A fairly miserable day of wind and rain with a trickle of birds passing west this morning including two Red-breasted Mergansers, 64 Kittiwakes, a Little Gull and two Fulmars and four Caspian Gulls were feeding offshore.
Five Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Seawatching produced a Pink-footed Goose passing east along with four Velvet Scoters, 24 Common Scoters, 211 Kittiwakes, two Mediterranean Gulls, over 2000 auks and 90 Red-throated Divers. Long-eared Owl and a Kingfisher were seen at the Long Pits, Eight Chiffchaffs, four Firecrests and 37 Goldcrests were seen in the bushes and 40 Meadow Pipits, 63 Goldfinches and seven Siskins flew over.
Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
A very quiet day. Just two Merlins, five Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest and 26 Goldcrests seen on the land. Offshore, 158 Kittiwakes and a Sandwich Tern flew west and seven Mediterranean Gulls flew east.
Two Grey Seals were feeding offshore,
There was a small arrival of migrants in the bushes this morning with a Woodcock, two Snipe, 20 Chiffchaffs, nine Firecrests, 37 Goldcrests, two Fieldfares, a Redwing and two Song Thrushes of note. In addition, 40 Stock Doves, 730 Starlings, 16 Chaffinches, five Redpolls and 13 Siskins passed overhead.
A Brown Hare was seen.
Quiet. Two Egyptian Geese, a Woodcock, two Snipe, a Merlin, seven Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, 19 Goldcrests and a Siskin were seen on the land. Seawatching produced 16 Teal, two Tufted Ducks and 777 auks.
Fairly quiet with seawatching producing 132 Kittiwakes, five Mediterranean Gulls, two Sandwich Terns, 828 auks and 76 Red-throated Divers. A Woodcock, a Great White Egret, a Little Egret, nine Chiffchaffs, two Firecrests, 26 Goldcrests, 32 Chaffinches, two Redpolls and a Siskin were seen on the land.
Stormy weather failed to bring very much offshore with over three hours of watching producing just 112 Kittiwakes, a Little Gull, a Mediterranean Gull, a Great Skua and 647 Gannets. Three Chiffchaffs and a Firecrest were seen in the Trapping Area.
Two Grey Seals were seen.
Four Teal, three Velvet Scoters, 37 Kittiwakes, three Sandwich Terns, two Fulmars, 400 Gannets and a Shag were seen offshore and a first-winter Caspian Gull was among a small group of roosting gulls at the Point. Two Firecrests were seen in the Trapping Area.
Three Grey Seals and two Common Seals were feeding offshore.
The wintry conditions continue and resulted in a movement of finches and the highlight of the day in the form of a Serin which spent a few minutes in the Moat this morning. Chaffinches also passed through with 233 seen along with 1225 Starlings. A Snipe, ten Chiffchaffs and 40 Goldcrests were seen in the bushes.
Very quiet in cold, wintry conditions. Eight Teal, 38 Common Scoter and seven Mediterranean Gulls moved west offshore. A Lapwing, two Woodcock, two Snipe, five Fieldfares and two Siskins flew over. Two Long-eared Owls and a Short-eared Owl were seen at the Long Pits and seven Chiffchaffs, two Firecrest and 28 Goldcrests were seen in the bushes.
Cold NNW winds with drizzle and then rain failed to produce very much. Four Mediterranean Gulls, 900 auks, 14 Red-throated Divers and 171 Gannets were seen on the morning sewatch. A Great White Egret also flew along the beach.
A Porpoise and two Grey Seals were seen offshore.
The first proper frost of the autumn didn't produce any hoped for movement with a reduction in numbers on the most part from recent days. The sea was quiet and there was very little on the land with 334 Starlings arriving in-off the sea, three Firecrests, 35 Goldcrests, two Redwings, three Song Thrushes, three Black Redstarts, a Brambling, eight Lesser Redpolls and six Siskin.
There were two Brown Hares in the Desert and singles of Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore..
