26th Sep

A miserable day with frequent heavy rain and strong winds making observation very difficult. On the face of it the weather conditions seemed reasonable for some seawatching but it was actually very disappointing most birds seemed to be lingering rather than moving through and just 14 Mediterranean Gulls, two Arctic Skua and two Balearic Shearwaters of note. Very quiet on the land with just 30 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps and five Wheatears of interest.

Six Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Twelve Palpita vitrealis, two Delicates and three Scarce Bordered Straws were noteworthy.

25th Sep

Seawatching was good, mainly during the morning, with 190 Mediterranean Gulls, 1000 Sandwich Terns, 20 Arctic Skuas, 40 Balearic Shearwaters and 1170 Gannets. There was a good movement of birds overhead with 6000 Swallows, seven Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 1550 Meadow Pipits, two Tree Pipits, a Rock Pipit and ten Reed Buntings. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps with 195 and 40 respectively dominated the grounded migrant totals along with a Spotted Flycatcher, two Whinchats and 11 Wheatears. 

Six Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

The moth traps continue to provide plenty of interest with another nine Palpita vitrealis, the first Vestal of the year, four Delicates and two Scarce Bordered Straws of note.

24th Sep

Rain for much of the day prevented any ringing activities but there were clearly good numbers of grounded migrants around with 200 Chiffchaffs and 30 Blackcaps along with a Garden Warbler, four Lesser Whitethroats, a Firecrest, eight Song Thrushes and a Spotted Flycatcher of interest. A Great White Egret flew over the area along with 400 Swallows, 1,000 House Martin, nine Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 150 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit and 56 Reed Buntings.

A Grey Squirrel was seen in the trapping area again.

The moth traps proved productive with another five Palpita vitrealis, a Convolvulus Hawkmoth, three Delicates, two Scarce Bordered Straws and a Radford's Flame Shoulder of note.

An evening check for crickets produced just two Large Coneheads and good numbers of singing Italian Tree-crickets.

23rd Sep

There were a few grounded migrants again but sadly no sign of yesterday's Western Bonelli's Warbler. Numbers were dominated by 50 Chiffchaffs and 11 Blackcaps along with five Spotted Flycatchers, two Redstarts, two Whinchats and eight Wheatears of interest. Small numbers of birds passed overhead including just 150 Swallows and five Yellow Wagtails. A brief movement of birds offshore in the morning produced 22 Brent Geese, 19 Wigeon, four Mediterranean Gulls, six Arctic Skuas and 21 Balearic Shearwaters.

Six Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Another good night for Palpita vitrealis in the moth traps with 15 counted along with a Clancy's Rustic and two Delicates.

22nd Sep

It was a day of two major ornithological events. The first was the mid-morning discovery of a Western Bonelli's Warbler in the well known garden of Southview Cottage. This is the sixth Dungeness record of this national rarity and at times have gave excellent views. There were a few other migrants on the ground including three Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 52 Chiffchaffs, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart, two Whinchats and five Wheatears. The second event was a huge and spectacular overhead passage of hirundines with estimates of 126,000 Swallows, 84,000 House Martins and 500 Sand Martins and other bits including two Hobbies, six Yellow Wagtails, eight Grey Wagtails, 1,000 Meadow Pipits, three Tree Pipits, two Rock Pipits, two Siskins and 12 Reed Buntings. Offshore, 140 Brent Geese, five Eider, 200 Mediterranean Gulls, four Arctic Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater were of note.

Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli   22nd September 2024

House Martins Delichon urbicum   Dungeness   22nd September 2024

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore and where a Tuna was also seen. A Brown Hare was also of note.

The only significant moths in the traps were a record total of 21 Palpita vitrealis. An evening search for orthoptera produced ten Large Coneheads and a Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket in the trapping area while a nymph Mediterranean Stick-insect was found in the Observatory garden.

21st Sep

There were a few grounded migrants in the area with 80 Chiffchaffs and 40 Blackcaps along with a Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat of interest. The morning though was dominated by a spectacular movement of birds overhead with 4,000 Sand Martins, 45,000 Swallows, 5,750 House Martins and 2,300 Meadow Pipits and with other bits and pieces including five Yellow Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, three Tree Pipits and ten Reed Buntings. The sea remains very quiet with just a flock of three Balearic Shearwaters and also three Arctic Skuas of note.

