31st May

A Honey Buzzard flew over the trapping area and then headed north this morning. Two Chiffchaffs were caught in the moat.

The moth traps were high on quality with a Striped Hawkmoth and another two Eastern Bordered Straws being the highlights as well as a Lime Hawkmoth, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and a Bordered Straw.

Striped Hawkmoth Hyles livornica   Dungeness   21st May 2026

Eastern Bordered Straw Heliothis nubigera   Dungeness   31st May 2026

In addition, a Purple Marbled was caught in Lydd-on-Sea and at least three more Eastern Bordered Straws were caught  across the Point.

Purple Marbled Eublemma ostrina   Lydd-on-Sea   31st May 2026

30th May

Frustratingly, the birds of the day would have been a small flock of Bee-eaters which flew over the Point mid-morning but went unseen. A Crossbill also flew over.

A Scorched Carpet and two Beautiful Hook-tips were the only moths of note in the traps and a pair of mating Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen on the power station wall..

There was an impressive arrival of Painted Ladies during the morning with at least 400 being seen.

29th May

Very little in the way of birds to report.

Sixteen Porpoise and two Grey Seals were seen feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.

Over 100 Painted Ladies were also seen.

A Green-eyed Hawker was seen in the Trapping Area.

28th May

 Very quiet on the bird front. A late flock of 21 Brent Geese flew east in the evening.

Six Porpoises, three Grey Seals and a Common Seal were feeding offshore.

A Green-eyed Hawker and two Lesser \Emperor dragonflies were seen at the southern end of the Long Pits.

27th May

The highlight of the day was a female Montagu's Harrier which flew south towards the Point before turning and heading inland where it was also seen at ARC and Cockles Bridge. A Spotted Flycatcher was also seen. The sea was very quiet with just a Gadwall, 24 Common Scoters, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 32 Mediterranean Gulls passing east. 

Two Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

26th May

Offshore, 81 Common Scoters, six Grey Plovers and seven Mediterranean Gulls passed through but nothing much to report on the land.

Five Porpoises and two Grey Seals were seen offshore and four Brown Hares were seen on the land.

The highlight of the day though was the catching of an Eastern Bordered Straw overnight. The third Observatory record of this scarce migrant moth.

Eastern Bordered Straw Heliothis nubigera   Dungeness   26th May 2026

Of even greater significance on the moth front was the catching of a Fir Carpet by Sean Clancy in his garden in New Romney.

Fir Carpet Thera vetustata   New Romney   26th May 2026

25th May

After yesterdays excitement it was much quieter today with barely a migrant to be seen on the land. Sixty-two Mediterranean Gulls flew east and six Corn Buntings were seen on the Point.

Offshore, 12 Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding and two Brown Hares were seen in the Desert.

24th May

A brilliant days birding began with the finding of a singing Greenish Warbler at the north-west corner of the trapping area. Surprisingly it gave superb views for most of the morning and early afternoon and was the first Dungeness record since 1993. Four Bee-eaters were seen on numerous occasions during the day while two Honey Buzzards, a Red Kite and two White Storks also flew over. A check of the sea in the evening produced 60 Mediterranean Gulls.

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides    Dungeness    24th May 2026

Three Porpoise were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.

The moth traps produced three Small Mottled Willows.

23rd May

Two Bee-eaters flew south and out to sea over the Point in the early morning and later in the day a White Stork made a couple of passes over the area. Other migrants were few and far between other than a few new Reed Warblers and a male Redstart at the Long Pits. Twenty Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore in the evening

22nd May

Two Spotted Flycatchers and a Whinchat were the only notable migrants on the land. Evening watching offshore produced 13 Mediterranean Gulls.

The highlight of the day was a Minke Whale which was seen several times close inshore in the evening.

21st May

The obvious highlight of the day was a male Red-breasted Flycatcher which spent all its time in a patch of willows in the moat and frequently singing. It was also pleasing to note that at least 13 Spotted Flycatchers arrived along with two Willow Warblers, a Whinchat and 24 Corn Buntings. A Little Ringed Plover also flew over.

