July 2015

July 1st		A very hot day with a little movement including a flock of 19 Shelduck east offshore and a Yellow Wagtail overhead. Seven Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.There was a fair bit of insect interest with the moth traps producing two notable Observatory 2nd records in the form of a Red-necked Footman and Marbled White-spot. The former appears to be one of a significant arrival of this species overnight. Also noteworthy in the trap was a Small Seraphim. Red-necked Footman Atolmis rubricollis   Dungeness   July 1st 2015 There were also large numbers of butterflies with Large White arriving in their hundreds and the first second brood Brown Argus being seen.
July 2nd		Very little to report on the bird side of things other than eight Mediterranean Gullsfeeding offshore.However, it was another very interesting night for moths with the traps producingOrange Moth and Beautiful Hook-tip (both new species for the Observatory) and aBrussels Lace (the second record for the Observatory). Orange Moth Angerona prunaria & Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula  Dungeness  July 2nd 2015
July 3rd		Three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and four Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch this morning and 200 Swifts passed through.Of greater note was this Broad-bodied Chaser photographed at the Long Pits this afternoon. This species is remarkably rare in the Observatory recording area with the only other record I can find since 1994 being of one on 26th May 1999. Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa    Dungeness   3rd July 2015 A Clouded Yellow was also seen but the moth traps were very disappointing.
July 4th		Little to report other than four Mediterranean Gulls feeding at the Patch.
July 5th		Limited coverage during the morning amidst thunderstorms which produced a fewSwifts and a Grey Wagtail passing over. Most of the days interest was offshore where a juvenile Mediterranean and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding along the shore-line along with a super adult Roseate Tern. Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii   Dungeness   5th July 2015 Notable among the moths trapped last night were Marbled White-spot and Green Silver-lines (both third records for the Observatory. Marbled White-spot Protodeltote pygarga and Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasiana
July 6th		There were nine Mediterranean Gulls including two juveniles and ten juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls feeding offshore. The Roseate Tern was seen again from the fishing boats during the afternoon.
July 7th		There were five Mediterranean Gulls and five juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls feeding offshore. Overhead, 125 Swifts and singles of Grey and Yellow Wagtails flew south.Having finally got around to checking my photographs of the Roseate Tern on Sunday it now appears there were two birds present. during the afternoon. One with and one without rings.
July 8th		On a day with strong to near gale force NW winds the main interest was in Swifts with around 4000 moving south during the morning. A Mediterranean Gull and two juvenileYellow-legged Gulls were feeding offshore.
July 9th		Eight Mediterranean Gulls and six juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding at the Patch and a Manx Shearwater flew east this morning and there was a trickle of passage overhead including a Grey Heron, a Ringed Plover, two Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails and seven Siskins.The highlight of the day on the insect front was this rare form of Small Copperbutterfly found in the moat by Paul Hogben. Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas var radiata   Dungeness   9th July 2015
July 10th		Five Mediterranean Gulls and six juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding offshore and a Whimbrel flew west. The trickle of birds passing overhead continued with singles of Grey Wagtail and Siskin and two Yellow Wagtails. A Cuckoo was seen at the Long Pits and a Redstart was seen in a private garden.Moth trapping produced the first Tansy Plume Gillmeria ochrodactyla for Dungeness for many years whilst Sean Clancy caught the pyralid Sciota rhennella - the third British record and second area record.. The Small Copper var radiata was still in the moat. Elsewhere in the area this week the two Spoonbills continued to be seen daily at Scotney and the first small signs of returning waders were noted with a scattering ofLittle Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshanks and Common Sandpipers. A Red Kite was seen a number of times yesterday.
July 11th		Singles of Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail and Siskin passed overhead.Moth trapping finally produced three Small Mottled Willows along with a Poplar Lutestring and two True Lover's Knots.
July 12th		Two Mediterranean Gulls and two Yellow-legged Gulls (all juvs) feeding offshore where the only birds of note today.Moth trapping produced a True Lovers Knot.
July 13th		A fairly miserable day with fresh SW winds and frequent drizzle/light rain for most of the day. Little sign of anything much on the land but five adult Dunlin came in off the sea and 230 Swifts flew south.A total of five hours seawatching during the day eventually returned a Sooty Shearwater and four Manx Shearwaters whilst a couple each of juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.
July 14th		Most of the day's observations were offshore with 6.5hrs of seawatching producing 53Common Scoters, 428 Gannets and 124 Sandwich Terns and seven Mediterranean Gulls and four juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls feeding along the beach.The only land birds of significance were a few Swifts, a flock of 52 Sand Martinsheading out to sea and a Siskin over the Observatory. The highlight of the nights moth trapping was a Purple Clay - only the second Observatory record. Purple Clay Diarsia brunnea   Dungeness   14th July 2015
July 15th		Most of the limited interest was offshore again where 89 Common Scoters, 378Gannets, a Tufted Duck and 120 Sandwich Terns were seen and six Mediterranean Gulls were feeding.The best of the moth was a Buff Footman - only the second Observatory record and hot on the heels of the first on July 12th last year.
July 16th		At least eight Mediterranean Gulls and five Yellow-legged Gulls (four juveniles and an adult) were feeding around the Point and a Shelduck flew east.The first Small Red-eyed Damselflies of the year were seen on the southern Long Pit.
