Very quiet. Two Manx Shearwaters were seen offshore and a Spotted Flycatcher was seen in the trapping area.
Elsewhere of note was a Quail which came in off the sea this at the end of Galloways Road on the Lydd Ranges.
7th June
Strong WSW winds saw a bit of early morning movement offshore which included two Mediterranean Gulls, six Fulmars, 35 Manx Shearwaters and a Balearic Shearwater. A first-summer Yellow-legged Gull was among the gulls on the beach and a Grey Wagtail flew over.
A Shelduck with 14 ducklings was of note.
A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.
Two Green-eyed Hawkers were seen at the Long Pits.
6th June
Strong to near gale force winds with frequent rain restricted observations to the sea again which proved very productive. Nearly 13 hours of coverage saw 58 Common Scoters, 25 Common Terns, 26 Sandwich Terns, three Mediterranean Gulls, two Arctic Skuas, 60 Guillemots, 39 Fulmars and 292 Gannets and highlights in the form of two Puffins, eight Balearic Shearwaters and 324 Manx Shearwaters. Swifts also flew out to sea with 172 seen along with six House Martins.
Ten Porpoises and three Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
5th June
Very quiet. Eight Manx Shearwaters were seen offshore and a Spotted Flycatcher and a Yellow Wagtail were seen on the land.
A Porpoise and four Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
Nine Green-eyed (Norfolk) Hawkers were seen in the bushes and a Red-veined Darter was found amongst the broom near the Sanctuary.
 |
| Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombii Dungeness 5th June 2026 |
4th June
Strong to near gale force winds and heavy showers restricted observations to the sea again where 33 Common Scoters, 79 Sandwich Terns, six Fulmars and 63 Manx Shearwaters were of note. Forty-four Swifts also flew through.
Four Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.
3rd June
Strong SW winds mostly limited observations to the sea where 25 Kittiwakes, a Mediterranean Gulls, 45 Sandwich Terns, four Fulmars, 23 Manx Shearwaters and five Balearic Shearwaters were noted. A Siskin flew over.
Two Porpoises and singles of Common Seal and Great Seal were feeding offshore.
2nd June
Nothing to report on the bird front.
Another Eastern Bordered Straw was trapped overnight.
 |
| Eastern Bordered Straw Heliothis nubigera Dungeness 2nd June 2026 |
1st June
Very quiet. A Little Ringed Plover flew over.
The moth traps provided most of the interest with another Striped Hawk-moth, a Bordered Straw and a Pine Beauty of note.
 |
| Pine Beauty Panolis flammea Dungeness 1st June 2026 Only the third to be trapped at the Observatory. |
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 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)