Another windy day and little to be seen. Seven hours of seawatching produced just five Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua of note.
One Grey Seal was feeding offshore.
25th May
No doubt about today's highlight with the finding of an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler singing in the Trapping Area. Despite being heard on numerous occasions throughout the day it proved extremely difficult to see with many observers getting only the briefest of glimpses. This is only the tenth British record and a new species for Kent and Dungeness.
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| Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis Dungeness 25th May 2025 (images by James Dee) |
Two Norfolk Hawkers were seen in the Trapping Area.
24th May
Very quiet in the Observatory area in pretty miserable weather conditions.
Elsewhere, the female Red-footed Falcon continued to show very well at Hookers on the RSPB Reserve.
23rd May
A Bee-eater made a typically short visit to the Point this morning before heading off south-east and a Little Ringed Plover also flew over. A Cuckoo was singing at the Long Pits.
A Brown Hare was seen.
The highlight from the Reserve was the female Red-footed Falcon which showed well at Hookers again.
22nd May
A Bee-eater was heard calling over the Long Pits this morning and two Ring-necked Parakeets also flew north. Two Spotted Flycatchers were seen on the Point. A Red-legged Partridge was singing at the top of the estate.
Three Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
The first Speckled Wood of the spring was seen along with two Painted Ladies and four Brown Argus. Fifty-nine Variable Damselflies were seen at the Long Pits
Elsewhere, a female Red-footed Falcon was found at Hookers Pit on the RSPB Reserve this afternoon.
21st May
Very quiet despite what seemed like perfect conditions for a late arrival of migrants. A check of the nocmig recorder set at the Observatory had picked up the calls of the Night-heron from the previous evening.
20th May
Another quiet day with the obvious highlight of an early morning female Montagu's Harrier but unfortunately it didn't linger and quickly headed northwards. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen at the Long Pits and intriguingly what sounded like a Night-heron flew over the area just after dark but was not seen.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Dragonflies seen today included ten Variable Damselfly and a Norfolk Hawker.
19th May
Another quiet day with a couple of notable birds in the form of a Shag offshore and a Tree Sparrow at the Point.
Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Dragonflies seen today included 53 Variable Damselflies.
Elsewhere, it was surprisingly good for waders with the RSPB Reserve holding 31 Grey Plovers, 56 Ringed Plovers, a Greenshank, ten Knot, four Little Stints and best of all, a Temminck's Stint which eventually gave good views from Hanson Hide.
18th May
There was a slight increase in passage on the land this morning with three Hobbys, a Bee-eater (heard only), two Willow Warblers, five Spotted Flycatchers, a Tree Sparrow, two Yellow Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 62 Corn Buntings. Seawatching produced just 25 Whimbrel, four Mediterranean Gulls and two Arctic Skuas of interest.
17th May
Over four hours of seawatching during the day produced just an Eider, eight Grey Plover, 34 Whimbrel, a Mediterranean Gull, three Little Terns and six Manx Shearwaters.
Five Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.
16th May
The highlight of an otherwise very quiet day was an adult Purple Heron at the Long Pits in the afternoon although it was not seen again after the initial sighting. Eight Grey Plovers, eight Whimbrel, a Knot, four Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua flew east in the evening.
Three Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
A Norfolk Hawker and 122 Variable Damselfly's were seen at the Long Pits.
15th May
Very quiet although another White Stork appeared over the area, a Spotted Flycatcher was caught in the Moat and 40 Corn Buntings were feeding at the Point. Four Mediterranean Gulls flew east.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was also seen.
14th May
The highlight of the day were nine Red Kites including a flock of eight birds). Seawatching was very slow with just two Grey Plover, 12 Whimbrel, three Turnstones and two Arctic Skuas of note.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
13th May
More north-easterly winds and still quiet on the land but a steady trickle of birds east offshore including the days highlights of 11 Pomarine Skuas (flocks of nine and two) and a remarkable flock of 17 Cattle Egrets. Also seen offshore were three Shovelers, 11 Whimbrel, 13 Knot, four Sanderlings, three Little Terns, 16 Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua in 4.5hrs of watching. The only birds of note on the land were a Red Kite, a Whinchat, a Siskin and a feeding flock of 70 Corn Buntings..
A decent total of 21 Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
A Maiden's Blush and a Gem were of note from the overnight moth-trapping.
Searching for other insects produced the shieldbugs Legnotus limbatus, Ceraleptus lividis and Eurygaster maura and the scarce bee Hylaeus pictipes.
Elsewhere on Dungeness the clear highlight was an adult Whiskered Tern which showed well at times during the afternoon on various pits until it settled down for a time in the evening at Hooker's Pit.
12th May
It remains very slow-going on the land with just five Buzzards and 57 Corn Buntings of interest. Seawatching throughout the day produced just three Pintail, two Eiders, three Velvet Scoters, 483 Common Scoters, six Grey Plover, 101 Sanderling, three Little Terns, six Black Terns, five Arctic Skuas, two Pomarine Skuas, a Black-throated Diver, a Manx Shearwater and two Little Egrets.
Ten Porpoise and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
Ten Variable Damselflies and a Norfolk Hawker were seen at the Long Pits.