July 17th		A Sooty Shearwater flew east in the evening and five Lapwings and a Siskin flew over the Observatory during the morning.Elsewhere during the week. the two Spoonbills remained at Scotney and there were small numbers of waders on the pits and an unusual arrival of Redshanks today with at least 145 being seen. Good numbers of Swifts and Sand Martins are already building up and heading south.
July 18th		An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at the Patch and 150 Swifts and three Siskinsflew over the area on an otherwise quiet day in the Observatory area.Of note in the moth trap was the third Marbled White-spot of the year. A good proportion of the day was spent at the ARC Pit on the RSPB Reserve were a superb adult (just beginning to shows signs of moult into winter plumage) White-winged Black Tern was found.
July 19th		With other commitments very little time was spent in the field. Five juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding at the fishing boats.The moth traps provided all the day's interest with the highlight being an Orache Moth(a new species for the Observatory) and a supporting cast including a Least Carpet, V-Pug, four Sussex Emeralds, Buff Arches, two Small Mottled Willows and aLangmaid's Yellow Underwing. Orache Trachea atriplicis   Dungeness   18th July 2015
July 20th		Not a great deal of coverage again with just a few Swifts and Sand Martins passing south and also a couple of Siskins over. Two Ravens were also flying around the power station. Three Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore. Moth trapping continues to provide most of the interest with our first-ever Splendid Brocade and third records of Four-spotted Footman and Brussels Lace along with aLatticed Heath, a Small Mottled Willow and two Langmaid's Yellow Underwings. Splendid Brocade Lacanobia splendens and Four-spotted Footman Lithosia quadra   Dungeness   20th July 2015
July 21st		Still pretty quiet for migrants. There were two Common Sandpipers on the Long Pits and a Marsh Harrier, a  few Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail flew over. AMediterranean Gull and three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding at the Patch.Another Small Mottled Willow was the best of a much reduced overnight catch.
July 22nd		There was a trickle of passage offshore with 28 Sanderlings, 12 Whimbrels and nineKittiwakes whilst a Greenshank flew over the Observatory. Three juvenileMediterranean Gulls and seven juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were feeding offshore.On the moth front a Double-lobed was trapped overnight and is only the fifth Observatory  record.
July 23rd		During the day 300 Gannets, nine Dunlin, three Whimbrel and 11 Kittiwakes flew west and an immature Pomarine Skua was harassing a small feeding flock of terns in the evening. A Marsh Harrier flew over and the first Great Spotted Woodpecker and Willow Warbler of the autumn were seen.
July 24th		There was a reasonable passage of Common Terns during the morning and aBalearic Shearwater came into the bay to feed in the afternoon. Two Little Stints and an Arctic Skua flew east. Six Mediterranean Gulls and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen. Large numbers of Swifts and Sand Martins were gathered over the Point this morning and more surprisingly there were also good numbers of Swallows which seems very early. Of note amongst a large catch of moths was a Double Kidney (12th Observatory record) and four Small Mottled Willows.
July 25th		After a very wet and windy night there was a small movement of birds offshore with over five hrs of watching producing a Manx Shearwater, around 600 Gannets, sixWhimbrel, an Arctic Skua and a party of three Black Terns moving west. Overhead , some 2300 Swifts were seen as they moved in a mainly SW direction.
July 26th		On a day when the weather rapidly deteriorated to wet and windy conditions most of the interest was offshore. Over seven hrs of watching produced two Balearic and twoManx Shearwaters, 21 Fulmars, 900 Gannets, 100 Dunlin, 50 Sanderling, sixWhimbrel, an Arctic Skua, two Little Gulls, a Little Tern, the first juvenile Arctic Tern of the summer and 18 adult Black Terns including a flock of 15 feeding off the fishing boats in the evening. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull and four Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen.The highlight from the moth traps was another Small Mottled Willow.
July 27th		A day of very strong winds made land observations almost impossible and the sea was not much better with just a westward trickle of Gannets and three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls feeding along the beach at the fishing boats.
July 28th		Another very windy day. Despite the conditions the sea was very quiet with just a steady westward trickle of Gannets during the afternoon along with five Fulmars and a few terns.There was very little on the land although a Grey Wagtail flew over. The tortrix moth Pammene aurita was found on the Sycamore in the trapping area and appears to be a new species for the Observatory area. Pammene aurita   Dungeness   28th July 2015
July 29th		Good numbers of Gannets moved west during the day and the morning seawatch also produced singles of Manx Shearwater and Arctic Skua.There was the first, small arrival of Willow Warblers of the autumn with eight being seen whilst 41 Sand Martins and a Yellow Wagtail passed overhead. Of note elsewhere, a Bee-eater was seen briefly at ARC on the RSPB Reserve.
July 30th		There was another small arrival of Willow Warblers with ten birds seen during the morning and a Common Sandpiper was seen at the Long Pits. There was a decent bit of movement overhead including 700 Swifts, 50 Sand Martins, a Yellow Wagtailand two Siskins. Two Yellow-legged Gulls (an adult and a juvenile) where seen at the Patch.Two Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen in from of the power station and a Holly Blue was seen in the trapping area and there was a noticeable increase in the numbers of Painted Ladies and Red Admirals. Overnight moth trapping produced anotherSmall Mottled Willow.
