A murky morning produced a small arrival of migrants with a Ring Ouzel of particular note along with four Sand Martins, five Willow Warblers, 25 Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps, four Song Thrushes, three Wheatears, a Grey Wagtail and 25 Chaffinches. The sea remains quiet although six Shovelers, a Red-breasted Merganser, a Mediterranean Gull and a Little Egret were of interest.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
Fairly quiet on the land with just six Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, three Wheatears, seven Siskins and a Corn Bunting of note. Seawatching was also very slow with just 16 Pintail and a Manx Shearwater of interest.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
There was a slight improvement on the land with a Jay, a Sand Martin, ten Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, a Blackcap, 17 Redwings, three Song Thrushes, a Black Redstart, six Wheatears and two Siskins of note.
The sea remains very quiet although as the weather deteriorated this afternoon three Manx Shearwaters flew west
Five Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
There were a few more birds on the land today with a Buzzard, a Merlin, 90 Carrion Crows, two Swallows, two Firecrests, three Redwings, four Black Redstarts, six Wheatears, a Rock Pipit and 14 Siskins of note. The sea remains very quiet with just a Mediterranean Gull and 23 Sandwich Terns of interest.
Five Porpoises were seen offshore and two Brown Hares were seen in the Desert.
A small arrival of migrants on the land included a Swallow, 16 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, three Redwings and nine Wheatears. Seawatching produced 99 Brent Geese, 18 Pintail, a Mediterranean Gull and a summer-plumaged Black-throated Diver of interest.
Five Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
There was an obvious arrival of Wheatears today with at least 25 seen along with the first Willow Warbler of the year. A Jack Snipe and four Common Snipe, two Buzzards, a Merlin and a Fieldfare were also seen. The sea was very quiet.
Six Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Elsewhere, a Crane flew over the RSPB and continued northwards over Lade Pit and a Hooded Crow also made a brief appearance near the Visitors Centre.
Another quiet day although there a small arrival of Wheatears with at least nine birds seen. The sea was very quiet with nearly four hours of watching producing just an Eider, two Velvet Scoters, 14 Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull of interest.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
Another quiet day despite a shift to SW winds. Nearly five hours of seawatching produced 350 Brent Geese, four Pintail, 95 Common Scoters, 29 Sandwich Tern, five Mediterranean Gulls and the first Manx Shearwater of the year of note. Two Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear and a Grey Wagtail were the meagre offerings on the land.
Three Porpoises were seen offshore.
Fog for much of the day hampered observations and just a Jack Snipe, five Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, a Wheatear and a Grey Wagtail to report.
The highlights of the day were four Red Kites, a Buzzard, two Jack Snipes, three Common Snipe, the first Swallow of the year and two Bramblings.
Seven Porpoises were feeding offshore and two Brown Hares were seen on the Point.
A Tawny Pinion moth came to the kitchen window this evening.
There was a trickle of birds passing offshore including an Egyptian Goose, six Shovelers, two Pintail, two Avocets and four Mediterranean Gulls of note. The highlight on the land was a party of three Red Kites along with a Golden Plover, a Buzzard, a Merlin, six Chiffchaffs, two Firecrests, seven Black Redstarts, a Grey Wagtail and nine Siskins.
Nine Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and three Brown Hares were seen in the Desert.
Very quiet. Three Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest, a Grey Wagtail, four Bramblings and seven Siskins were seen on the land and two Mediterranean Gulls flew east offshore.
Six Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
A quiet day on the land although a Red Kite over the area and two White Wagtails were of note.
Seawatching continues to produce some decent totals of duck with six Garganey of note along with 317 Shovelers, three Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 36 Pintail, 322 Teal, 388 Common Scoters and also an Arctic Skua.
Four Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Birds continued to move through offshore with over nine hours of watching producing 611 Brent Geese, 30 Shoveler, four Gadwall, 22 Wigeon, 161 Pintail, 45 Teal, 20 Tufted Ducks, a flock of eight Velvet Scoters, 305 Common Scoters, seven Red-breasted Mergansers, ten Little Gulls, two Mediterranean Gulls, 70 Sandwich Terns and 81 Red-throated Divers.
A check of the land produced a Jack Snipe, a Buzzard, 11 Chiffchaffs and two Firecrests.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
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Most of the interest was offshore today with a steady movement of duck which included the highlight of a Smew among a flock of Shoveler and Pintail and also a Long-tailed Duck and a Black-throated Diver. Other notable totals included 2708 Brent Geese, 41 Shovelers, an excellent 318 Pintails, five Red-breasted Mergansers, 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, three Mediterranean Gulls, 75 Sandwich Terns and 137 Red-throated Divers.
