Light westerly winds and overcast skies produced another decent arrival of birds on the land and passing overhead. The highlights on the land were two Merlins, 135 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcaps, two Dartford Warblers, 21 Goldcrests, a Ring Ouzel, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart, two Wheatears and five Tree Sparrows. Of note among the birds passing overhead included 150 Swallows, 139 House Martins, a Yellow Wagtail, four Grey Wagtails, 265 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit, two Rock Pipits, 40 Chaffinches, two Bramblings, six Redpolls, ten Crossbills, 112 Siskins and 13 Reed Buntings. The sea was quiet with just 17 Brent Geese, nine Shelducks, a Grey Plover, 25 Mediterranean Gulls and 26 Razorbills of interest and two Purple Sandpipers were feeding along the strandline.
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| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Dungeness 8th October 2025 |
Eight Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
A Common Toad was heard calling in the back garden.
The highlight from the moth trap was our third record of the rare migrant pyralid Hellula undalis. Two Clouded Yellows were also seen.
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| Old World Webworm Hellula undalis Dungeness 8th October 2025 |
A male Polistes biglumis was found in the Observatory garden. An example of this rare wasp was added to the area list in the spring so this possibly suggests that it may have bred this year.
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| Polistes biglumis Dungeness 8th October 2025 |
A few shieldbugs were found and included a Box Bug. Two Mediterranean Stick-insects were found in the garden.
Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus Dungeness 8th October 2025