July 31st		There was another very small migrants on the land this morning with two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, seven Willow Warblers and three Sedge Warblers whilst aWood Sandpiper and 200 Sand Martins flew through.Although the sea was very quiet in terms of numbers of birds seen a watch in the mid-afternoon did produce a light-phase Pomarine Skua and a Black Tern passing east. Four juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were also seen.

June 2015

1st		A Spotted Flycatcher, two Willow Warblers and a Garden Warbler were seen in the bushes and a Hobby was seen perched on the beach at the fishing boats but nothing much else to report.
2nd		Another miserable day of very strong winds and fairly constant rain. The only option was seawatching where seven hours observation produced an excellent total of 53Manx Shearwaters moving west along with 13 Fulmars and 89 Gannets and twoArctic Skuas which flew east.
3rd		A Willow Warbler was a new arrival in the trapping area whilst a first-summerMediterranean Gull was roosting on the beach at the Patch. It was otherwise very quiet but at least the wind dropped through the day and it was considerably warmer than of late.
4th		Plenty of effort today in nice weather for a change. Migrants as expected were pretty scarce but did include a semi-rarity in the form of a very flighty Serin in mid-morning.Elsewhere, a male Red-footed Falcon was seen at Galloways on the Lydd Ranges before they were closed to the public for the rest of the day.
5th		Very quiet despite what seemed pretty good conditions for a few late migrants.There was however plenty of migrant lepidoptera activity with at least 12Hummingbird Hawk-moths, a Clouded Yellow, several Painted Ladies and a fewDiamond-back Moths, Rush Veneers and Silver Y's around. At least two Small Mottled Willows were also trapped at Lydd and Greatstone. Not a great deal to be seen during the week elsewhere on the peninsula with yesterdays Red-footed Falcon being the highlight of a very stormy week. Large numbers, (1000+) of Swifts were frequently feeding over the pits. Several Egyptian Geese continue to be seen at Dengemarsh.
6th		Not much to report except for a party of five Grey Herons flying west offshore, sevenMediterranean Gulls feeding at the Patch and two Jays on the land.Moth trapping produced a Bordered Straw and at least ten Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day.
7th		Three Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore and a couple of Jays were feeding in the trapping area.Three Bordered Straws were trapped overnight and at least seven Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen during the day.
8th		A cool day with rapidly increasing NE winds. No signs of any passage with just threeMediterranean Gulls at the Patch and a Cuckoo on the land of any note.
9th		Very little to be seen in difficult condition. Three Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch.
10th		A party of four Mediterranean Gulls was about the only noteworthy sighting on yet another very windy day.
11th		A warmer day but still very windy and nothing of note to be seen except for nineMediterranean Gulls.
12th		A juvenile Stonechat was seen in the moat and a Siskin flew over. An Arctic Skuaflew east and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding offshore.
13th		A Cuckoo was seen in the trapping area and a Black Tern was feeding with a large flock of Common Terns offshore.Five Bordered Straws were caught overnight and a Lime Hawk-moth was only the 20th Observatory record since 1989.
14th		Four Mediterranean Gulls and a first-summer Little Gull were feeding at the Patch this evening and a Cuckoo was singing at the Long Pits but there was little else to be seen.One Bordered Straw was found in the ringing hut.
15th		Eight Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch but coverage was limited today.
16th		Two Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch and a Cuckoo was seen at the Long Pits. A Grey Wagtail flew south over the area.
22nd		Limited coverage over recent days but today produced a Little Egret flying west offshore.
23rd		Three Crossbills were the only birds of note.
24th		Another very quiet day at the Observatory. Moth trapping produced a Bordered Strawand only our second-ever Reddish Light Arches.
25th		The highlight of the day was a Bee-eater which spent a minute or so feeding around the Observatory in the morning (although this was quickly upstaged by a party of ten heading quickly south-west over Boulderwall.) There was also a Marsh Harrier,  70Swifts, two Sand Martins and two Yellow Wagtails passing through. Offshore this evening there was the first feeding frenzy of the summer with 200 Gannets and large numbers of gulls and including two Mediterranean Gulls.
26th		A Siskin flew over the trapping area and about 130 Swifts flew south during the day.
27th		Very quiet.
28th		A quiet day was enlivened by a Bee-eater which passed quickly through heading west at 1250hrs.
29th		A Marsh Harrier flew over the trapping area.Seawatching produced a steady westerly movement of Gannets through the day and ten Mediterranean Gulls.

May 2015

1st		A new month but little change in the birds. Seawatching produced a decent stream ofCommon Terns and 546 Bar-tailed Godwits along with a Black-throated Diver, 31Knot, 27 Whimbrel, a Great Skua, 34 Little Terns and five Arctic Terns.It remains extremely quiet on the land. During the week two parties of Spoonbills were seen but the once regular Cattle Egrets seem to have moved on. An Osprey flew over the Reserve today.
2nd		A cold easterly wind for most of the day but still extremely quiet on the land but a continuing steady movement, mainly of terns, moving east.Nine hours of seawatching produced five Black-throated Divers, eight Grey Plovers, 56 Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Whimbrel, four Arctic Skuas, 95 Kittiwakes, a Little Gull, 26 Little Terns, 591 Sandwich Terns and 2153 Common Terns. The only birds of note on the land were 22 Swallows and three Yellow Wagtails.
