffinches, six Brambling, 42 Redpoll and four Siskin. On land it was quieter with nine Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests and a Short-eared Owl the only notable sightings.

26th Oct

Eleven Dartford Warblers were scattered around the recording area, mostly at the Point. There was also a nice arrival of crests with 16 Firecrests and 12 Goldcrests present. There was some overhead passage mainly consisting of Redpolls with 80 counted throughout the day.

The highlight from the moth traps was a Figure Of Eight - a rare visitor to the greater Dungeness area.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla Dungeness 26th October 2024
Figure of Eight   Diloba caeruleocephala   Dungeness   26th October 2024


25th Oct

There was a noticeable decrease of migrants with just 15 Chiffchaffs, six Goldcrests and one Firecrest in the bushes. Some wildfowl were moving over the sea with one Shelduck, eight Common Scoter and 17 Pintail. A Barn Owl was seen and heard late evening when checking the moth traps at the Observatory.

Three Palpita vitrealis, one Scarce Bordered Straw, one Radford's Flame Shoulder and a Vestal were the highlights from the moth traps.

24th Oct

 A small arrival of migrants in the bushes with 40 Goldcrests, seven Firecrests and 20 Chiffchaffs along with six Dartford Warblers scattered around the Point and Desert. The only noticeable species moving over head were Swallows, with 80 heading mostly south. A Jack Snipe was seen in flight before landing near the Long Pits, our first of the autumn.

A single Radford's Flame Shoulder and two Scarce Bordered Straw were the highlights from the moth traps.

 

23rd Oct

A small arrival of migrants in the bushes with 40 Chiffchaffs, seven Blackcaps, another elusive 'eastern-type' Lesser Whitethroat and 11 Song Thrushes along with two Dartford Warblers in the Desert. A trickle of birds passing overhead included 88 Stock Doves, 150 Swallows, 21 House Martin, two Tree Sparrows, a Grey Wagtail, four Rock Pipits, a Brambling and eight Siskins. Very quiet offshore with just two Arctic Skuas of note.

More interest in the moth traps a Gem, two Vestals, a Radford's Flame Shoulder, two Scarce Bordered Straws, two Delicates, a Blair's Shoulder-knot (last recorded in 2018), nine Palpita vitrealis and 13 Udea ferrugalis.

The Mediterranean Stick-insect was seen in the Observatory garden again.

22nd Oct

A nice, bright morning allowed for a decent ringing session with the obvious highlight of our third Yellow-browed Warbler to be ringed of the autumn. Other bits in the bushes included 30 Chiffchaffs and five Goldcrests and unusual records of a Barn Owl in the Trapping Area and two Bearded Tits in the bushes at the Polish War Memorial. Birds passing overhead included 83 Stock Doves, a Great White Egret, a Woodlark, 23 Skylarks, 122 Swallows, five House Martins, three Grey Wagtails, three Rock Pipits, six Bramblings, 245 Goldfinches, 93 Siskins and 14 Reed Buntings.

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus   Dungeness   22nd October 2024

The sea was very quiet with just two Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Tern and an Arctic Skua of any interest.

The moth traps continue to provide some good records with two Palpita vitrealis, a Gem, three Scarce Bordered Straws and a Radford's Flame Shoulder of note.

21st Oct

Yet another day of dismal weather. Seawatching produced just a single Balearic Shearwater of any note. Nothing much to be seen on the land.

Two Porpoises and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

20th Oct

Strong SSW winds and heavy rain for most of the day meant most of the effort was spent looking at the sea. Six hours of watching brought the highlight of the day in the form of a Leach's Petrel and with backup including a Sooty and seven Balearic Shearwaters, two Little Gulls and singles of Great and Arctic Skua. A first-winter Caspian Gull was also in the small roost at the Point. It was quiet on the land with just a Merlin, 39 Swallows, ten Redwings, six Song Thrushes and 330 Goldfinches of note.



Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   first-winter   Dungeness   20th October 2024

Two Porpoise and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps continue to provide interest with eight Palpita vitrealis, two Musotima nitidalis, a Vestal, a Scarce Bordered Straw and two Radford's Flame Shoulders. A Western Conifer Seed-bug was also attracted to the light.

Vestal Rhodometra sacrairia   Dungeness   20th October 2024


19th Oct

With wet and windy conditions for most of the day seawatching was the main option with nearly five hours of coverage producing three Shelduck, six Pintails, three Avocets, five Mediterranean Gulls, 85 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern, six Arctic Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and 516 Gannets of interest. Grounded migrants were fairly scarce in the bushes with just 12 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Dartford Warbler, three Goldcrests, eight Song Thrushes and a Rock Pipit of note. Visible migration consisted of 42 Stock Doves and 47 Swallows.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and Nathusius's Pipistrelles were hunting around the moth traps this evening.