Four Porpoises were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced three Palpita vitrealis and our fourth Convolvulus Hawkmoth of the autumn.

20th Sep

With a strong SE wind blowing  grounded migrants were few and far between and only 15 Chiffchaffs and two Whinchats were of note on the land and a Hobby, 620 Swallows and two Grey Wagtails flew over. Seawatching was also very poor with just two Arctic Skuas of interest. . 

A search for shieldbugs produced 25 Mottled Shieldbugs at the Lighthouse Garden.

19th Sep

The strong NE wind continues and very little to be seen. The best on the land was a single Whinchat  and a steady easterly movement of Swallows.

Six Porpoise and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

18th Sep

With a strong NE wind blowing coverage on the land was very difficult but it was clear that there was very little to be seen in the bushes. Over four hours of seawatching produced just 13 Brent Geese, seven Shelduck, 32 Wigeon, five Teal, eight Pintail, 20 Ringed Plovers, two Bar-tailed Godwits, six Mediterranean Gulls and eight Arctic Skuas and single first-winter Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach. A Rock Pipit was also seen on the beach.

Four Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

17th Sep

Seawatching produced 24 Brent Geese, seven Shelduck, eight Shovelers, 90 Wigeon, 23 Teal, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, a Little Tern and ten Arctic Skuas. A Merlin was also hunting around the Point. Very quiet on the land with two Tree Sparrows and a Rock Pipit of note.

Six Porpoises and singles of Common and Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The American Golden Plover was seen again on Burrowes on the RSPB Reserve.

16th Sep

Chiffchaffs provided the numbers on the land again with at least 170 in the area along with a Grasshopper Warbler, ten Blackcaps and two Lesser Whitethroats but overhead passage was very light with just five Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and eight Reed Buntings. Seawatching produced eight Wigeon, nine Teal, ten Arctic Skuas and 17 Balearic Shearwaters.

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia   Dungeness   16th September 2024 

At least 20 Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced a Portland Ribbon Wave, a Cypress Pug and our third record of the pyralid Musotima nitidalis following the first two in 2023.

Musotima nitidalis   Dungeness   16th September 2024

Another male Red-veined Darter was found in the moat.

15th Sep

Chiffchaffs continued to dominate on the land with at least 300 in the area this morning along with three Sedge Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 25 Blackcaps, a Goldcrest and a Whinchat and more surprisingly five Great Spotted Woodpeckers were caught. The Wryneck also made a brief reappearance. Overhead passage included 100 Sand Martins, 2000 Swallows, 100 House Martins, six Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails and three Tree Pipits. Seawatching was also very productive with an excellent total of 73 Balearic Shearwaters of great note along with 80 Common Gulls, 400 Sandwich Terns, a Great Skua, 14 Arctic Skuas, a Red-throated Diver and a Fulmar. 

The Grey Squirrel was seen again at least 23 Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Elsewhere, the Red-necked Phalarope was still showing at Scotney Sandpit.

14th Sep

A busy morning with the nets resulted in 115 birds being ringed and counts in the bushes of 200 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, a Spotted Flycatcher and four Whinchats while birds passing overhead included two Buzzards, 11 Skylarks, 65 Sand Martins, 12 Tree Sparrows, ten Yellow Wagtails, three Grey Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and the first Siskin of the autumn. A check offshore in the evening produced two Little Gulls and two Mediterranean Gulls.

The Grey Squirrel was seen again and several Porpoise were feeding offshore.

A Scarce Bordered Straw was the only moth of note in the traps. A Southern Oak Bush-cricket was seen at the Observatory.

Waders continue to provide most of the interest elsewhere with a moulting adult American Golden Plover appearing on Burrowes Pit. The Red-necked Phalarope was still showing well on the Scotney Sandpit

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica   adult   Burrowes, RSPB   14th September 2024

13th Sep

There were reasonable numbers of migrants in the bushes including 80 Chiffchaffs, three Lesser Whitethroats, two Goldcrests, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart. The clear highlight of birds passing overhead was a Honey Buzzard which showed fantastically well for some observers along with an Osprey also flew out to sea, seven Yellow Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, four Tree Pipits and a Rock Pipit.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus    Dungeness   13th September 2024 (Tom Wright)

A Grey Squirrel was seen again and seems to have taken up residence in the area.