There was also a small arrival of birds on the land with 24 Chiffchaffs, nine Firecrests and a Wheatear of note.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
A slow day again in strengthening westerlies. The only birds of note over the sea were 33 Brent Geese, two Mediterranean Gulls and a Fulmar. The land produced just five Redwings.
Offshore, six Porpoise and a Grey Seal was feeding.
Elsewhere, three Eurasian White-fronted Geese were at Dengemarsh on the RSPB reserve. The regular two Whooper Swans and 19 Cattle Egrets were at Cockles Bridge.
A slower day however it still produced some quality in a flock of seven, nearly all in full breeding plumage, Black-necked Grebes that drifted east past on the sea this morning. Otherwise 70 Brent Geese, two Red-breasted Mergansers, 28 Sandwich Terns, 75 Red-throated Divers and a Fulmar the best of the rest.
Nothing seen on the sea at all, and the land was a fair bit better with the obvious highlight being the years first Wheatear at the Power Station. Elsewhere in the recording a Woodcock, four Snipes, a Jack Snipe, four Sparrowhawks, the first Great Spotted Woodpecker since early January, seven Redwings, a Black Redstart, a Brambling and a Siskin.
A few Porpoise fed offshore.
Elsewhere, the RSPB reserve held three Eurasian White-fronted Geese, two Bitterns and two Cattle Egrets, plus three Whooper Swans and 19 Cattle Egrets came into roost on the ARC pit. The family of three Whooper Swans were still at Scotney also.
A very slow morning seawatch after last nights stormy weather with the best being just 70 Brent Geese and a Mediterranean Gull heading east. The land wasn't much better, with just six Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests, four Firecrests and four Redwings of note.
Elsewhere, the first Wheatear of the year for the wider recording area was on the beach off the Romney Tavern at Greatstone as well as the first White Wagtail on the RSPB reserve. Cockles Bridge held its usual two Whooper Swans and 12 Cattle Egrets, plus Scotney still have its family of three Whooper Swans. In Lydd, the Eastern Lesser Whitethroat is still in residence in a private garden, this is for its 75th day.
A day of very strong winds from the south-west didn't produce as much as hoped. The passage was restricted too 724 Brent Geese, 38 Sandwich Terns, 220 Black-headed Gulls, 317 Common Gulls and 55 Red-throated Divers. The land produced two Snipe, a Jack Snipe and a Firecrest.
A slower day than previous, but the sunshine was welcomed after days of fog. Most of the action was offshore again with 1197 Brent Geese, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and two Pintail all east being the most noteworthy. A first-winter Caspian Gull on the beach off the New Lighthouse was the first in over a month. On the land, a Jack Snipe and three Firecrests were present.
Five Porpoise were noted offshore.
Elsewhere, three Eurasian White-fronted Geese were on the RSPB reserve and the regular two Whooper Swans and 12 Cattle Egrets were at Cockles Bridge.
The day started with very light south-easterly winds and slowly dissipating fog revealing better visibility, and a lot of birds moving offshore. The best of the eastbound passage being our fifth best ever spring day of Brent Geese with 6427 passing, and five Spoonbills! Of these five, four came off the reserve and flew east out to sea by the New Lighthouse, while this evening another adult bird flew east over the seawatching hide. Other notables include five Shovelers, 15 Wigeons, four Velvet Scoters, 93 Common Scoters, four Red-breasted Mergansers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Little Gull, 266 Kittiwakes, 1124 Black-headed Gulls (mostly passing incredibly high up!), 42 Mediterranean Gulls, 432 Common Gulls, 240 Red-throated Divers.
There was clearly a small arrival of birds on the land too, with a Woodcock, a Merlin, 21 Jackdaws, 11 Chiffchaffs, 25 Goldcrests, six Firecrests, a Song Thrush and six Redwings. There was plenty of signs of overhead visible migration too, 130 Starlings, seven Skylarks and 21 Meadow Pipits arrived in-off the sea while 510 Chaffinches, a Greenfinch and three Siskins headed eastwards.
Mammals recorded offshore were five Porpoise and a Grey Seal.
Elsewhere, the two Whooper Swans and 10 Cattle Egrets were still at Cockles Bridge.
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| Brent Geese Branta bernicla |
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| Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita |
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| Mixture of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Common Gulls (Larus canus), with one Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) at the back. |
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| Black-headed Gulls Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
A day of such dense fog you couldn't see the power station from the Moat for most of it meant that birding was very limited. The few birds seen on the land included a Snipe, a Merlin, two Chiffchaffs, six Goldcrests, two Firecrests, three Redwings and an increase in Meadow Pipits to 40 around the Point. Curlews and Sandwich Terns were heard flying overhead in the murk.