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva   Dungeness   21st May 2026

Four Porpoise were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

Elsewhere, a Black-winged Stilt was reported from the RSPB Reserve.

20th May

Another windy day which proved disappointing offshore and on the land. Three Arctic Skuas were of note offshore. Five Swifts and 14 House Martins flew over and two Spotted Flycatchers were seen on the land.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

19th May

Strong southerly winds failed to produce very much offshore with just 42 Common Scoters, five Mediterranean Gulls, seven Arctic Skuas, seven Fulmars and five Manx Shearwaters in 4.5hrs of watching. Very quiet on the land.

A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

18th May

It remains very quiet with seawatching producing just a Pomarine Skua and two Mediterranean Gulls. There was a very small arrival of birds on the land which included a Chiffchaff previously ringed on 18th April at Portland Bird Observatory and a Tree Pipit. Eight Corn Buntings were feeding at the Point.

17th May

Very quiet again. Seawatching produced just one Arctic Skua and nine Manx Shearwaters while a Willow Warbler and two Spotted Flycatchers were the only birds of note on the land.

Single Porpoise and Grey Seal were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

16th May

Very quiet. Six Arctic Skuas flew east and a Willow Warbler and five Siskins were of note on the land.

15th May

Two Little Egrets flew east and a Hobby, a Cuckoo, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Siskins and 60 Corn Buntings were seen on the land and three Grey Plover flew east overhead.

A Porpoise was seen offshore and a couple of Brown Hares were seen on the land.

A Mottled Shieldbug was found at the Observatory.

14th May

Seawatching was very slow but with the surprising exception of 38 Manx Shearwaters passing west. Seven Mediterranean Gulls and 144 Kittiwakes were also seen. A Spoonbill flew north along the coast along with 42 Swifts and a Siskin. A flock of 40 Corn Buntings were feeding in the broom around the Point.

Four Porpoises were feeding offshore.

13th May

Cold and strong northerly winds with frequent thunder and lightning. Seawatching produced just 125 Kittiwakes, 14 Mediterranean Gulls, an Arctic Skuas and five Manx Shearwaters. Birds passing overhead included 32 Swifts, a Merlin, 37 Swallows and 37 House Martins. A Willow Warblers and two Corn Buntings were seen on the land.

A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

12th May

Cold NW winds again and not a great deal to be seen. A Turtle Dove was the highlight on the land, along with three Grey Herons, 25 Swallows and two Willow Warblers. A flock of 35 Corn Buntings was also seen. Seawatching produced just three Eiders, 12 Ringed Plovers, two Mediterranean Gulls and a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull. 

A Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.

11th May

Very quiet. A Firecrest was trapped in the Moat and 16 Swallows flew over. Seawatching produced just eight Ringed Plovers and five Mediterranean Gulls.

10th May

Very little to be seen in near-gale conditions. Seawatching saw just two Grey Plovers, eight Sanderlings, two Little Terns and three Mediterranean Gulls of interest.

A Grey Seal was seen offshore.

Three Temminck's Stints were seen on the Reserve again.

9th May

It remains very quiet on the land but sewatching continues with another 13.5hrs recorded and producing two Shoveler, two Gadwalls, two Eiders, 167 Grey Plovers, 56 Whimbrels, 103 Sanderlings, 28 Redshank, 1005 Black-headed Gulls, 42 Mediterranean Gulls, six Arctic Skuas, 13 Pomarine Skuas, a Great Skua and two Little Egrets. 

Two Porpoises, a Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Nine Grizzled Skippers, ten Brown Argus and 40 Common Blues were seen.

A party of three Temminck's Stints were feeding around the pools at Boulderwall Farm on the RSPB Reserve.

8th May

Light, mainly ESE winds through the day meant a 14.5hour seawatch which produced six Shoveler, six Gadwall, seven Eider, 21 Grey Plovers, 105 Whimbrel, 53 Bar-tailed Godwits, 102 Knot, 59 Sanderlings, 541 Kittiwakes, three Great Skuas, 24 Pomarine Skuas, 11 Arctic Skuas, 18 Little Terns, an excellent total of 154 Black Terns and a Manx Shearwater. A Little Egret flew out to sea and 25 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.

