20th July

A Wood Sandpiper flew over the Observatory this morning and three Yellow-legged Gulls and a flock of 11 Little Terns were the best the sea could offer.

The best of the overnight moth trapping were a Pine Hawkmoth, a Dog's Tooth and the tortrix Endothenia profundana.

Endothenia profundana, Dog's Tooth Lacanobia suasa and Pine Hawkmoth Hyloicus pinastri   Dungeness   20th July 2023

A thorough check  of the main areas for rare crickets produced just one nymph Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket and only six Tree Cricket nymphs.

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Phaneroptera falcata   Dungeness   20th July 2023

19th July

A Grey Plover, ten Mediterranean Gulls, four Yellow-legged Gulls and 24 Sandwich Terns were the highlight of this morning's seawatch.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Two Southern Oak Bush-crickets were found in the Observatory garden.

Most frustratingly two right forewings from Light Crimson Underwing moths were found in the Observatory garden. A Jersey Tiger was also seen at the Railway Station.

18th July

A two-hour seawatch this morning this morning produced nine Shovelers, 43 Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Overhead passage included 140 Sand Martins.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

A male Lesser Emperor dragonfly was seen at the northern end of the Long Pits.

A Dark Crimson Underwing was seen briefly as it fed in the flowers of the Buddleja bush in the front gardens of the cottages.

17th July

The morning seawatch produced 54 Kittiwakes, 33 Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 19 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua of note. It was very quiet on the land.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

16th July

Despite the stormy conditions the sea was fairly uneventful with just 15 Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile Little Tern feeding offshore and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

15th July

Seawatching in stormy conditions produced a Wigeon, 45 Common Scoters, four Whimbrel, 68 Mediterranean Gulls, four Yellow-legged Gulls, 22 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Skua and three Manx Shearwaters but the highlight of the day was overhead with at least 2,500 Swifts flying over the Point and out to sea.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

14th July

Around 40 Mediterranean Gulls and five juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were roosting on the beach at the Patch this morning but very little else was seen.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

13th July

Very quiet on the land but most of the interest offshore where at least 200 Mediterranean Gulls and five juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were seen. 

Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus   Dungeness   13th July 2023
A small part of the feeding flock of gulls

Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus   juveniles   Dungeness   13th July 2023
The two youngsters are very close to fledging.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Four Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen along the Power Station wall and an Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis was caught in the moth traps overnight.

12th July

Most of the interest was along the tide/offshore where several visits eventually produced three Shelducks, at least 220 Mediterranean Gulls, a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and two Arctic Skuas. Three Little Egrets also came in from the south, a Greenshank flew over the Long Pits and a Hobby was hunting on the Point this evening.

Three Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

Two Holly Blue butterflies were seen in the Trapping Area.

11th July

Most of the days interest was in a large arrival/movement of Mediterranean Gulls with an minimum of 350 birds being seen along with at least three juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls. Single Whimbrel and Curlew also flew west and 690 Swifts and 16 Sand Martins flew out to sea.

Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus   Dungeness   11th July 2023

Five Porpoises and two Grey Seals were feeding offshore.

Some outstanding late news concerns a moth trapped by Dorothy Beck on 7th July, Searching through the foreign literature by Sean Clancy eventually showed it to be an example of Hadula odontites and is a new species to Britain.

Hadula odontites   Lydd-on-sea   7th July 2023