28th Sep

The heavy passage of Chiffchaffs (290) and Blackcaps (86) continues along with a Redstart and five Wheatears. A Short-eared Owl was seen in the Desert, a flock of 11 Raven flew over the area and two Dartford Warblers were seen again.

A flock of 11 Egyptian Geese was an unusual sight as they flew around the Point, a Greenshank and three Great White Egret flew over while migrating passerines included two Sand Martins, 185 Swallows, 1000 House Martins, four Grey Wagtails, 145 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit and 35 Reed Buntings.

A Little Gull, 14 Mediterranean Gulls and 11 Arctic Skuas were seen offshore.

Three Porpoises were feeding offshore and a Grey Squirrel was seen at the Long Pits. A Brown Hare was also seen.

The day's highlight though came in the form of this superb Passenger moth - only the second to be caught in the Observatory traps. Four Palpita vitrealis, five Vestals and 28 Small Mottled Willows were trapped.

Passenger Dysgonia algira   Dungeness   28th September 2026

Five Clouded Yellows were seen during the day.

Access to the Observatory

Please be aware that we now have scaffolding around the building, due to roof works, so care is needed with parking and access. 

Thank you. 

27th Sep Big Kent Bird Migration Day

The Big Kent Bird Migration Day covered migration across the Dungeness peninsula. Two guided walks visited the Seawatch hide for marine migration with Balearic Shearwaters (four), a highlight for some, among the terns and Gannets. Visible Migration from the moat looked out for birds moving through, including rapidly moving Swallows and, despite the rising wind, groups were shown ringing of Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and Blue Tit. Other notable birds recorded during the day included a very elusive Yellow-browed Warbler in the Lighthouse Garden, eight Shoveler, 119 Wigeon, nine Pintail, 52 Teal, a Little Gull, 57 Mediterranean Gulls, a Caspian Gull, 26 Arctic Skuas, singles of Merlin and Hobby, 170 Chiffchaffs, 95 Blackcaps, a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest, the first two Redwing of the autumn, nine Grey Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 13 Reed Buntings.

Many thanks to everyone who helped out and hopefully see you all next year.

Three Porpoise and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps were very quiet with just one Palpita vitrealis, a Vestal + two others seen during the day and three Small Mottled Willows. Six Clouded Yellows were also seen

26th Sep

Another arrival of migrants in the bushes again dominated by 95 Chiffchaffs and 63 Blackcaps as well as a Redstart, a Whinchat and 16 Wheatears. There was a trickle of overhead passage with two Grey Wagtails, 150 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit and 34 Reed Buntings. A Barn Owl and two Dartford Warblers were also seen again.

There was a trickle of overhead passage with two Grey Wagtails, 150 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit and 34 Reed Buntings.

The sea was very quiet with just a first-year Caspian Gull and an Arctic Skua of interest.

Another Plumed Fan-foot was caught overnight along with three Palpita vitrealis, four Vestals and 15 Small Mottled Willows.

25th Sep

Another large arrival of migrants with 160 Chiffchaffs, 57 Blackcaps and nine Wheatears being the best on offer and 385 Swallows and a Tree Pipit flew over.

The sea was fairly quiet but three hours of watching produced 14 Shelduck, 32 Wigeon, eight Teal and 53 Common Scoters, a Great Skua, ten Arctic Skuas and four Balearic Shearwaters.

Four Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

The highlight from the moth traps was a Plumed Fan-foot and four Clouded Yellows were seen during the day. A Willow Emerald damselfly was also seen at the Long Pits.

24th Sep

Migrants on the land were again dominated by Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps with 350 and 145 respectively along with nine Lesser Whitethroats, 11 Whitethroats, a Goldcrest, a Whinchat and seven Wheatears. A trickle of birds overhead included two Grey Wagtails, 120 Meadow Pipits and 25 Reed Buntings. A Barn Owl was seen in the trapping area at first light and a Short-eared Owl was seen in the Desert. Most of the birds of note seen offshore were feeding rather than passing through with at least four Black Terns, two Little Gulls, 30 Arctic Skuas and at least 52 Balearic Shearwaters of note.

Two Porpoises and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.

Two Clouded Yellows were seen.

Elsewhere, the adult American Golden Plover was showing in the usual stubble field with Golden Plover just north of Jury's Gap.

23rd Sep

There was another big arrival of warblers this morning with 300 Chiffchaffs and 135 Blackcaps of note along with a Firecrest, a Pied Flycatcher and two Redstarts. Two Dartford Warblers and six Black Redstarts were seen again. Seven Grey Herons and two Egyptian Geese flew over as well as a Grey Wagtail, 90 Meadow Pipits and a Tree Pipit. 

Seawatching was fairly slow going but still produced 35 Wigeon, six Teal, 52 Common Scoter, eight Little Gulls, 40 Mediterranean Gulls, 20 Arctic Skuas and ten Balearic Shearwaters in 5.5 hours of coverage. A flock of 42 Knot and a first-year Caspian Gull were on the beach.

Eight Porpoises and singles of Common and Grey Seal were feeding offhore.

Although moth numbers were fairly low last nights trapping still produced our third Tamarisk Peacock along with a September Thorn, a Ni Moth and eight Small Mottled Willows. Six Clouded Yellows were also seen.

Tamarisk Peacock Godonela aestimaria   Dungeness   23rd September 2026

22nd Sep

Chiffchaffs (165) and Blackcaps (55) dominated on the land this morning along with a Sedge Warbler, two Reed Warblers, a Garden Warbler, six Lesser Whitethroats, eight Whitethroats, four Whinchats and six Wheatears. Two Dartford Warblers and five Black Redstarts were also seen and a Common Treecreeper at the Long Pits was of note.

An Osprey flew south and out to sea in the early morning and Hobby and Merlin were seen during the day. Other overhead passage included 48 Sand Martins, 755 Swallows, 120 House Martins, six Yellow Wagtails, two Grey Wagtails, 220 Meadow Pipits, a Tree Pipit and 16 Reed Buntings.

Over three hours of seawatching produced 16 Shelduck, two Shoveler, 42 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, eight Teal, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, 360 Sandwich Terns, 150 Common Terns, a Black Tern, six Arctic Skuas and 14 Balearic Shearwaters. The record for most bizarre sighting of the day was a drake Mandarin flying west close inshore in the afternoon.

An impressive 18 Porpoises and two Grey Seals were seen offshore.

The moth traps produced a Blair's Mocha, a Vestal, a September Thorn and 20 Small Mottled Willows of note and five Clouded Yellows were seen during the day.

21st Sep

Today saw a massive arrival of 470 Chiffchaffs and 80 Blackcaps along with the highlight of a very early Yellow-browed Warbler and also seven Lesser Whitethroats, two Firecrests, three Redstarts and 16 Wheatears. A Merlin was trapped and a Dartford Warbler was also seen.

Merlin Falco columbarius   Dungeness   21st September 2026
Caught this evening as the sun was setting hence the warm glow to the images.

Overhead passage included three Grey Herons, five Little Egrets, 60 Sand Martins, 1100 Swallows, five Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails, 320 Meadow Pipits and two Tree Pipits.

Offshore passage was very light although a Little Gull, ten Mediterranean Gulls and 24 Balearic Shearwaters were feeding offshore.

Eight Porpoise and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

The moth traps produced a Vestal, a September Thorn, a Four-spotted Footman and four Small Mottled Willows. A Clouded Yellow was also seen. 

Kent Big Migration Day

Join us for the Kent Big Migration Day!