A day of heavy fog and mist resulting in poor visibility with a light wind blowing from the east. Due to this, the morning seawatch was limited but did produce 19 Pintails and a Golden Plover heading east. The bushes were slightly more productive, with seven Chiffchaffs, 14 Goldrests, a Firecrest, 11 Redwings, 11 Blackbirds, a Black Redstart, three Bramblings and a very noteworthy bird these days in the form of a Yellowhammer in the Old Lighthouse garden.
A day of poor visibility and light winds from the north-east meant it was a quiet day for movement. The only notable eastbound passage on the sea in over four hours was 58 Sandwich Terns and the year's first Avocets with two birds. On the land, just a handful of birds to be seen with a Woodcock, three Redwings, 11 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and two Chiffchaffs.
The calm seas meant a few mammals were seen offshore with 10 Porpoise and a Grey Seal.
Elsewhere at Cockles Bridge, the regular two Whooper Swans and 15 Cattle Egrets. The American Wigeon appeared again on Scotney, but in an area with no general access.
A day of light, variable winds and cloud backed by some light showers this afternoon. Not exactly seawatching weather but a small amount of passage was noted offshore with 15 Brent Geese, 20 Pintails, one Fulmar and 10 Sandwich Terns being about best. The land was slightly more productive, with a westbound first-winter Eurasian White-fronted Goose, the first two Collared Doves of the year, a Snipe, a Merlin, eight Chiffchaffs, 28 Goldcrests, four Firecrests, two Song Thrushes, three Redwings, 42 Stonechats, four Black Redstarts, 56 Chaffinches, a Brambling and two Siskins.
The light winds meant the sea was calm but only six Porpoise and two Grey Seals were seen. The moth trap held 30 moths last night including Waved Umber and Dotted Border.
Elsewhere, the two Whooper Swans and 15 Cattle Egrets were still at Cockles Bridge.
A disappointing morning seawatch considering the south-easterly breeze. The only birds of note include 104 Brent Geese, four Gadwall, 21 Sandwich Terns, eight Mediterranean Gulls, 107 Red-throated Divers and three Fulmars. On the land, just a Woodcock, a Redwing, a Black Redstart, 10 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and a Chiffchaff.
Mammals seen offshore were three Porpoise, a Grey Seal and a Common Seal.
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| Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Dungeness |
A dreary day with a colder wind from the east bringing in heavy fog throughout. A few birds were still noted on the land however with a Golden Plover, two Woodcocks, four Chiffchaffs, 22 Goldcrests, three Firecrests and four Redwings.
A very quiet seawatch with just 28 Brent Geese, four Shelducks, a Pintail and two Mediterranean Gulls. There was a bit of passage overland however with 20 Shovelers, two Greylag Geese, a Golden Plover and 700 Starlings heading east and out over the sea. There was a decent arrival of grounded migrants with a good total of three Woodcocks recorded as well as two Snipes, six Chiffchaffs, 16 Goldcrests, four Firecrests, two Song Thrushes, a Redwing, 26 Stonechats and 52 Linnets.
Offshore, 26 Porpoises, two Grey Seals and a Common Seal were present.
Elsewhere, the Whooper Swans were still present with three at Scotney and two at Cockles Bridge. On the reserve, two Eurasian White-fronted Geese, a Water Pipit and three Firecrests were present.
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| Peacock Butterfly Aglais io Dungeness |
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| Starlings flying east out to sea Sturnus vulgaris Dungeness |
An excellent morning seawatch with most of the passage coming between 0900-1100hrs. The highlights being 169 Brent Geese, 158 Shoveler, two Gadwalls, a superb 403 Pintails, 10 Teals, an Eider, two Red-breasted Mergansers, two Sandwich Terns, 10 Mediterranean Gulls and six Fulmars all heading east. It was quiet on the land with the only notables being a Song Thrush, a Redwing, the first Black Redstart since the 5th January and 15 Stonechats.
A few mammals were recorded including nine Porpoises, a Grey Seals and two Hares. On the lepidoptera front, the first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year as well as a Peacock.
Elsewhere, the RSPB reserve had two Eurasian White-fronted Geese, an adult Yellow-legged Gull and two Firecrests. The regular two Whooper Swans and 17 Cattle Egrets were at Cockles Bridge.
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| A flock of Pintails (Anas acuta) taken by Martin Casemore |
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| A view of the Barry Banson hide this morning taken by Owen Leyshon |