A much quieter day, with migration much reduced. The sea was quiet, with a very light passage of wildfowl and other bits but the highlights were six Canada Geese, an Avocet and 1000 auk sp. There was a few bits passing overhead including a Little Egret, a Buzzard, 300 Starling arriving in off the sea, 18 Lesser Redpolls and five Siskin while in the bushes there was just 12 Chiffchaffs, three Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests, 30 Goldcrests, 17 Blackbirds, five Fieldfares, three Redwings and three Song Thrushes.
A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore
The highlights on the land were 62 Lapwings in, 17 Golden Plovers, a Woodcock, two Snipe, a late Ring Ouzel, 27 Redwings, seven Fieldfares, a Dartford Warbler, 65 Goldcrests, seven Firecrests, 3000 Starlings arriving from the east, 83 Chaffinches and 16 Redpolls. Seawatching produced 1541 Brent Geese (including birds passing overland), 11 Greylag Geese, 19 Shelduck, 15 Shoveler, 34 Wigeon, five Pintail, 55 Common Scoters, a Goldeneye, 13 Little Gulls, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, over 1400 auks and 21 Red-throated Divers.
Three Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
A breaching Tuna was seen.
A bright sunny day after some low-level fog. There were a few birds in the bushes including a Woodcock, six Chiffchaffs, seven Firecrests and 60 Goldcrests and a Bullfinch. Birds passing overhead included 88 Stock Doves and 83 Wood Pigeons, two Golden Plovers, 15 Redpolls and six Siskins, Seawatching produced 55 Brent Geese, four Gadwall, 80 Wigeon, three Pintail, three Teal, 47 Common Scoter, 233 Kittiwakes, seven Mediterranean Gulls, ten Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua.
Twenty Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.
The moth trap produced another three Palpita vitrealis and two Gems.
A miserable day with almost continual rain and strong winds. Five hours of seawatching produced 45 Common Scoters, five Red-breasted Mergansers, 258 Kittiwakes, 25 Mediterranean Gulls, five Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua and over 5,000 auks. Very quiet on the land with just eight Chiffchaffs, two Dartford Warblers, eight Firecrests, 15 Blackbirds and a Brambling of note.
Two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
The highlights from the moth trap were singles of Palpita vitrealis, the Gem and Radford's Flame Shoulder.
Birds passing overhead included a Serin along with 38 Stock Doves, two Swallows, a Fieldfare, 55 Meadow Pipits, six Rock Pipits, a Brambling, 78 Redpolls, 15 Crossbills and 255 Goldfinches while the Pallas's Warbler was still in the Moat and a Siberian Chiffchaff was seen at the Long Pits. Other grounded migrants included 12 Chiffchaffs, four Firecrests and 38 Goldcrests. Seawatching produced just two Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Little Gulls, 20 Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Skua and over 1000 auks sp.
Three Porpoises and four Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Tuna were seen breaching on several occasions.
A Yellow-browed Warbler, 12 Chiffchaffs, eight Firecrests and 34 Goldcrests were seen in the bushes along with the ringed Pallas's Warbler in the Moat. Birds passing over included a Swallow, a Grey Wagtail, 24 Redpolls, nine Crossbills, 725 Goldfinches and seven Siskins. The sea was pretty quiet with just a Velvet Scoter, 18 Little Gulls and an Arctic Skua of note.
Two Porpoise and two Grey Seals were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.
Another windy but drier day. The Pallas's Warbler from the 9th was showing again in the Moat. Two Firecrests, 12 Goldcrests, a Brambling, seven Redpolls and 200 Goldfinches were also seen on the land. Two sessions of seawatching totalling 6.5hrs produced three Shoveler, 22 Teal, 94 Kittiwakes, 91 Little Gulls, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Sandwich Terns, a Great Skua and 490 Gannets.
Singles of Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
Tuna were seen breaching offshore again on several occasions.
A thoroughly miserable day with strong southerly and dawn 'til dusk rain restricted serious observations to the sea. Over seven hours of watching produced two Leach's Petrels, two Sooty Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater of note along with ten Dunlin, 204 Little Gulls, 217 Kittiwakes, two Arctic Skuas and a first-winter Caspian Gull. Two Firecrests were of note in the trapping area.
