Ornithology
The Ornithological Year
January and February are generally quiet times at the Observatory but if the weather is fine then the occasional Chiffchaff and Firecrest can usually be found in the bushes around the Long Pits or in the Moat. Most of the interest is at sea where early morning movements of Red-throated Divers and small numbers of duck can be seen. If there are large shoals of Sprat offshore then there are also usually large numbers of auks feeding on them. The vast majority of those that come close enough to be able to identiified are Guillemots. At the same time there can be huge influxes of gulls into the area with many birds feeding at the Patch, especially when the Power Stations clean their cooling water intake filters, which results in large amounts of dead fish being flushed into the sea. The huge melee developing at this time is something to be seen. These large concentrations of gulls at this time may well include Glaucous, and more rarely, Iceland Gulls. In addition, several Mediterranean Gulls can usually be seen.
Firecrest
If the weather becomes stormy then small numbers of Little Gulls also appear at the Patch and the occasional skua may be seen along with large numbers of Kittiwakes.
The spring begins early at Dungeness with the first up channel movements of Brent Geese from late February and as the spring progresses so the variety and numbers of birds change. March usually sees large numbers of ducks moving east offshore. Common Scoter is nearly always the dominant species but dabbling ducks such as Teal and Shoveler can move through in large numbers, especially at the end of the month. Sandwich Terns usually make their first appearance by the middle of the month and the first Arctic Skuas is often seen in the last week.
On the land, the first Wheatears appear by the middle of the month and Black Redstarts and Chiffchaffs can arrive in good numbers. The best weather at this time is often south or south easterly winds and rain. Early spring is not a great time for rarities but over the years several Short-toed Treecreepers have been seen and Serins often make an appearance.
Land birds begin to appear in increasing numbers during April with large arrivals normally dominated by Wheatears, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Firecrests. Calm or light south westerly winds are often the best at this time of year and by the end of the month most of the typical migrant will hopefully have put in appearance. Yellow Wagtails, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Whitethroats in early April followed by Swallows, Sand Martins, Pied Flycatchers and Lesser Whitethroats in mid-month and Turtle Dove by the end.
Up channel movement of birds at sea can be very exciting, especially with a south easterly wind, with up to several thousand Common Scoters in a day and small numbers of a wide variety of duck and increasing numbers of skuas and terns. Arctic Skua numbers peak in late April and then, in May, one of the eagerly awaited ornithological events of the spring occurs. This is the passage of Pomarine Skuas. Light south-easterly winds are the best (but movements can occur on north-easterly winds) and, unlike the other skuas which come through mainly in ones and twos, Pomarine Skuas usually appear in small flocks. They are often fairly distant but when a flock comes close inshore the views can be superb. Under the same weather conditions small numbers of Little Gulls and Little and Black Terns can be seen and with some birds lingering to feed at the Patch.
Historically, May used to be the month for large arrivals of common spring migrants but in recent years the lack of birds has been very noticeable with just a trickle of birds on most days throughout the month. Garden Warblers and Spotted Flycatchers are some of the last migrants to make an appearance and Swifts and House Martins pass through overhead.
May is an excellent month for rarities and in recent years have included White-billed Diver, Black-browed Albatross, Purple Heron, White and Black Stork, Short-toed Eagle, Black Kite, Long-tailed Skua, Slender-billed Gull and Blyth’s Reed, Melodious and Sardinian Warblers.
June and July are much quieter months but there are still good birds to be seen. Black Redstarts and Wheatears breed in the recording area, the former being frequently seen on the Power Station and its perimeter fences whilst the latter can be seen just about anywhere on the open shingle. Rarities often turn up out of the blue at this time of year and have included Great Spotted Cuckoo, Thrush Nightingale and Greenish Warbler.
Thrush Nightingale
18th May 1994
The Patch can be very good for gulls with the largest numbers of Mediterranean Gulls usually occurring at this time and Roseate Terns making an occasional appearance. There are often a few Black Terns present and these are always worth checking for White-winged Black Terns.
If the weather becomes particularly stormy then several hundred Gannets can gather offshore and large movements of Manx Shearwaters have been noted.
The time between spring and autumn migration is very short. Throughout July small numbers of waders pass through and by the end of July the first migrating Sand Martins and Willow Warblers will have been seen. August sees the main departure of British breeding migrant species with Yellow Wagtail, Reed Warblers, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers being the bulk species followed by Chiffchaffs from the end of the month. September sees more birds from the continent passing through with small numbers of Redstarts, Blackcaps, more Chiffchaffs, and Pied Flycatchers being seen and on clear mornings some impressive southerly movements of Swallows and House Martins can occur. Rarities in early autumn can include Melodious and Icterine Warblers and Woodchat Shrike.
Woodchat Shrike - juvenile, 16th August 2000
The number of warblers in October is now much reduced but their place is taken by Goldcrests and smaller numbers of Firecrests, along with large numbers of Blackbirds, hopefully with some Ring Ouzels, and sometimes huge numbers of finches arriving overhead and continuing inland. The best weather conditions for such movements are clear skies and fresh north-westerly winds. Rare birds in October have included Dartford Warbler, Radde’s Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher.
Radde's Warbler, October 1989
Birds at sea are often few and far between during the autumn and are very weather dependent but when the conditions are right the passage of birds offshore can be very exciting. Unlike the spring, it is usually in the worst conditions that the best birdwatching occurs. Strong onshore winds, preferable with heavy rain, can result in some superb movements of skuas and terns and sometimes shearwaters. This is the best time to see Sooty Shearwater and perhaps a petrel or two or a Sabine’s Gull.
Yellow-legged Gull - adult
The Patch also provides interest throughout the autumn with an almost daily turnover of birds including Black Terns and Little Gulls and always the chance of a rarer species. Small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls are a regular feature at the Patch during the autumn.
November can still produce good numbers of birds but the weather is often poor and makes observations difficult. However, on fine mornings, small numbers of Chiffchaffs and Firecrests can usually found and occasional Siberian vagrants can sometimes be seen such as Pallas’s Warblers or even a Dusky Warbler.
Pallas's Warbler
22nd October 1996
The numbers of birds at sea are now reduced but this is the best time to see Little Auk and the number of Red-throated Divers begin to increase.
December is often the quietest time of the year with most small birds having either left or arrived for the winter but Firecests often remain in the area and there is always the chance of a few birds at sea if the weather turns rough.