3rd		The day began with strong SE winds and rain which brought a decent movement of birds offshore. Of note were 102 Fulmars, 400 Gannets, 25 Knot, 32 Sanderling, 75Bar-tailed Godwits, a Greenshank, 11 Arctic Skuas, nine Great Skuas, eight Little Gulls, 12 Little Terns, 31 Black Terns, 253 Sandwich Terns and 1751 Common Terns. The highlight though was a near adult Iceland Gull which flew around the Patch and then off eastwards. (Thanks to Wes Attridge for the image.)Still very few birds on the land with a couple of Garden Warblers being the best. The other highlight of the day was a pod of at least six White-beaked Dolphinsfeeding fairly inshore this morning - the third sighting of the spring. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides    Dungeness   3rd May 2015 (Wes Attridge)
4th		Plenty of coverage today produced some decent seabirds, a steady overhead migration and a small number of grounded migrants.The best of the 9.25hrs of seawatching was six Pomarine Skuas along with 13 Arcticand seven Great Skuas, four Black-throated Divers, an adult Little Gull and 723Common Terns. A first-summer Little Gull was feeding at the Patch. Birds passing overhead included 55 Swifts, nine Jays, 180 Swallows, 13 House Martins, eight Sand Martins, a Tree Pipit, five Yellow Wagtails, 34 Goldfinches and two Siskins. A handful of grounded migrants included seven Willow Warblers and tenChiffchaffs. Elsewhere, a Crane flew over the RSPB Visitor Centre and headed towards Lydd at 1615hrs. Thanks to Mark Stanley for his image of this bird. Crane Grus grus   Dungeness RSPB   4th May 2015 (Mark Stanley)
5th		The mornings seawatch produced ten Arctic and five Great Skuas and 248 Sandwich Terns east and 11 Fulmars and a Manx Shearwater west and a Black Tern feeding at the Patch. Otherwise there was nothing else to report on a very windy day.
6th		When is the wind going to drop? Another day of fierce winds and very few birds. Nearly six hours of seawatching produced just four Manx Shearwaters, three Arctic Skuas, three Great Skuas and two Mediteranean Gulls and an incoming Hobby of note on the sea. The land was barely birdable with just single Redstart of interest.The Observatory also welcomed Steve Cook on Day 6 of a nine-month, 4000 mile walk around the coast of Britain in support of the crusade to stamp out drugs in the UK. See here www.walkthekingdom.co.uk to follow and support Steve's progress over the coming months.
7th		Another windy day (at least until the evening) morning produced very little offshore and only the thinnest scatter of migrants in the bushes although some of these may actually be territory-holding birds. A mammoth 9.5hr of seawatching remarkably produced just one Arctic Skua and almost nothing else moving east. Two Hobbies came in off and two Eider flew west. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was feeding at the Patch. Migrants on the land included 65 Swallows and a minor rarity in the form of a Jay at the Long Pits.  The first Blue-tailed, Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies of the year were seen. With the constant strong winds and generally low temperatures it has been very good for butterflies so it was a stunning sight to see the Senetti plant in the back garden attracting a Brown Argus.and one or two Small Coppers!! Small Coppers Lycaena phlaeas on Senetti   Dungeness   7th May 2015 Steve Cook heading off on Day 7 of his challenge to work around Britain.  Next stop Folkestone. Good luck.
8th		Hopes were high amongst the regulars that with the wind dropping and turning easterly there would be a decent seawatch. Unfortunately the birds had not read the script and it was another slow day. Admittedly, two Pomarine Skuas eventually passed through but other than Sandwich and "commic" Terns, (1450 of the latter), there was very little else in over ten hours of watching. The best of the rest were 22 Sanderlings, 25Whimbrels, four Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua and 12 Little Terns. A Hobby also came in off the sea.The bird of the day but for just one observer was a Melodious Warbler which showed briefly in his garden but could not be relocated after the initial sighting. The only other birds of note on the land were a Jay, a few Swallows, a migrant Reed Warbler and aTree Sparrow. Elsewhere during the week there were very few new birds to be seen in the mostly very windy conditions. A Great White Egret remains on the RSPB Reserve and aMontagu's Harrier flew north over Littlestone yesterday.
9th		With strong winds and some rain during the morning it was another day where the sea seemed like the option but yet again it failed to deliver. Over seven hours of watching produced just one Manx Shearwater, six Arctic and five Great Skuas, twoMediterranean Gulls and six Little Terns of interest.It was very quiet on the land although a Pied Flycatcher was seen n a private garden and 185 Swallows and 31 House Martins passed overhead.
10th		A calm morning for a change resulted in a very small arrival of migrants with twoSpotted Flycatchers, a Redstart and two Lesser Whitethroats of note in the bushes whilst Swallows passed through all day. A Tree Pipit and Siskin also flew over.The sea was very quiet with just a Mediterranean Gull, a Black Tern and 15 Little Terns of any note. On the insect front, the Senetti in the back garden continues to attract butterflies and today included this variant Small Copper. Small Copper Lyceana phlaeas variant   Dungeness   10th May 2015
11th		A trickle of birds offshore in the early morning included two Velvet Scoters, aPomarine, three Arctic and one Great Skua moving east. A first-summerMediterranean Gull flew west this evening.A handful of migrants on the land included the first two Turtle Doves of the spring, fourJays and a Spotted Flycatcher. The highlight of a small overnight catch of moths was this Ni Moth - only the 4th Observatory record of this scarce migrant species. Ni Moth Trichoplusia ni  Dungeness  11th May 2015
12th		Extremely quiet on both land and sea with two Jays and a Siskin being about the best on offer.