Four Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore. 

Two Brown Argus and a Holly Blue were seen.

7th May

Another day of seawatching with ten hours of coverage producing three Eiders, 53 Grey Plovers, 27 Whimbrels, 96 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Knot, 34 Sanderlings, 17 Mediterranean Gulls, three Little Terns, 25 Black Terns, two Great Skuas, 17 Arctic Skuas, two Pomarine Skuas and 11 Black-throated Divers. Very quiet on the land with just a flock of 38 Corn Buntings feeding around the Point of note.

Eight Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

6th May

Seawatching continues to provide most of the interest where over six hours of coverage produced three Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Grey Plovers, two Little Gulls, 32 Little Terns, two Arctic Skuas and three Manx Shearwaters of note. Fifteen Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore. Two Red Kites flew over the Point and 38 Corn Buntings were seen in the Desert. 

Five Porpoises and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

A Mottled Shieldbug was seen at the Lighthouse garden and a Holly Blue was seen in the Observatory garden..

5th May

Fresh NE winds continue with little sign of migration on the land and a steady trickle of birds offshore including 92 Whimbrel, a Pomarine Skua, 304 Kittiwakes, 12 Mediterranean Gulls, 26 Little Terns, two Black Terns and 90 Arctic Terns. Birds passing overhead included two Swifts and 94 Swallows flew over.  

Twelve Porpoises and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

Five Grizzled Skippers, 26 Painted Ladies and two Brown Argus were of note.

4th May

A remarkable morning with almost the only new migrant in the bushes being a singing Iberian Chiffchaff. It was first found at the southern end of the trapping area but quickly moved north through the area and ended up at the top of the Long Pits where it gave good views until it was last seen at 1345hrs. This the third Observatory and Dungeness record and follows hot on the heels of one seen last year.

A foggy start to the day limited seawatching to the afternoon where 35 Whimbrel, three Little Gulls, seven Mediterranean Gulls, a Pomarine Skua, 12 Arctic Skuas, two Little Terns, a Black Tern, three Arctic Terns, 1271 Common/"commic" Terns and a Shag were of note. 

Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus   Dungeness   4th May 2026

Six Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Stoat was seen on the land.

Two Grizzled Skippers and 50 Painted Ladies were of note among the butterflies.

3rd May

A very disappointing day on both land and sea despite what seemed like favourable conditions for a few migrants to appear. A Little Gull, nine Arctic Skuas and a Black-throated Diver were the only birds of note offshore while a Garden Warbler and a Tree Pipit were noteworthy on the land.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore  and two Brown Hares were seen on the land.

2nd May

Light winds failed to produce much on the land and the sea was fairly quiet. Over eight hours of seawatching produced three Pomarine Skuas and seven Arctic Skuas along with a Velvet Scoter, 16 Ringed Plovers, 157 Whimbrel, two Little Gulls and two Mediterranean Gulls while four Little Egrets flew out. A Fieldfare, a Whinchat, five Yellow Wagtails and 40 Corn Buntings were of note on the land. 

Ten Porpoises and three Grey Seals were seen offshore and six Brown Hares were seen in and around the Desert.

 

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1st May

Another day of excellent seawatching with 12 hours of coverage producing highlights of an adult Long-tailed Skua, 26 Pomarine Skuas, a Puffin, nine Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver along with 253 Brent Geese, 13 Velvet Scoters, 72 Whimbrel, 102 Bar-tailed Godwits, 67 Knot, 52 Sanderlings, 41 Dunlin, 38 Little Terns, ten Black Terns, 43 Little Gulls, seven Mediterranean Gulls, 25 Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas and two Manx Shearwaters. It remains very quiet on the land although the first Whinchat of the year and two Redstarts were seen.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore, five Brown Hares were seen in the Desert and a Badger was seen in the grounds of the power station.

Another example of the rare beetle Hister quadrimaculata was found near the Observatory and the first Small Heath butterfly and Four-spotted Chaser of the year were seen.

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