The moth traps produced five Palpita vitrealis and three Radford's Flame Shoulders and also a Southern Oak Bush-cricket while a Western Conifer Seedbug was found inside the Observatory.

18th Oct

The highlight of the day was another Yellow-browed Warbler trapped in the Moat. Grounded migrants were otherwise fairly scarce with 30 Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, three Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests, eight Goldcrests, 14 Redwings, 24 Song Thrushes and a Wheatear of note. Birds passing overhead included 550 Stock Doves, six Buzzards, two Woodlarks, 33 Skylarks, ten Tree Sparrows, five Grey Wagtails, a Rock Pipit, seven Bramblings, 100 Goldfinches, 16 Siskins, a Yellowhammer and 29 Reed Buntings. The sea remained quiet with just six Pintails and a Sooty Shearwater of note.

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus   Dungeness   19th October 2024

The moth traps were surprisingly productive overnight with eight Palpita vitrealis, a Musotoma nitidalis, five Gems,a Scarce Bordered Straw and a Delicate. In addition, a Diasemiopsis ramburalis and a Crimson-speckled were trapped at South View Cottage. A Mediterranean Stick-insect was seen in the Observatory garden again.

Crimson Speckled Utethesia pulchella   Dungeness   18th October 2024


17th Oct

Massive thunderstorms overnight. There were a few grounded migrants in the bushes in the morning with a Woodcock, 20 Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps, 70 Redwings, 20 Song Thrushes and three Wheatears and of much more interest, an "Eastern" type Lesser Whitethroat, which unfortunately failed to find its way into a net. Two Long-eared Owls were hunting after dark at the Long Pits. Overhead passage included 31 Stock Doves, three Merlins, a Woodlark, 16 Skylarks, three Grey Wagtails, two Rock Pipits, nine Bramblings, 150 Goldfinches, 20 Siskins and 25 Reed Buntings. A Little Gull and two Arctic Skuas were lingering offshore.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and in the evening there was an almost continuous presence of Nathusius's Pipistrelles, Common Pipistrelles and Soprano Pipistrelles.

An unusual record was a dead Common Toad on the road.

The moth traps were very productive with 24 Palpita vitrealis, five Gems, four Delicates and a Radford's Flame Shoulder. A Hawthorn Shieldbug was also found in the traps and a Western Conifer Seedbug was found at Delhi Cottage. A Mediterranean Stick-insect was seen in the Observatory Garden.

16th Oct

With a strong south-easterly wind in the morning hopes were fairly high for some good bird but it never really happened. Six hours of seawatching produced just 118 Brent Geese, three Shovelers, two Wigeon, three Teal, 163 Mediterranean Gulls, a Yellow-legged Gull, 61 Sandwich Terns, a Great and 15 Arctic Skuas and 287 Gannets. Numbers of birds in the bushes were much reduced with just 14 Chiffchaffs, two Firecrests, five Goldcrests, 40 Redwings, ten Song Thrushes and a Wheatear of note. Birds passing overhead were dominated by the first big movement of 2500 Goldfinches along with a Merlin, 13 Skylarks, 275 Swallows, 215 Meadow Pipits, three Bramblings, two Siskins and eight Reed Buntings.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

15th Oct

A pretty decent morning with a good number of birds in the bushes and passing overhead and a very decent movement of birds offshore. The highlights from the bushes were a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Siberian Chiffchaff (trapped), 100 Chiffchaffs, a late Willow Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Dartford Warbler, 14 Firecrests, 38 Goldcrests, 600 Redwings, 30 Song Thrushes and two Wheatears. A Woodcock and three Snipe were also seen. Birds passing overhead included 24 Skylarks, two Rock Pipits, seven Bramblings, 65 Goldfinches, seven Siskin and 11 Reed Buntings. A three-hour seawatch this morning saw a large westerly movement of mainly wildfowl including 3011 Brent Geese, 81 Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 105 Wigeon, 28 Pintail, 11 Teal and the first Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn along with a Little Gull, 166 Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Tern, four Arctic Skuas and a Sooty Shearwater.





Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita tristis   Dungeness   15th October 2024

Three Porpoises and three unidentified dolphins and two Grey Seals were seen offshore. A Brown Hare was seen on the land.