13th		A fine and sunny day but still quiet on the bird front. Two Eider, an Arctic Skua and three Little Terns were the only things of note offshore and four Buzzards, aWhinchat and 130 Swallows were about the best the land could offer.
14th		There was a decent seawatch this morning before the rain arrived and washed out most of the rest of the day. Highlights included a drake Garganey, two Black-throated Divers, six Arctic Skuas, 1450 'commic' Terns, 450 Sandwich Terns and a Roseate Tern.However, birds of the day were two White-winged Terns which arrived on Burrowes Pit in late-morning and then showed well for the rest of the day.
15th		Another generally quiet day. The first few hours of the morning saw more Sandwichand Common Terns along with two Arctic Skuas and five Little Terns and a Little Egret and two Hobbies came in.The only migrants of note on the land were 100 Swallows and a Tree Pipit. The White-winged Terns were still present on the Reserve, showing on either Burrowes Pit or at Dengemarsh. Also seen elsewhere during the week was a Purple Heron on Burrowes and a Golden Oriole at the Water Tower Pits on 13th. A Great White Egret was seen on the Reserve on 14th and small numbers of Hobbies continue to feed in the general area.
16th		The first Cuckoo of the year (very late for us) was seen at the Long Pits but far more interesting was a very strong and unusual, mainly southerly movement of 1200Swallows along with a Hobby, three Greenshanks and a Siskin. Six Blackcaps and three Lesser Whitethroats were also singing at the Long Pits although these may well be territory-holding birds.There was no sign of the White-winged Terns on the Reserve today but they were replaced this evening by a short-staying adult Bonaparte's Gull on Burrowes at 1720hrs. This is the third Dungeness record. Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia   Dungeness RSPB Reserve   16th May 2015 (Steve Gale)
17th		A very quiet day with no obviously fresh migrants in the bushes and just two Hobbiesoverhead of interest. Also very quiet offshore.
18th		A dismal day with very strong winds and also rain for a good part of it and with absolutely nothing worth mentioning being seen.
19th		Another wild and windy day with very little to be seen. There was a second-summerYellow-legged Gull at the Patch and a few Fulmars moved west at long range as the wind dropped in the evening.
20th		A strange day with very few birds but with some surprises. The most notable was aNuthatch which landed briefly on a telegraph pole before heading quickly north and only the second Observatory area record. A Short-eared Owl and a Spotted Flycatcher were also seen in the trapping area and two Jays were seen at the northern end of the recording area.There was barely any discernible movement offshore but a Hobby arrived and sevenMediterranean Gulls and 230 Common Terns were feeding at the Patch.
21st		Another thin scatter of migrants included a Redstart in the Old Lighthouse Garden, a singing Reed Warbler in the moat, a few Swallows and Chiffchaffs, a Jay arriving from the east and six Mediterranean Gulls offshore. However, the avian highlight was this superb Red Kite found roosting in the trapping area this morning.We approached it carefully and got to what we thought was a safe distance so as not to flush it and took several hundred photographs including the first two below. Then a dog walker crossed between us and the bird! Neither seemed to notice the other. So we approached a bit closer. It eventually took flight as the air warmed up and spent twenty minutes or so circling the Point before heading off westwards. Red Kite Milvus milvus   Dungeness   21st May 2015 However the most unexpected find was this male Downy Emerald dragonfly patrolling the rides through the bushes in the moat. This is the first record for Dungeness - we think the nearest known breeding site is Castle Water at Rye Harbour Downy Emerald Cordulia aenea   Dungeneness  21st May 2015
22nd		Very little of interest seen today. Three first-summer Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch and an Arctic Skua was harassing terns off the fishing boats this evening.A nymph Southern Oak Bush-cricket was found in the Observatory garden. The few previous records have all involved adults in late autumn so this is the first real evidence of them as a breeding species.
23rd		A thin scatter of migrants during the day included singles of Grey Plover, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit and 40 Chaffinches of note.A first-summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding at the Patch.
24th		Very quiet.Of interest, I have just been made aware that a second Downy Emerald dragonfly was seen and photographed at the Water Tower Pits on May 22nd.
25th		Another very quiet day with about the only migrant being a single Spotted Flycatcherin the trapping area.
26th		A Little Tern was feeding along the beach this morning and a Corn Bunting flew south along the coast but it was otherwise very quiet again.
27th		A Spotted Flycatcher and a Siskin were the only obvious migrants of another quiet day.
28th		Two Arctic Skuas flew east and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding at the Patch but little else was seen.A Bordered Straw was caught in the moth trap overnight.