The highlight among the butterflies was this radiata form of Small Copper.

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas  var radiata   Dungeness   13th September 2024

It proved a surprisingly good afternoon for dragonflies with three Red-veined Darters and a Lesser Emperor being found in the moat.

Red-veined Darters Sympetrum fonscolombii   Dungeness   13th September 2024

Elsewhere, the White-winged Black Tern continued its stay on Burrowes and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still at ARC but new in was a super first-winter Red-necked Phalarope on the Scotney Sandpit.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus   first-winter   Scotney Sandpit   13th September 2024

12th Sep

A very cold morning followed by thunderstorms in the evening. The highlight of the day was a superb juvenile Honey Buzzard which spent an hour or so in the area. The Wryneck was present but was still elusive. Three Buzzards flew over and the impressive movement of Kestrels continues with at least 25 in the area. Migrants continue to arrive in small numbers with 50 Chiffchaffs, a Sedge Warbler, 12 Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, 10 Whitethroats, a Redstart, three Whinchats and five Wheatears while birds passing overhead included 160 Swallows, 600 House Martins, 11 Tree Sparrows, nine Grey Wagtails and eight Tree Pipits. There has been virtually nothing passing offshore but four Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Sandwich Terns, six Little Terns, a first-year Arctic Tern and four Arctic Skuas were feeding off the Point in the evening.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus   Dungeness   12th September 2024

The mammal highlight was a Grey Squirrel while three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

The White-winged Black Tern was still on Burrowes and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still at ARC. 

11th Sep

The Wryneck was still present. Fresh migrants included 50 Chiffchaffs, a Garden Warbler, a Firecrest in the Observatory garden, a Pied Flycatcher, two Whinchats and seven Wheatears and 12 Grey Wagtails and 13 Tree Pipits overhead. Kestrels increased to at least 16.

A Convolvulus Hawk-moth and a Palpita vitrealis were trapped overnight.

The White-winged Black Tern was still showing well on Burrowes and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still on the ARC Pit. Two juvenile Spoonbills also flew over.

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus   first-winter   Burrowes, RSPB   
11th September 2024

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia   Burrowes, RSPB   11th September 2024

10th Sep

Two Mediterranean Gulls and nine Arctic Skuas were seen offshore. The Wryneck was still present but proved elusive. An Osprey flew over and Kestrel numbers are increasing with 12 birds present. Five Grey Wagtails and five Tree Pipits also flew over. Very quiet in the bushes.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

Three Scarce Bordered Straws were of note in the moth traps. A nymph Mediterranean Stick-insect was found.

Elsewhere, the White-winged Black Tern remained on Burrowes and the Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at ARC again. 

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus   first-winter   Burrowes, RSPB   
10th September 2024

9th Sep

Seawatching produced an unexpected movement of Balearic Shearwaters with at least 100 passing through along with the first three Brent Geese of the autumn, three Mediterranean Gulls, 200 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern, a Black Tern and three Arctic Skuas.

On the land an Osprey, two Hobbies, 300 House Martins, four Grey Wagtails and nine Tree Pipits flew over. The bushes were generally quiet but a Firecrest, two each of Spotted and Pied Flycatchers and five Whinchats were of note.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

The moth traps were quiet with just two Palpita vitrealis of note.

On the RSPB Reserve there was a juvenile White-winged Black Tern on Burrowes Pit along with 12 Black Terns. A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at ARC Pit.

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus   first-winter   Burrowes, RSPB   
9th September 2024

8th Sep

A 3.5hr seawatch in the morning produced a Mediterranean Gull, a Yellow-legged Gull, 11 Arctic Skuas, a Manx Shearwater and 11 Arctic Skuas.

A Honey Buzzard flew over and Wrynecks increased to two. Visible migration also included 500 Sand Martins, 600 Swallows, six Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails and 11 Tree Pipits.  Grounded migrants were limited to 14 Willow Warblers, ten Whitethroats, two Redstarts, eight Whinchats and five Wheatears.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus   Dungeness   8th September 2024 (Tom Wright)

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Notable moths included four Palpita vitrealis, a Convolvulus Hawk-moth and another Beautiful Marbled.