11th May
A day of variety but still not many migrants in the bushes in the fresh, cold NE winds. The highlight came late in the day with an adult Long-tailed Skua passing close inshore at 1740hrs after being seen earlier in the day off Selsey Bill. Over 11hrs of seawatching produced a few notable birds but numbers were generally low with a Pintail, 11 Shoveler, a Velvet Scoter, 459 Common Scoters, 87 Grey Plover, 15 Whimbrel, four Redshank, a Greenshank, 20 Knot, 83 Sanderlings, three Mediterranean Gulls,12 Little Terns, three Black Terns, seven each of Arctic and Pomarine Skuas, five Black-throated Divers and two Manx Shearwaters. On the land, a White Stork and a Bee-eater were of note.
Six Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
10th May
Yet again, seawatching provided most of the interest with migration on the land at a virtual standstill. Thirteen hours of watching produced 14 Shelduck, 16 Shoveler, a Pintail, six Velvet Scoters, 262 Common Scoters, 163 Grey Plovers, 47 Whimbrel, 129 Knot, 42 Sanderling, two Redshank, 20 Little Terns, seven Black Terns, seven Pomarine Skuas, (taking the spring tally to 110 birds), seven Arctic Skuas, six Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver. A Greenshank, 39 Swallows and three Yellow Wagtails flew over.
Four Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Two Brown Argus butterflies were seen.
9th May
More seawatching in the continuing strong, cold north-easterly winds. It was actually fairly slow-going offshore but 13 hours of watching produced 118 Grey Plovers, 427 Whimbrels, 101 Bar-tailed Godwits, 96 Knot, 15 Sanderling, eight Little Terns, three Black Terns, seven Pomarine Skuas, 15 Arctic Skuas, a Great Northern Diver and a Little Egret. Still very quiet on the land.
Six Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Six Brown Argus and two Grizzled Skippers were seen in sheltered spots around the Point.
8th May
Seawatching for most of the day was productive with 123 Grey Plovers, 487 Whimbrels, 15 Knot, 11 Sanderling, ten Dunlin, 17 Little Terns, five Black Terns, six Mediterranean Gulls, ten Pomarine Skuas, 11 Arctic Skuas, two Black-throated Divers and two Manx Shearwaters of note. The cold weather saw a strong movement of Swallows with 260 along with six Sand Martins and six House Martins heading out to sea but the bushes were very quiet.
Two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
7th May
Another cold day with a bit moving offshore but very quiet on the land. Three sessions of seawatching totaling 5.5hrs produced 16 Whimbrel, 59 Bar-tailed Godwits, four Little Terns and singles of Great and Arctic Skuas. Birds passing overhead included seven Swifts, 17 Sand Martins, 81 Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail. A flock of 40 Corn Buntings were feeding around the railway loop again.
Six Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
6th May
Very slow-going again in strong n to NE winds. Three hours of seawatching produced just three Grey Plovers, 19 Whimbrel, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, eight Little Terns and two Manx Shearwaters. Three Willow Warblers were seen in the bushes.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
5th May
The strong northerly winds continue and migration is at a virtual standstill. A two-hour seawatch this morning produced just six Knot, six Little Tern (west), a Mediterranean Gull, two Arctic Skuas and 27 Swallows. A flock of 30 Corn Buntings was seen in the railway line loop again.
4th May
Very slow in strong, cold northerly winds. The only migrants of note were 52 Whimbrels, seven Bar-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank and three Sand Martins.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
3rd May
At least three Red Kites flew over and a Spotted Flycatcher, a Ring Ouzel and two Whinchats.
The sea was very quiet with 29 Grey Plovers, 98 Whimbrel, 11 Sanderling, six Little Terns, ten Mediterranean Gulls, seven Arctic Skuas, just one Pomarine Skua, two Black-throated Divers and seven Manx Shearwaters.
Fifteen Porpoises and two Grey Seals were seen offshore.
A few Painted Ladies arrived.
2nd May
Another White Stork (metal ringed) flew over and two Whinchats and a flock of 60 Corn Buntings were on note on the land.
Another full day of seawatching was actually slow going but eventually produced two Velvet Scoters, three Grey Plovers, 27 Whimbrels, 14 Little Terns, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Arctic Skuas, seven Pomarine Skuas and two Great Skuas.
Five Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
A Mottled Shieldbug was found in the Lighthouse garden.
1st May
Yet another day of seawatching with over 12hrs producing four Avocets, 113 Whimbrel, 38 Sanderlings, nine Little Gulls, four Mediterranean Gulls, five Arctic Skuas and six Pomarine Skuas of note.
Three Common Sandpipers and a Hobby were seen at the Long Pits, four Red Kites flew over, a Ring Ouzel, a Whinchat and a Tree Pipit were seen on the land.
Eight Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Butterflies included a Small Copper of the aberration radiata and a Bordered Shieldbug was found in the Observatory garden.
30th Apr
Dawn 'till dusk seawatching eventually produced some notable totals with 45 Pomarine Skuas (including a flock of 26 birds) being the highlight. Other bits and pieces included nine Shovelers, eight Velvet Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers, our second-best spring day total of 176 Grey Plovers, 135 Whimbrel, 32 Bar-tailed Godwits, 46 Knot, 77 Sanderling, 19 Little Terns, 91 Little Gulls, 22 Arctic Skuas, a Black-throated Diver and two Manx Shearwaters.
It remains very quiet on the land but our first Swifts and Whinchat of the year were seen along with a Red Kite, 30 Swallows, four Yellow Wagtails and a flock of 35 Corn Buntings were of note.
Eight Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
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