Slightly surprisingly there was a little bit of movement offshore today with three Manx Shearwaters west and three Arctic Skuas east along with at least four Mediterranean Gulls loitering. For the second day in a row a flock of Canada Geese (29 this time) and a Greylag Goose flew out to the east and a Gadwall was seen at the Long Pits.
Very little to be seen on the land.
A Grey Seal was seen offshore.
9th June
Another slow day in the Observatory area for migrants. Four Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore and a Manx Shearwater flew west. The most unusual sighting of the day was that of a flock of 39 Canada Geese which made a couple of sorties over the Point and even went out to sea before returning 30 minutes. A Ringed Plover and a Curlew also flew over and a Spotted Flycatcher at the Long Pits was worthy of note.
Two Porpoises and singles of Grey and Common Seal were also feeding offshore.
Two Holly Blues were seen at the Old Lighthouse Garden.
Elsewhere, a male Red-footed Falcon was seen at Dengemarsh though it was mostly high and distant and did not hang around for very long. There was no sign of yesterdays Rose-coloured Starling.
Two Porpoises and singles of Grey and Common Seal were also feeding offshore.
Two Holly Blues were seen at the Old Lighthouse Garden.
Elsewhere, a male Red-footed Falcon was seen at Dengemarsh though it was mostly high and distant and did not hang around for very long. There was no sign of yesterdays Rose-coloured Starling.
8th June
A flock of nine Manx Shearwater flew west this morning and single Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at the Patch. It was very quiet on the land with 375 Swifts passing through being about the only sign of any migration.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Elsewhere, a Rose-coloured Starling made several appearances during the morning on the Rype in Lydd. Presumably the same bird as that seen nearby a couple of days ago.
Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.
Elsewhere, a Rose-coloured Starling made several appearances during the morning on the Rype in Lydd. Presumably the same bird as that seen nearby a couple of days ago.
7th June
Another day with very little to report on the bird front. A Mediterranean Gull was feeding at the Patch.
Without doubt the highlight of the day was a moth - this superb Pale Shoulder. Unusually it was not attracted to the moth trap but was seen flying over the rough ground in front of the Observatory. It is only the fourth Observatory record and 12th Dungeness record of this very scarce migrant.
However, the lepidoptera interest also extended to Dengemarsh where a fine Swallowtail butterfly was found and showed very well during the morning and early afternoon.
Sadly, there was no sign of yesterdays Rose-coloured Starling.
Without doubt the highlight of the day was a moth - this superb Pale Shoulder. Unusually it was not attracted to the moth trap but was seen flying over the rough ground in front of the Observatory. It is only the fourth Observatory record and 12th Dungeness record of this very scarce migrant.
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| Pale Shoulder Acontia lucida Dungeness 7th June 2020 |
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| Swallowtail Papilio machaon Dengemarsh Road 7th June 2020 |
6th June
Very quiet in cold and windy conditions with some heavy rain. Swifts were seen in big numbers over the recording area (and across the peninsula in general) but very little else of interest was seen.
Elsewhere, a superb adult Rose-coloured Starling was found among a large flock of Starlings feeding in the sheep fields at Dengemarsh Road.
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| Swifts Apus apus Dungeness 6th June 2020 |
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| Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus Dengemarsh Road, Lydd 6th June 2020 |
5th June
A very small arrival of migrants today which included singles of Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Siskin and also 175 Swifts overhead. Four Mediterranean Gulls and two third-calendar year Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at the Patch.
Of note elsewhere was a female Red-footed Falcon found at the end of Galloways Road on the Lydd Ranges this evening. A female Montagu's Harrier also flew through. Note that the Ranges will be shut to the public from 0800hrs until after dark tomorrow and on Sunday.
Of note elsewhere was a female Red-footed Falcon found at the end of Galloways Road on the Lydd Ranges this evening. A female Montagu's Harrier also flew through. Note that the Ranges will be shut to the public from 0800hrs until after dark tomorrow and on Sunday.
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| Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus female Lydd Ranges 5th June 2020. Some true record shots of this bird taken at long range and in heavy rain. |
4th June
The main event of the day was an afternoon/evening movement of at least 1400 Swifts passing through. Six Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
A fairly cold day limited insect observations but singles of Holly Blue and Painted Lady were along with this freshly emerged Speckled Wood.
Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.
A fairly cold day limited insect observations but singles of Holly Blue and Painted Lady were along with this freshly emerged Speckled Wood.
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| Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria Dungeness 4th June 2020 |
3rd June
Very quiet. Three Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore and a Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Long Pits.
Two Porpoises were also feeding offshore and a Common Pipistrelle was picked up on the bat detector.
A decent catch of moths included the eighth Observatory record of Four-dotted Footman.
Two Porpoises were also feeding offshore and a Common Pipistrelle was picked up on the bat detector.
A decent catch of moths included the eighth Observatory record of Four-dotted Footman.
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| Four-dotted Footman Cybosia mesomella Dungeness 3rd June 2020 |
2nd June
The highlight of the day was a Bee-eater seen and/or heard on a couple of occasions during the morning but any other migrants remain virtually non-existent. Nine Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore this evening.
At least three Porpoises were feeding offshore and the Grey Squirrel was seen again. A Common Pipistrelle was heard this evening on the bat detector.at the Observatory
At least three Porpoises were feeding offshore and the Grey Squirrel was seen again. A Common Pipistrelle was heard this evening on the bat detector.at the Observatory
1st June
Three Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua offshore and a Corn Bunting over the Long Pits were about the best on offer on another day of wall-to-wall sunshine.
The Grey Squirrel reappeared, this time around Experimental Station, and a single Porpoise was seen offshore.
The Grey Squirrel reappeared, this time around Experimental Station, and a single Porpoise was seen offshore.
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