Chiffchaffs (300) and Blackcaps (60) continue to pass through in large numbers along with a Reed Warbler, two Whitethroats, a Firecrest and a Redstart. A Dartford Warbler was also seen.
Single Grey and Golden Plovers, a Red Kite, 13 Buzzards, 14 Skylarks, 85 Swallows, six Tree Sparrows, a Yellow Wagtail, two Grey Wagtails, 80 Meadow Pipits, three Bramblings, four Siskins and 19 Reed Buntings all passed overhead.
A Little Gull, 35 Mediterranean Gulls and ten Arctic Skuas were feeding offshore.
Another evening netting session proved very exciting again with another Short-eared Owl and two Barn Owls trapped. Remarkably one of the Barn Owls had already been ringed as a nestling near Maidenhead on 23rd May 2026.
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| Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Dungeness 4th October 2026 |
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| Barn Owl Tyto alba Dungeness 4th October 2026 The ringed bird from Maidenhead. |
The Grey Squirrel was seen again.
The highlight from the moth traps was a Red Sword-grass - only the second area record since 1930 when it became extinct as a breeding species here. Four Palpita vitrealis, a Vestal, 28 Small Mottled Willows and two Scarce Bordered Straws were also caught. Five Clouded Yellows were seen and a nocturnal search of brambles around the Observatory for Mediterranean Stick-insects produced 41 individuals.
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| Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta Dungeness 4th October 2026 |