31st Oct

Another very quiet day with very little in the way of grounded migrants and the slightest trickle of birds passing overhead. The only birds of note were two Dartford Warblers in the broom and gorse between the Shingle House and the Desert along with four Stonechats this afternoon. A Mediterranean Gull was seen offshore, two Ring Ouzels were seen in the bushes and a few Redpolls passed overhead. 

30th Oct

Another damp and misty morning which failed to produce very much on the land or at sea.
However, 20 Mediterranean Gulls were roosting on the beach and in mid-afternoon a lovely adult Caspian Gull came to the offerings.

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans   adult   Dungeness   30th October 2016

29th Oct

Despite yet more seemingly good conditions for migrants there was very little to be seen on the land with just a couple each of Firecrest, Ring Ouzel and Rock Pipit and the second Yellowhammer of the autumn of any note.
Seawatching was quite productive despite the flat calm conditions with 356 Brent Geese, six Red-breasted Mergansers, singles of Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Sooty Shearwater and Pomarine Skua, six Great Skuas and 38 Mediterranean Gulls passing west.

A Gem was the only moth of note from the traps overnight although the first area record of an Oak Rustic was caught at Greatstone.

At least eight Porpoises were seen offshore.

28th Oct

Very quiet on the land with just a Short-eared Owl in the Desert, six Swallows passing through and the long-staying Ring Ouzel in the moat of any note.
However, the sea provided the surprise of the day with at least 892 Mediterranean Gulls feeding offshore and passing west along with 796 Kittwakes and 31 Sandwich Terns. An Arctic Skua was also present.

Two Porpoises, a Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

27th Oct

The morning began with thick fog and very few birds but as the weather improved a trickle of birds started to appear with a Dartford Warbler in the broom and gorse behind the Shingle House followed by a super Pallas's Warbler caught in the moat. After processing it was released back into the moat and gave some good views during the afternoon. Other bits and pieces included two Little Owls and a Short-eared Owl in the Desert and Trapping Area this evening and a handful of Skylarks, Siskins and Redpolls passing overhead during the day. Three Firecrests and four Black Redstarts were also found and there was "resident" Ring Ouzel in the moat. 

Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus   Dungeness   27th October 2016

A Brown Hare was also seen.

26th Oct

Small numbers of migrants were found on the land today with six Firecrests, 27 Goldcrests, six Black Redstarts and a Ring Ouzel of note. Overhead passage picked up slightly with a steady trickle of birds throughout the morning and including 58 Skylarks, a couple of Swallows, 1700 Starlings, two Grey Wagtails, three Rock Pipits, 90 Chaffinches, eight Bramblings, 500 Goldfinches, 32 Siskins, 60 Redpolls, 13 Reed Buntings and (sadly) perhaps the bird of the day in the form of a Yellowhammer. 
In addition, a party of three "Bean" Geese first seen on the RSPB Reserve departed there and flew out east over the observatory recording area.

A Scarce Bordered Straw was the first reasonable migrant moth to be caught for some time.

25th Oct

Yet another disappointing day in what seemed like good conditions for a few birds to arrive. Two Ring Ouzels were about the best on offer on the land whilst birds passing overhead included 20 Skylarks, four Swallows, three Rock Pipits, three Grey Wagtails, 23 Siskins, 19 Redpolls and a party of six Crossbills.
A couple of Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore and 119 Brent Geese and two Eiders flew west.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

24th Oct

The strong easterly wind was still blowing this morning and did little to improve the birding although it had dropped away by mid-afternoon.
One of the main features of the day was a large gathering of seabirds feeding offshore which included a first-winter Caspian Gull, at least 30 Mediterranean Gulls and eight Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua and a Great Skua and unusually, a Tufted Duck with a group of three Common Scoters.
Birds were far from plentiful on the land but they did include a Woodcock, seven Firecrests, 14 Chiffchaffs, five Blackcaps, four Ring Ouzels, 15 Song Thrushes, four Black Redstarts and two Mistle Thrushes. A Great White Egret came in and headed inland

At least six Porpoises were feeding close inshore this afternoon.
A Grey Squirrel was also seen in one of the private gardens.This is probably a new mammal species for the Observatory recording area although not a totally unexpected one as there have been several records from nearby in recent months.

23rd Oct

A pretty hard day for watching with a strong and cold easterly wind blasting across the Point and very few birds seemingly present. A first-winter Caspian Gull was found at the fishing boats along with three Mediterranean Gulls.
A few migrants on the land included three Firecrests. 23 Goldcrests and 11 Chiffchaffs whilst and another late Greenshank, a Brambling, 340 Goldfinches, 17 Siskins and 20 Redpolls also flew over.

22nd Oct

Grounded migrants were extremely scarce with just a Firecrest in the trapping area of any note. Overhead passage was also generally slow with just Starlings in any numbers with at least 1400 arriving along with a Hen Harrier, 20 Skylarks, 29 Swallows, two Grey Wagtails, four Bramblings and five Lesser Redpolls.
Eight Mediterranean Gulls were feeding offshore.

A Weasel was also seen.