7th Sep

There was a decent arrival of migrants on the land with 15 Willow Warblers, 14 Chiffchaffs, four Sedge Warblers, two Grasshopper Warblers, 12 Blackcaps, 15 Whitethroats, a Firecrest, singles of Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, ten Whinchats and 14 Wheatears and an Osprey, 14 Yellow Wagtails, ten Grey Wagtails and a huge total of 43 Tree Pipits. The Wryneck continued to show well at times.

Four Mediterranean Gulls, 100 Sandwich Terns, two Little Terns, six Arctic Skuas and a Red-throated Diver were seen offshore.

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia   Dungeness   7th September 2024

Wryneck Jynx torquilla   Dungeness   7th September 2024

6th Sep

The Wryneck was still present and there was also a decent arrival of migrants with 60 Willow Warblers, 14 Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, 12 Lesser Whitethroats, 25 Whitethroats, three Spotted and two Pied Flycatchers, two Redstarts, an excellent total of  22 Whinchats, 12 Wheatears, 12 Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails and three Tree Pipits.

Three hours of seawatching during the day produced just 24 Teal, a Shoveler, 16 Wigeon, 150 Sandwich Terns, 14 Little Terns, an Arctic Tern and three Arctic Skuas.

Six Porpoises, two Grey Seals and two Common Seals offshore..

The moth traps produced a Dusky Thorn, another three Beautiful Marbleds and two Scarce Bordered Straws of note. A female Southern Oak Bush-cricket was seen in the Observatory Garden.

A first-winter Red-necked Phalarope was showing very well at the southern end of Lade Pit.

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus   first-winter   Lade Pit   6th September 2024

5th Sep

A dismal day with torrential rain (over 32mm mostly in a 90 minute spell), lightning and thunder and strong winds during the morning. There was barely a sign of a migrant in the bushes with just a Pied Flycatcher of note and the very elusive Wryneck made a brief appearance. Despite the awful conditions the sea remained quiet with just a flock of 12 Greenshanks, a Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Skua and two Balearic Shearwaters of note.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Another Beautiful Marbled was caught overnight along with our first Red Underwing moth of the year.

4th Sep

In calm, cloudy conditions there was a good arrival of migrants in the bushes and a very decent passage overhead. Of note in the bushes were 40 Willow Warblers, two Grasshopper Warblers, 50 Blackcaps, three Garden Warblers, the first Firecrest of the autumn, a Pied Flycatcher, a Redstart and nine Whinchats. An Osprey and a Buzzard flew over while numbers were provided by 200 Sand Martins, 3000 Swallows, nine Tree Sparrows, 54 Yellow Wagtails, ten Grey Wagtails and seven Tree Pipits. Very quiet offshore although a juvenile Caspian Gull was seen briefly at the fishing boats and a couple each of Mediterranean Gull, Arctic Tern and Black Tern passed through. 

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca   Dungeness   4th September 2024

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra   Dungeness   4th September 2024 (Tom Wright)

Osprey Pandion haliaetus   Dungeness   4th September 2024

At least six Porpoise were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced two Palpita vitrealis,  a Hoary Footman, three Delicates, a Scarce Bordered Straw and another Beautiful Marbled.

3rd Sep

There was a very small fall of migrants today with nothing in any numbers but with a couple of highlights in the form a fairly elusive Wryneck and a Pied Flycatcher along with 11 Willow Warblers, two Garden Warblers, six Whinchats, two Tree Sparrows, 14 Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails and two Tree Pipits. Seawatching was very slow with just an Avocet and two Arctic Skuas of note.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla   Dungeness   3rd September 2024

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

There was a distinct improvement in the moth traps with three Box-tree Moths, a Palpita vitrealis, a Hoary Footman, a Delicate, a Scarce Bordered Straw and the highlight of a Radford's Flame Shoulder. 

Radford's Flame Shoulder Ochropleura leucogaster   Dungeness   3rd September 2024

A Southern Oak Bush-cricket was seen in the Observatory garden and there was a very noisy chorus from the Tree Crickets after dark.

The White-winged Black Tern remains on Burrowes Pit, RSPB.