10th Apr

A calm, clear morning saw a decent arrival of migrants on the land and birds moving east offshore throughout the day. Of note on the land were 37 Willow Warblers, 25 Chiffchaffs, the first Sedge Warbler of the year and 15 Blackcaps while five Swallows, a Brambling and 22 Siskins passed overhead. Over 11 hours of seawatching from 0700hrs produced two Garganey, ten Velvet Scoters, 945 Common Scoters, 232 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, 916 Gannets, 148 Whimbrels, five Mediterranean Gulls, 155 Little Gulls, 1088 Sandwich Terns, 53 Common Terns, two Great Skuas and eight Arctic Skuas.

At least 12 Porpoises were feeding offshore where a Grey Seal was also seen and a Stoat was hunting in the Moat.

9th Apr

Not a great deal to be seen on a cold and breezy day. A Great White Egret came in over the Fishing Boats, two Buzzards flew over the Long Pits and a Merlin was seen at the Point. Three Willow Warblers and 12 Chiffchaffs were seen in the bushes and a Brambling and 14 Siskin also flew over.

Five Porpoises were seen offshore and a Badger was seen in the Observatory garden at first light.

8th Apr

The wind finally dropped this morning and allowed a small arrival of migrants on the land and a few seabirds continued to trickle east. The highlights on the land were our first Willow Warblers of the spring and 20 Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps and 20 Robins. Two Bramblings also flew over. Numbers of birds moving offshore were generally small but did include our first Common Terns of the year, four Mediterranean Gulls, two Little Gulls and a decent total of 13 Arctic Skuas.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus   Dungeness   8th April 2022

At least 15 Porpoises were feeding offshore.

7th Apr

More strong winds and rain made observations difficult with seawatching the best option. Even here it was hard-going but over five hours of watching eventually produced an Eider, 1097 Common Scoters, seven Manx Shearwaters and 593 Gannets. A most-unexpected Sooty Shearwater also which passed west this afternoon which was only the fourth April record.

Two Porpoises were seen. 

6th Apr

A day of strong south-westerly winds with frequent rain meant that seawatching was the main option. Over six hours of watching produced 297 Brent Geese, 13 Velvet and 819 Common Scoters, three Red-breasted Mergansers, 14 Fulmars, a Manx Shearwater, three Great Skuas and two Arctic Skuas of note. It was virtually birdless on the land.

Four Porpoises and singles of Common and Grey Seal were feeding offshore. 

5th Apr

A very quiet day with three Pintail and 32 Sandwich Terns offshore, two Teal and a Jack Snipe at the Long Pits and two Swallows over the Point being about the only birds of note.

Two Porpoises and a Common Seal were seen offshore.

4th Apr

With a strong WSW wind blowing most of the interest was offshore with birds moving mainly east and passerines arriving from the south. Over six hours of seawatching produced 588 Brent Geese, six Velvet Scoters, 563 Common Scoters, two Mediterranean Gulls and 20 Sandwich Terns. Birds coming in from the south included a House Martin, a Swallow, 717 Meadow Pipits and 90 Linnets.

Four Porpoises were seen offshore.

3rd Apr

A cold northerly breeze for most of the day which saw a trickle of movement offshore and a handful of migrants on the land. The highlight on the land was the first Swallow of the year along with four Buzzards, a Merlin, five Chiffchaffs, 14 Redwings, 25 Robins, six Black Redstarts, three Wheatears and a Brambling. Seawatching produced two Pintails, eight Red-breasted Mergansers, six Mediterranean Gulls and 32 Sandwich Terns of note.

Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Badger visited the Observatory garden again this evening.

2nd Apr

A cold and windy day. Seawatching produced 352 Gannets, five Little Gulls and 70 Sandwich Terns. Eight Chiffchaffs, a Fieldfare, a Mistle Thrush, five Black Redstarts, six Wheatears, two Bramblings and 17 Siskins of note.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

1st Apr

The most significant event of the day was waking up to a light covering of snow with snow flurries continuing through the morning. Several seawatching sessions eventually produced 121 Brent Geese, three Shelducks, three Teal, eight Red-breasted Mergansers, 62 Fulmars, 1237 Gannets, six Little Gulls and 82 Sandwich Terns. It was very quiet on the land.

A Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.