9th Sep

Conditions seemed ideal for a few migrants to drop in this morning but it was not to be with the pitiful numbers of common migrants continuing. The only birds of note on  the land were singles of Merlin, Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher and Whinchat and 17 Wheatears. The sea was also pretty devoid of birds with just a couple of Arctic Skuas of note.

The overnight conditions did however make for a very decent catch in the moth traps with singles of the pyralids, Nephopteryx angustella (11th Obs record), Anania verbascalis (12th Obs record), and Cydalima perspectalis (3rd Obs record), two Cypress Pugs, a Narrow-winged Pug (4th Obs record), a Dusky Thorn and two Hoary Footman (3rd and 4th Obs records).

Anania verbascalis, Nephopteryx angustella, Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata and Hoary Footman Eilema caniola   
Dungeness   9th September 2021

8th Sep

Very quiet on the land with just six Willow Warblers, three Spotted Flycatchers, a Pied Flycatcher, two Redstarts, a Whinchat and 20 Yellow Wagtails of note. Singles of Mediterranean Gull, Great Skua and Arctic Skuas were the best of the meagre offerings offshore. 

Although the area was not checked for crickets this evening the Tree Crickets were clearly audible from the Observatory, a distance of around 400metres.

Elsewhere, three Spoonbills were new in on the Reserve and the three Cattle Egrets and a Glossy Ibis continue their stay there. Three Garganey were present and the first first-calendar Caspian Gull of the autumn was seen.

7th Sep

Grounded migrants continue to be scarce but ten Willow Warblers, a Spotted Flycatcher, two Pied Flycatchers, two Redstarts and two Whinchats were of interest while birds passing overhead included 100 Swallows, 30 Yellow Wagtails, 12 Grey Wagtails and a Tree Pipit. One Arctic Skua was seen offshore.

Another evening visit for Orthoptera was very successful with nine Large Coneheads and six Sickle-bearing Bush-crickets found and thousands of Tree Crickets creating an incredible chorus even audible from the Observatory garden. Earlier in the day a single Southern Oak Bush-cricket was found.

6th Sep

What was a pretty quiet day for grounded migrants saw the first really big push of departing Swallows through the Point with at least 6,000 in the area along with a 1,000 House and 180 Sand Martins. During the morning two Buzzards, 25 Yellow Wagtails, six Grey Wagtails and three Tree Pipits passed overhead and an adult male Merlin was chasing Swallows this afternoon. A party of four Ravens were also seen.

The best on offer from the moth traps were two Rest Harrows.

Another two Fire Bugs were seen this morning and an evening check for orthoptera produced seven Large Coneheads and eight Sickle-bearing Bush-crickets and an impressive chorus from the Tree Crickets.

The other highlight of today was the resurfacing of the access road to the Observatory.

A nice new surface for the Observatory road.

5th Sep

The wind finally dropped but with clear skies overnight most of the odd bits that had been lingering (including the Wryneck) appeared to have departed. Two Pied Flycatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher were new arrivals while four Whinchats and 20 Wheatears were also seen.

The sea continues to be slow-going with just two each of Great and Arctic Skuas and six Mediterranean Gulls being seen.

A Badger came into the garden in the early hours of the morning.

Butterfly observations today were dominated by Small Coppers with hundreds on the wing and a single Holly Blue.

4th Sep

Almost a repeat of the last few days although the Wryneck was much more visible today in the slightly improved conditions. There was a steady trickle of Swallows and Sand Martins moving through along with a Grey Wagtail and eight Yellow Wagtails. Two Whinchats and two Redstarts were also seen. A Black-tailed Godwit flew over the Point and two Arctic Skuas were lingering offshore.

The unlikely highlight on the mammal front was a Grey Squirrel on the beach behind the Patch Hide this morning. A Brown Hare was also seen.

Two adult Fire Bugs were found in the Moat.

Road repairs.

  The road from the red and white gate to the Obs is being resurfaced this week. The road will be closed to all traffic from 8am to 5pm on Monday and Tuesday. Visitors will have to park and walk in. 🚧

3rd Sep

Nothing much changed with the odd decent birds appearing to be the same "long-staying" birds including the Wryneck, a Redstart and two Whinchats still around the south-eastern corner of the Trapping Area. A Spotted Flycatcher on the power station was one of the few new migrants present. Two Mediterranean Gulls were feeding at the Patch and two Great Skuas and two Arctic Skuas were loitering offshore.

2nd Sep

Not a great deal of change as the cold northerly wind and cloudy conditions continue. The Wryneck was still present and marginally more visible today but the only other significant migrants were two Whinchats, a Redstart, 25 Wheatears and a Tree Pipit while three Egyptian Geese and single Golden Plover and Green Sandpiper flew over the area.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla   Dungeness   2nd September 2021

1st Sep

The Wryneck was still present but remains incredibly elusive and two Pied Flycatchers and a Redstart were also noteworthy but other migrants were thin on the ground other than at least 40 Wheatears and 70 Yellow Wagtails. Three Tree Sparrows flew over and two Whinchats were also seen in the Desert. A juvenile Hobby was seen on the beach.

Seawatching remains very slow going with over three hours of observation producing just three Mediterranean Gulls and three Arctic Skuas of note.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.