Four Porpoises and two Grey Seals were seen offshore.
Tuna were seen breaching on several occasions during the day.
Thick, but low level fog and then freshening winds hampered observations this morning but a Pallas's Warbler was trapped in the moat (possibly yesterdays bird from the Old Lighthouse garden) and a Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in the trapping area. Other birds of interest seen during the day included 121 Stock Doves, a Little Egret, 23 Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a Dartford Warbler, nine Firecrests, 55 Goldcrests, 18 Blackbirds, 54 Robins, nine Black Redstarts, two Rock Pipits, 70 Chaffinches, 18 Bramblings, 22 Redpolls and 39 Siskins.
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| Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Dungeness 9th November 2025 (Charlotte Foote) |
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| Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus Dungeness 9th November 2025 |
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| Oak Rustics Dryobota labecula Dungeness 9th November 2025 |
A brilliant day on the land with two Pallas's Warblers and two Yellow-browed Warblers of note along with a Woodlark, 30 Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler, 12 Firecrests, 130 Goldcrests, 18 Blackbirds, a Grey Wagtail, 50 Chaffinches, nine Bramblings, 50 Redpolls and 150 Goldfinches. Two Egyptian Geese also flew over. The sea was very quiet with just nine Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls and six Sandwich Terns of note.
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| Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Dungeness 8th November 2025 The first of two birds today - this one was caught in the Trapping Area. (Lower two images by Gill Hollamby) |
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| Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopous proregulus Dungeness 8th November 2025 The second bird was found in the afternoon in the Old Lighthouse garden. |
With fresh SE winds it was a good day on both land and sea. The highlights on the land were 150 Stock Doves, six Woodlarks, two Yellow-browed Warblers, nine Chiffchaffs, a Dartford Warbler, 19 Firecrests, 55 Goldcrests, 2438 Starlings, 30 Blackbirds, 15 Fieldfares, 16 Redwings, 15 Song Thrushes, 70 Robins, a Rock Pipit, 213 Chaffinches, 51 Bramblings, 19 Redpolls, 720 Goldfinches and 17 Siskin. Seawatching produced 563 Brent Geese, 25 Shelduck, 44 Shovelers, 94 Wigeon, 26 Pintails, 34 Teal, six Velvet Scoters, 60 Common Scoters, six Red-breasted Mergansers, five Grey Plovers, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, three Knot, 278 Sanderling, 60 Dunlin, 40 Little Gulls, 15 Mediterranean Gulls, two Great Skuas and 515 Razorbills.
A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.
The moth traps were surprisingly productive with a Palpita vitrealis, a Red-green Carpet and a Radford's Flame Shoulder of note while another Palpita vitrealis and a Scarce Bordered Straw were seen during the day.
Light showers in the early morning grounded a few migrants including a Yellow-browed Warbler, a Willow Warbler, 15 Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, three Dartford Warblers, 15 Firecrests, 65 Goldcrests and 36 Blackbirds. There was also some good overhead passage with 35 Stock Doves, 88 Wood Pigeons, a Woodlark, ten Skylarks, 1350 Starlings, two Rock Pipits, eight Bramblings, 68 Redpolls, 11 Crossbills, 307 Goldfinches and 24 Siskins of note. The sea was fairly quiet with just ten Mediterranean Gulls, ten Sandwich Terns, 1010 Razorbills and 1640 auks sp.
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| Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Dungeness 6th October 2025 |
Two Bottle-nose Dolphins, two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
The highlight on the insect front was a superb Crimson Speckled moth found near the Sanctuary.
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| Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella Dungeness 6th October 2025 |
More birds offshore today with the highlights of a Leach's Petrel and a Sooty Shearwater along with 182 Kittiwakes, 11 Little Gulls, 23 Mediterranean Gulls, 11 Sandwich Terns, 3091 Razorbills, 1115 "auks sp"., and 160 Gannets. Grounded migrants included eight Chiffchaffs, four Firecrests, 27 Goldcrests and seven Song Thrushes while passing overhead included a Great White Egret, 11 Jackdaws, six Skylarks, three Swallows, 4400 Starlings, a Grey Wagtail, forty Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit, two Bramblings, eight Redpolls, a flock of 12 Crossbills, 550 Goldfinches and six Siskins.
