Very quiet with just 526 Great Crested Grebes offshore and a Water Rail in the Trapping Area of interest.
A Porpoise was feeding offshore.
The Mediterranean Stick-insect was seen in the Observatory Garden again.
A gale-force NE wind and torrential rain overnight resulted in some major problems in the house and limited observations to seawatching where the highlight was an immature Iceland Gull heading east offshore. Also of note were four Pintail, 341 Great Crested Grebes, 89 Dunlin and five Mediterranean Gulls. A Merlin was hunting along the beach.
A Porpoise was feeding offshore.
More wind and rain. With SE winds it was hoped that the sea might produce something but in the end over five hours of watching saw just 68 Brent Geese, 17 Shovelers, three Wigeon, two Pintail, two Velvet Scoters and 47 Mediterranean Gulls of note.
Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.
More miserable weather and fewer birds offshore with just 20 Brent Geese, 640 auks and 84 Red-throated Divers of any interest. A second-winter Yellow-legged Gull was roosting at the fishing boats.
Three Porpoises were feeding offshore.
The Mediterranean Stick-insect was still alive in the Observatory garden.
A clear and dry morning for a change allowed for a bit of coverage on the land with a Firecrest at the Long Pits, two Chiffchaffs on the Point, two Water Rails and a Fieldfare in the Trapping Area, a Mistle Thrush on the wires at the Observatory, eight Stonechats scattered around the Point and 12 Chaffinches, six Goldfinches and a Siskin overhead. Seawatching produced 33 Brent Geese, four Shelduck, a Mediterranean Gull and 249 Red-throated Divers.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
A bright sunny day for a change but very little to be seen. The best from a one-hour seawatch this morning were just two Wigeon and seven Mediterranean Gulls.
A Porpoise was feeding offshore.
A Dark Swordgrass was the first 'macro' moth of the year to be trapped.
The Mediterranean Stick-insect continues to be seen in the Observatory garden.
A trickle of birds passing offshore included 175 Brent Geese, a drake Shoveler, two Pintails, eight Mediterranean Gulls, 196 Red-throated Divers and three Fulmars of interest. A check of the land was notable for a fly-over Woodlark along with a Water Rail, a Chiffchaff, two Redwings and five Siskins.
A Porpoise was seen offshore.
The Mediterranean Stick-insect remains.
A mostly wet and cold day. Most of the observations were offshore again where 220 Brent Geese passed through along with 688 Guillemots, 300 auk sp, and 445 Red-throated Divers. Two Mediterranean Gulls, four Caspian Gulls (all first-winters) and a Yellow-legged Gull were seen on the beach. A Water Rail was heard in the Trapping Area.
In addition, this very pale first-winter Herring Gull has been lingering in the area for the last few days.
Herring Gull Larus argentatus first-winter Dungeness 7th February 2024 |
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
A Mediterranean Stick-insect remains in the garden.
A 2.25hr seawatch this morning produced five Gadwall, an excellent total of 116 Pintail west, 74 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gull, a first-winter Caspian Gull, 25 Razorbills, 887 auks, 415 Red-throated Divers, two Fulmars and 165 Gannets.
However, the clear highlight of the day was a White-tailed Eagle which flew NE over the peninsula just after mid-day. It was a bird from the Isle of Wight re-introduction project (ringed G542) and was also seen here in March last year.
Seawatching produced 55 Brent Geese, 600 Guillemots and 61 Red-throated Divers while five Sanderlings, a Mediterranean Gull and two first-winter Caspian Gulls were on the beach. Two Ravens flew over the Observatory and a Chiffchaff and a Siskin were seen in the Trapping Area.
A Porpoise was seen offshore.
Three Mediterranean Stick-insects were still surviving in the Observatory Garden and a few Firebugs were also seen.
Still high numbers of gulls around with two Mediterranean Gulls and two Caspian Gulls of note. The high tide wader roost produced 40 Turnstones, 34 Sanderlings and 357 Dunlin. A Chiffchaff was seen in the Moat.
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans first-winter Dungeness 31st January 2024 |
Three Grey Seals and a Porpoise were feeding offshore.
More of the same with thousands of gulls feeding offshore and including four Mediterranean Gulls, six Caspian Gulls and two Yellow-legged Gulls while 100 Dunlin and 80 Turnstones were roosting on the beach. Seventy Brent Geese and 330 Red-throated Divers also passed through.
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans first-winter Dungeness 30th January 2024 |
Gulls on the beach |
Gull watching continues to dominate proceedings with six Mediterranean Gulls, four Caspian Gulls and two Yellow-legged Gulls among the feeding hoards. Also seen offshore were 190 Brent Geese and 457 Red-throated Divers. A check of the land produced just two Water Rails and a Chiffchaff of note.
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus adult Dungeness 29th January 2024 |
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans first-winter Dungeness 29th January 2024 |
A Porpoise and three Grey Seals were also feeding offshore.