9th June

Not a great deal to be seen in the way of migrants with just a flock of nine Mediterranean Gulls and a Buzzard offshore of note. Young Wheatears and Black Redstarts are starting to appear and young Stonechats are numerous across the area.

The Badger was seen again in the early hours and 15 Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

A late Grizzled Skipper was seen and two Rest-harrow moths were found during survey work inside the power station perimeter.

Elsewhere, the two Cattle Egrets and five Great White Egrets were seen on the RSPB Reserve again and the Hooded Crow was seen again at Greatstone but was surprisingly elusive.

8th June

Another morning hampered by very thick fog and very little to be seen even when it did clear at all.

The Badger was in the garden again in the early hours of the morning and just before midnight.

A session hunting insects was productive with one highlight being the finding of two Black-headed Mason Wasps Odynerus melanocephalus which appears to be the first area records and several Common Red-legged Robberflies.Dioctria rufipes. Shield-bugs included Brassica Bug and Bishop's Mitre and seven Variable Damselfly were found at the Long Pits. The first teneral Black-tailed Skimmer was also seen.

Elsewhere, one Collared Pratincole remained on the RSPB Reserve. Two Cattle Egrets, at least four Great White Egrets and the Glossy Ibis were also seen.

7th June

Very quiet again in the Observatory area but viewing was severely hampered by thick fog for much of the day.

A Brimstone butterfly was a notable record and a Mottled Shieldbug was also found.

The Badger came into the garden again just before midnight.

The foggy conditions did make for some unusual weather phenomena though with this Fog Bow forming briefly this afternoon during one of the clearer spells.

Fogbow   Dungeness   7th June 2021

The main ornithological interest remains on the RSPB Reserve where yesterday's two Collared Pratincoles remained and were remarkably joined by a third individual. It seems likely that this is the first time that a flock of three birds have been seen in Britain. A Serin was also seen and heard singing at Dengemarsh.

6th June

A very quiet morning in the Observatory area. Three Mediterranean Gulls flew east and the first young Wheatears were seen.

Three Porpoises were seen offshore and the Badger was feeding in the garden again at 0100hrs.

Grizzled Skippers and Brown Argus butterflies continue to be seen in very small numbers. 

Badger Meles meles   Dungeness   6th June 2021

There was no doubt about the highlights of the day though when two Collared Pratincoles were found by the Burt family on the RSPB Reserve. They spent a lot of time roosting at long range but made frequent feeding forays when they came much closer and gave some superb views.

Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola   RSPB Reserve   6th June 2021

In addition, two Cattle Egrets arrived and were feeding among cattle in the Hayfield area and at least two Great White Egrets were present.

5th June

After a couple of near misses a Rose-coloured Starling finally made it into the Observatory Recording Area. It spent most of the day around the gardens at the top of the estate and gave superb views as it fed at some garden feeders. It was even heard singing on several occasions. At least one, but probably two, Red Kites flew over the area but other migrants remain scarce with just 15 Swifts and two House Martins of note overhead and 11 Mediterranean Gulls east offshore.

A Brown Hare was seen close to the Observatory.

Three Grizzled Skippers were seen and the moth traps produced 33 Diamond-backed Moths Plutella xylostella.

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus   Dungeness   5th June 2021

It was also a productive day elsewhere around the area with Bee-eaters heard or seen at Dengmarsh and at Belgar Farm just north of Lydd, the second-year Iceland Gull on Burrowes Pit and a Hooded Crow on the beach at Greatstone.

4th June

Very little to report from the recording area although conditions were seriously hampered from early morning with frequent very heavy rain.

Elsewhere, the  clear highlight was a Rose-coloured Starling which was feeding in the fields behind the chicken sheds at Dengemarsh. Views were fairly distant and the heavy rain did not help viewing.

3rd June

Migration seems to be almost at a standstill now so a Turtle Dove which landed in the Lighthouse Gorse and then flew into the Trapping Area was a nice surprise. The second-year Iceland Gull was back on the beach again.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore and the evenings entertainment was provided by another visit by the Badger. A Common Pipistrelle was also heard on the Bat Detector. 

Two Grizzled Skippers and three Brown Argus were seen but butterfly numbers remain generally low.

Badger Meles meles   Dungeness   3rd June 2021

2nd June

The highlight of the day on the birdfront was an all too brief Bee-eater which lingered for a few minutes around Southview Cottage before departing in a northerly direction.

Several Porpoises were feeding offshore, a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert and a Badger came in to the back garden again to feed on the spilled grain from the birdfeeders just before midnight.

Two Grizzled Skippers and two Brown Argus were the highlights among the few butterflies seen. A check of the weed patches around the Observatory was very productive with another three Ornate Shieldbugs being found so it looks like we have a breeding population here now. Five Brassica Bugs were also found.

Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornatum   Dungeness   2nd June 2021

1st June

It was virtually birdless today.

The highlight though was the finding of an Ornate Shieldbug in the rough area in front of the Observatory.

Ornate Shieldbug Eurydema ornata   Dungeness   1st June 2021

Butterflies continue to be seen in very low numbers and with just two Brown Argus of note.

Elsewhere, an adult Rose-coloured Starling made a brief visit on the RSPB Reserve. 

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31st May

The highlight of the day was a brief flyover Serin but other migrants on the land were almost non-existent with just a Hobby over and a Reed Warbler singing in the Moat. Thirteen Mediterranean Gulls and an Arctic Skua were seen offshore.

The Water Shrew was seen again under a metal sheet at the top of the Long Pits and a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert. Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

Two Brown Argus were also seen.

Elsewhere, a Bee-eater was heard calling over Lydd.