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Local weather

Update

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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


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.