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 Gannets.  Coverage 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.