29th		Just what has happened to the spring. A thoroughly unpleasant day with a strong and cold wind eventually bringing some very heavy rain with it and little in the way of birds. Several attempts at seawatching produced just one Arctic Skua of note whilst an adultMediterranean Gull was feeding at the Patch.  It was pretty quiet elsewhere on Dungeness during the week. A Spoonbill was seen at Scotney on 24th, two Great White Egret flew over Lade on 29th and large numbers ofHobbies (up to 25) were seen on and around the RSPB Reserve. Large numbers ofSwifts were also feeding over the pits when the weather was poor.
30th		Two Willow Warblers singing in the trapping area and a Spotted Flycatcher in the moat were new arrivals and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding at the Patch.
31st		Yet another day of strong winds and heavy rain at times. Little coverage but there was a steady trickle of Gannets flying west through the day.

April 2015

1st		The wind continues though showed signs of dropping by the evening and made for difficult viewing conditions. There was still very little movement offshore but an adultLittle Gull was feeding offshore and a second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was feeding at the Patch among the throng of gull there. An afternoon session at the Patch resulted in 20 colour-rings being read with Norwegian and French Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls from Bristol, the Isle of Wight (3), Suffolk and the Thames Estuary (13).It remains very quiet on the land with just a Wheatear and a Blackcap of interest.
2nd		At least the wind dropped. Very quiet with just a small arrival of migrants on the land including a Snipe, a Swallow, four Firecrests and eight Chiffchaffs and very little offshore but large numbers of gulls still present.
3rd		Another miserable day with frequent heavy drizzle and fog but with a change to a light south-east wind there was a small arrival of migrants on the land and a decent passage offshore (at least for the first three hours).The highlights on the land were a Siberian Chiffchaff in the Lighthouse Garden, aRing Ouzel in the trapping area and the first two Willow Warblers of the spring along with five Swallows, 40 Chiffchaffs, five Firecrests and a Siskin. Seawatching produced 405 Brent Geese, two Pintail, 31 Shoveler, 19 Teal, aGarganey, 1047 Common Scoters, a Long-tailed Duck and five Red-breasted Mergansers, a Shag, 12 Sandwich Terns and also a Common Tern at the Patch.
4th		In dank, murky conditions there was a small arrival of migrants this morning with the highlights being two Ring Ouzels, four Fieldfares and six Firecrests along with twoSwallows and five Chiffchaffs.A Velvet Scoter, 22 Sandwich Terns and 11 Common Terns was the best the sea could offer.
5th		A trickle of migrants, mainly Meadow Pipits and Linnets, passing overhead during the morning was enlivened at 1020hrs when an Osprey appeared over the Point and then headed steadily NW and inland. Grounded migrants were few and far between with the best being five Firecrests between the Observatory and the Old Lighthouse and fourChiffchaffs in and around the trapping area.The early morning seawatch was very slow with just four Mediterranean Gulls and 22Sandwich Terns of interest but with the light wind backing into the NE in the afternoon there was an increase in passage with a Black-throated Diver, 20 Knot, a Little Gulland a further 110 Sandwich Terns whilst a Great Skua was seen on the beach eating a dogfish.
6th		The trickle of Meadow Pipits and Linnets passing overhead continued during the morning but was again enlivened by a decent raptor when a Red Kite flew north over the Long Pits at 1130hrs. Grounded migrants remain extremely scarce with just a handful of Chiffchaffs and five Firecrests of interest.There was a patchy movement of birds offshore with eventual totals of an excellent total of 319 Sandwich Terns along with 19 Shoveler, six Gadwall, 391 Common Scoters, 11 Velvet Scoters, 18 Red-breasted Mergansers and five Common Terns. However, the highlight of the seawatching was a pod of four White-beaked Dolphinswhich were watched for over an hour during the morning as they fed and moved slowly eastwards. Red Kite Milvus milvus   Dungeness   6th April 2015
7th		Sewatching provided most of the interest again with a decent trickle of birds throughout the day and with two Pintails, nine Shovelers, 593 Common Scoters, 22 Red-breasted Mergansers, five Whimbrels, 22 Curlews, three Little Gulls, twoMediterranean Gulls, a very early Little Tern, 402 Sandwich Terns and threeCommon Terns of interest. A Great Skua also flew west.It was very quiet on the land with just a Swallow, two Firecrests and 15 Chiffchaffs of note.
8th		The highlight of the day was another Red Kite (this time with no wing damage) which flew NW over the Point at around midday whilst four Buzzards were also seen. There was a small arrival of birds in the bushes including five Blackcaps and 15 Chiffchaffsand a few other birds passed overhead including the first Yellow Wagtail of the year, three Swallows and a Brambling.Birds also passed through offshore for much of the day. Final totals included 576 Brent Geese, two Gadwall, 24 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 317 Common Scoters and 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Black-throated Divers, 28 Whimbrel, 16 Curlew, the firstArctic Skua of the year, seven Little Gulls, 409 Sandwich Terns and 14 Common Terns. Red Kite Milvus milvus   Dungeness   8th April 2015
9th		A day of mostly thick fog and is usually the case in these conditions there were actually few grounded migrants to be seen. They did include a superb Hoopoe which showed well for a couple of observers before disappearing into the murk. The only other grounded migrants were two Firecrests, about 20 Chiffchaffs, three Willow Warblers and singles of Blackcap, Redwing, Ring Ouzel and White Wagtail. A trickle of birds passing overhead included a Little Ringed Plover, a Yellow Wagtailand three Redpolls.The sea was barely visible for most of the day but a brief clearer spell in mid-afternoon produced four Little Gulls and an Arctic Skua, a second-summer Yellow-legged Gullwas in the roost at the Point.
