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Local weather

Update

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8th Nov

There were a few grounded Blackbirds and Redwings at dawn but after that it was mainly migrants passing overhead that provided the interest. Of note were 20 Stock Doves, 110 Wood Pigeons, four Swallows, three Jays, a Woodlark, two Bearded Tits, 4400 Starlings, five Rock Pipits, 80 Bramblings, 14 Redpolls, 35 Siskins and a Lapland Bunting.


Brambling Fringilla montifringilla   Dungeness   8th November 2021
One of two birds caught this morning.

One Porpoise was feeding offshore.

A Vagrant Emperor Dragonfly was seen flying along the beach at the fishing boats and is only the second Observatory record.

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7th Nov

A bright day which produced a little visible migration but not a great deal in the bushes. The highlight of the day was a Snow Bunting which flew over the area.

Elsewhere, there was an obvious highlight in the form of a Black Brant found amongst the many geese present at Scotney. This is only the second record for the greater Dungeness area.



Black Brant Branta bernicla ssp nigricans   adult   Scotney   7th November 2021



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6th Nov

More of the same with a handful of grounded migrants and a trickle of birds overhead including a Grey Heron, six late Swallows, 25 Blackbirds, three Fieldfares, seven Bramblings and 15 Siskins.

Seawatching was also slow going but did produce a surprising record when an adult Sabine's Gull was found in the late afternoon.

Two Porpoises were seen.

Elsewhere, at least 16 Cattle Egrets came in to roost at ARC this evening.

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5th Nov

A clear and cold morning brought a bit of visible migration but very little on the ground. Two Grey Herons, two Buzzards, a Green Sandpiper, 25 Skylarks, 5600 Starlings, seven Fieldfares, 20 Redwings, six Song Thrushes, 200 Chaffinches, 25 Bramblings, 30 Lesser Redpolls and 110 Siskins flew over and two Egyptian Geese also flew around the Point. Three Woodcocks and 60 Blackbirds were of note on the land. The sea was very quiet although a single Velvet Scoter was of some note.

A Brown Hare was seen.

A Clouded Yellow butterfly was also seen.

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4th Nov

With a fresh NNW breeze and heavy cloud at times the highlight of the day was a big arrival of thrushes with 250 Blackbirds, 220 Fieldfares, 300 Redwings, ten Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush. A Lapwing, three Snipe, five Bramblings and 20 Siskins also passed overhead. 

Two Mediterranean Gulls were seen at the fishing boats.

Two Porpoises were feeding offshore.

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3rd Nov

A bright and sunny day but with a light and cold NW breeze brought a decent bit of overhead passage but very little in the bushes other than a Woodcock, six Chiffchaffs, a Firecrest and 12 Redwings. Birds passing overhead included 17 Swallows and three House Martins, 4000 Starlings, 45 Bramblings and 50 Siskins.

Single Marsh Harrier and Buzzard were also seen.

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2nd Nov

It was the first calm morning for ages and it duly produced the goods with a superb (aren't they always) Pallas's Warbler and two Siberian Chiffchaffs, (one caught) in the trapping area. It was actually still fairly quiet in terms of numbers of migrants though with a trickle of finches overhead including 25 Bramblings, ten Redpolls and 40 Siskins along with a Woodcock and a Rock Pipit. Other grounded migrants were limited to a Woodlark, a few new Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps, a few Blackbirds and four Black Redstarts. A two-hour seawatch this morning produced an excellent total of 110 Mediterranean Gulls and 273 auks but not much else.




Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus   Dungeness   2nd November 2021



Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita (tristis)   Dungeness   2nd November 2021



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1st Nov

A Siberian Chiffchaff was a nice find in the Trapping Area but other migrants were limited to a Rock Pipit and a few finches. The morning seawatch was pretty quiet with just 21 Mediterranean Gulls, 16 Sandwich Terns and 36 Razorbills of interest. 

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

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31st Oct

A very stormy morning with winds up to Force 9 and some very heavy rain. The highlight of the day was a Hooded Crow which came in over the fishing boats in the afternoon. Two seawatch sessions totaling 5.75 hours produced four Gadwall, the first two Fulmars for some time, 1280 Gannets, 841 Kittiwakes, four Little Gulls, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 73 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Skua and 340 Razorbills. An adult Yellow-legged Gull and three Merlins were also seen on the beach.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore 

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30th Oct

Another wet and windy morning with a bit of seabird movement but very little on the land. The best from over 5.5hours of seawatching were 15 Shovelers, three Red-breasted Mergansers, 443 Gannets, two Mediterranean Gulls, 137 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Skua and 591 Razorbills. The only highlights on the land were a Merlin, six Swallows, a Rock Pipit and just three Siskins. 

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

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