12th Mar

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. 

11th Mar

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. 

10th Mar

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. 

Brent Geese    Branta bernicla

Chiffchaff    Phylloscopus collybita

Mixture of Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and Common Gulls (Larus canus), with one Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) at the back.  

Black-headed Gulls    Chroicocephalus ridibundu

9th Mar

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. 

8th Mar

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. 

7th Mar

 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. 

6th Mar

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. 

5th Mar

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. 

Black Redstart    Phoenicurus ochruros    Dungeness

4th Mar

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. 

3rd Mar

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. 

Peacock Butterfly    Aglais io    Dungeness

Starlings flying east out to sea    Sturnus vulgaris    Dungeness