One Grey Seal was seen offshore.
Strong winds again meant yet more seawatching but with a bit more variety than on recent days with 15 Little Gulls, eight Mediterranean Gulls, a Black-throated Diver and a Sooty Shearwater of note while 11 Grey Plovers, four Knot, eight Sandwich Terns, 1261 Guillemots, 2398 Razorbills, 889 auk sp and 981 Gannets were also seen. A Woodcock, a Little Egret, four Firecrest, 1357 Starlings in, 56 Chaffinches, five Crossbills, 300 Goldfinches and 13 Siskin were the best on the land.
Two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen.
Several Tuna were also seen.
Even stronger winds today limited most of the observation to the sea where over six hours of watching produced five Red-breasted Mergansers, 420 Kittiwakes, two Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, a first-winter Caspian Gull, 39 Sandwich Terns, 374 Guillemots, 1073 Razorbills and 893 "auks sp". and 452 Gannets. Just three Firecrests, 20 Goldcrests, 85 Linnets and 390 Goldfinches were the best on the land.
Three Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Strong SW winds and frequent heavy rain brought more seawatching but still not a great deal on the land. Over four hours of seawatching saw 121 Kittiwakes, three Little Gulls, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 30 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Skua, 443 Guillemots, 2076 Razorbills and 730 auk sp., 18 Red-throated Divers and 783 Gannets. On the land there was a bit of overhead movement including six Skylarks, 14 Swallows, 210 Starlings, four Rock Pipits, a Brambling, 12 Redpolls, 175 Goldfinches and eight Siskins. A handful of birds in the bushes included eight Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a Firecrest and 15 Goldcrests.
Singles of Porpoise and Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Fresh SW winds produced a bit of movement offshore but there was very little to be seen on the land. Nearly seven hours of seawatching produced four Shovelers, a Velvet Scoter, a Red-breasted Merganser, 83 Kittiwakes, 56 Little Gulls, nine Mediterranean Gulls, 48 Sandwich Terns, three Arctic Terns, 937 "auks" sp.), 17 Red-throated Divers and 757 Gannets. A few birds on the land included a Merlin, a Swallow, a Blackcap, three Firecrests, 20 Goldcrests, a late Wheatear, two Rock Pipits and 180 Goldfinches.
Three Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore where a couple of Tuna were also seen.
Elsewhere, a Pallas's Warbler was found in bushes alongside Dengemarsh Road.
A strong southerly wind resulted in some good seawatching with a good variety of rarer species and some high numbers. Coverage for most of the day produced two White-fronted Geese, two Velvet Scoters, three Snipe, 18 Little Gulls, eight Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Tern, three Great Skuas, a Puffin, a Little Auk, a Great Northern Diver, a "petrel sp", two Sooty Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater. Numbers were provided by 23 Shelducks, 31 Sandwich Terns, 779 Kittiwakes, 2956 Razorbills, 291 Guillemots, 1927 "auks sp" and 726 Gannets. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were also present. Good numbers of birds also came in off including 36 Swallows, 2086 Starlings, 86 Chaffinches and three Bramblings and five Firecrests were seen in the bushes.
Two Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
Tuna were seen jumping on a couple of occasions.
A quiet day on the land and offshore. Little of note in the bushes with just four Chiffchaffs and three Firecrests seen while 58 Stock Doves, 50 Skylarks, two Fieldfares, 1020 Starlings and a few finches including six Bramblings, a Crossbill and a Common Redpoll trapped among a few Lesser Redpolls were of note.. The best the sea could offer were 113 Kittiwakes, 110 Mediterranean Gulls, 14 Sandwich Terns and 1930 Razorbills.
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| Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea 30th October 2025 (Charlotte Foote) |
The highlight of the day though was a party of about ten Bottle-nose Dolphins which showed well around midday. Four Porpoises, a Common Seal and three Grey Seals were also seen.
Tuna were also seen on couple of occasions during the morning