10th		Although still misty for much of the day visibility was much better than yesterday and allowed for a good passage offshore and a small arrival of migrants on the land.A total of 7.5hrs of seawatching at various times through the day resulted in good counts of 3961 Brent Geese, 657 Common Scoters, three Velvet Scoters, 40 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Black-throated Diver, 26 Curlew, one Whimbrel, an Arctic Skua, 585 Sandwich Terns and 166 Common Terns. Migrants on the land included a steady arrival during the day of 40 Chiffchaffs along with a Willow Warbler and a couple of apparent migrant Black Redstarts in the trapping area an three Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Sparrow, a Brambling, plenty of Linnets and three Redpolls passing overhead. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochrurus   Dungeness   10th April 2014 This bird was in the trapping area an was presumably a migrant individual.
11th		There was a small arrival of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps after which it was fairly quiet on the land.Most of the days interest was offshore where there was a juvenile/first-winter Iceland Gull along with a second-winter Herring x Glaucous Gull and a first-winter Little Gullat the Patch and birds passing up-channel included 690 Brent Geese, three Arctic Skuas, three Great Skuas and 20 Common Terns.
12th		A bright but cold and breezy day produced a small  arrival of migrants on the land and some more passage offshore.Of note on the land were the first Redstart of the spring and three Ring Ouzels along with 25 Willow Warblers, 15 Chiffchaffs and six Blackcaps. Just over five hours of seawatching gave totals of five Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Arctic and four Great Skuas, and 446 Sandwich Terns passing east whilst at the Patch, the Iceland Gull was seen again along (thanks to Barry Wright for the image below) with the first-winter Little Gull and 25 Common Terns. A second-winterCaspian Gull also flew west off the fishing boats. Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides   juvenile/first-winter   Dungeness   12th April 2015 (Barry Wright) Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus    Dungeness   12th April 2015
13th		With dawn breaking to a crystal clear sky and superb visibility across to France the first couple of hours of the morning were relatively quiet with what little interest there was being offshore. Two Red-breasted Mergansers, 135 Common Scoters, twoGreat Skuas, an Arctic Skua and 304 Sandwich Terns passed through whilst theIceland Gull was seen briefly before it headed off into the distance towards Rye. The first-summer Little Gull and 35 Common Terns were also feeding at the Patch.However, as we returned inland it became clear that something unusual was going on with flocks of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps leaping out of the gorse and broom between the Observatory and the Old Lighthouse. Birds then continued to arrive for most of the day although from mid-afternoon thick fog rolled in and made observations more difficult.  Blackcaps (175), Willow Warblers (150) and Chiffchaffs (50) provided the numbers whilst Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat (seven), Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Pipit were all new for the year and more unusual birds were a fine male Pied Flycatcher, three Ring Ouzels, five Redstarts, some migrant Black Redstarts and aWood Lark. The most remarkable sights though were the flocks of Blackcaps feeding like finches on the ground or gathered around apples at garden feeders. All in all a brilliant day. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca   Dungeness   13th April 2015 Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus   Dungeness   13th April 2015 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla   Dungeness  13th April 2015 (last image by David Bunney)
14th		Most of yesterdays migrants departed overnight but there were still a good few migrants around the area. The first House Martin and Whinchat of the year were seen (the latter on the beach at the fishing boats) and 20 Chiffchaffs, 12 Willow Warblers, 20 Blackcaps and about 20 "Greenland" Wheatears also arrived. Other notable birds included a Little Ringed Plover, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Redstart, threeRing Ouzels and a Tree Pipit.An interesting immature Peregrine Falcon flew over the area which appeared to be of one of the tundra races calidus/tundriae. Offshore passage was slow for the most part but 325 Common Scoters, nine Red-breasted Mergansers, a summer-plumaged Black-throated Diver and aMediterranean Gull flew east during the morning and the Iceland Gull was seen again around mid-day. "Greenland" Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa   Dungeness   14th April 2015
15th		A quieter day on the land but still one or two bits of interest including a Whinchat, 16Wheatears (mostly Greenlands), a Redstart, 25 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps and aRing Ouzel whilst several Sparrowhawks and a Little Ringed Plover flew over.There was a light but steady passage offshore with 401 Common Scoters, five Red-breasted Mergansers, a drake Goosander (quite rare in the Observatory recording area), six Bar-tailed Godwits, 35 Whimbrels, 35 Curlews, an Arctic Skua and fourGreat Skuas. Two Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull seemed to be lingering offshore. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra   Dungeness   15th April 2015
16th		With fresh and strengthening NE winds and mostly clear skies there was very little to be seen on the land although there were at least 16 "Greenland" Wheatears.Seawatching saw good numbers of Common Scoters, Gannets and Common Ternsand more unusual birds in the form of six Teal, 21 Red-breasted Mergansers, 39Whimbrel, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits, a first-winter Mediterranean Gull and a flock of 18Arctic Terns. A Buzzard also flew east offshore.
17th		With a very stiff NE wind blowing there was very little to be seen on the land and not a great deal offshore. Nine Red-breasted Mergansers, four Whimbrel, singles of Arcticand Great Skua and a few Common Terns were the only notable birds.
18th		Very strong NE winds continue to limit any migration so it was a great surprise that aWryneck was found in the low scrub to the south of the trapping area. Virtually the only other migrants of any significance were five Sand Martins and two Ring Ouzels.There were three Yellow-legged Gulls in the roost at the Point, a Little Gull was feeding at the Patch and six Arctic Terns flew east. Wryneck Jynx torquilla   Dungeness   18th April 2015
19th		Still very quiet on both land and sea but a first-winter Caspian Gull was a new arrival at the Patch where there were also 120 Common Terns and a first-winter Little Gullfeeding. One Arctic Skua flew east. Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans    first-winter   Dungeness    19th April 2015
20th		Migrants remain fairly hard to come by on the Point although the Wryneck was seen again and a male Firecrest was singing in the trapping area. There were also 30Swallows and five "Greenland" Wheatears and the first Reed Warblers of the year were singing at the Long Pits.There was a Black Tern and a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull feeding at the Patch and a trickle of movement offshore included two Pintail, a flock of 70 Bar-tailed Godwits, 45 Whimbrel and two Mediterranean Gulls. "Greenland" Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe leucorhoa   Dungeness   20th April 2015
21st		The Wryneck was seen again but remains elusive whilst other migrants on the land were almost non-existent with just a Ring Ouzel of interest.The early morning seawatch was very slow but things picked up a bit in the afternoon with final day totals of 190 Brent Geese, 161 Common Scoters, 36 Whimbrel, 99Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Little Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls and 14 Little Terns. Two Arctic Terns were feeding at the Patch.
22nd		A trickle of birds flew east offshore during the first couple of hours but after that it was very quiet on both sea and land. Birds seen offshore included 26 Whimbrels, twoGreat Skuas, 11 Little Gulls, five Mediterranean Gulls and two Yellow-legged Gulls. A Ring Ouzel was seen near the Old Lighthouse.
23rd		A thin scatter of migrants on the land included two Lesser Whitethroats, fourBlackcaps and singles of Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit.There was a steady trickle of birds offshore in the morning and a sudden flurry of movement in the evening. Nine hours of watching produced a Pink-footed Goose, 143Common Scoters, five Black-throated Divers, 66 Bar-tailed Godwits, 133Whimbrel, three Arctic Skuas, 34 Little Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls, 436Common Terns, five Arctic Terns and 186 distant "commic" Terns. An additional two Mediterranean Gulls and a second-winter Yellow-legged Gull were feeding at the Patch. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochrurus   Dungeness   23rd April 2015
24th		The wind dropped and veered into the SW but brought with it lots of fog, especially in the early morning. There was small but varied arrival of migrants on the land with aMerlin, the first Garden Warbler of the year, six Blackcaps, two Lesser Whitethroats, a Ring Ouzel, a late Fieldfare, two Redstarts and three Tree Pipitsand a semi-rarity in the form of three Jays.Seawatching was hampered by the poor visibility but over eight hours of watching eventually produced 1272 Brent Geese, 13 Eider, 429 Common Scoters, 18 Bar-tailed Godwits, 32 Whimbrels, 17 Arctic and 11 Great Skuas, five Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Terns and 114 Common Terns.
25th		A very quiet day on both land and sea in mostly damp and foggy conditions.On the land the best that could be found were a Ring Ouzel and two Redstarts whilst the produced a Great Northern Diver and just three Arctic and one Great Skua flying east and a Mediterranean Gull lingering at the Patch.  However, the highlight of the day was a party of about eight White-beaked Dolphinswhich spent about two hours feeding offshore during the morning.
26th		Yet another cold and damp day.Migrants continue to trickle through on the land in very small numbers with the best being 15 Willow Warblers, four Garden Warblers and a Redstart. The sea was very quiet with a single Great Skua and a few Brent Geese andCommon Scoters moving east, a Black-throated Diver flying west and single Blackand Little Terns feeding offshore. A first-winter Caspian Gull was found at the Point. Late news concerns the first Pomarine Skuas of the spring, a flock of seven birds passing close inshore at around 1630hrs.
27th		A very cold start to the day with northerly winds further limited passage with just aGreenshank, the first Swift of the year, a few Swallows, two Garden Warblers, aYellow Wagtail and a Siskin of any interest on the land.The sea was even quieter but a first-winter Little Gull and a couple of Arctic Ternswere feeding at the Patch this afternoon.
28th		Another cold morning and wind increasing through the day. A thin scatter of migrants again including singles of Ring Ouzel, Whinchat and Garden Warbler and nineWillow Warblers.Very quiet offshore.
29th		Most of the interest was offshore with S x SW winds during the morning producing twoVelvet Scoters, single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers, seven Manx Shearwaters, 26 Whimbrel, seven Arctic Skuas, two Pomarine Skuas, 13 Great Skuas, three Little Terns and seven Arctic Terns of note.Very quiet on the land with just a Ring Ouzel of note.
30th		No sign of any improvement in passage with just a slow trickle of Sandwich andCommon Terns passing offshore and a Lesser Whitethroat, two Blackcaps and twoYellow Wagtails on the land.