A dull and murky start and then rain from 1000hrs and for the rest of the day. The main feature of the day was a big early morning movement of birds overhead including 7000 Swallows, 1500 House Martins, 14 House Sparrows, 118 alba Wagtails, a Grey Wagtail, 810 Meadow Pipits, a Rock Pipit, 1350 Linnets, 450 Goldfinches, 32 Siskins and 47 Reed Buntings. There were very few grounded migrants with just 12 Chiffchaffs, six Blackcaps and seven Wheatears of interest.
Good numbers of Gannets and Sandwich Terns continued to move west and an adult Pomarine Skua was of note. The six regular Arctic Skuas were still harassing terns throughout the day and a Great Skua, an Arctic Tern and a Mediterranean Gull were also seen.
Six Porpoises, a Grey Seal and two Brown Hares were seen.
Three Delicates were trapped overnight.
28th Sep
Very warm and light rain and no wind from first light seemed like perfect conditions for a decent arrival of migrants. However, it turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. The best of the few grounded migrants were two Firecrests, three Lesser Whitethroats, 14 Blackcaps, four Song Thrushes, two Spotted Flycatchers, five Wheatears, a Redstart and a Whinchat. Overhead passage was limited to a few Swallows and good numbers of Meadow Pipits and three Grey Wagtails, four Siskins and 66 Goldfinches.
Seawatching was very slow with just a steady passage of Sandwich Terns and three Black Terns and three lingering Arctic Skuas and one Great Skua lingering offshore. A Mediterranean Gull was also seen.
Five Porpoises, a Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and two Brown Hares were seen in the Desert.
Nothing of any great interest in the way of migrants in the moth trap but two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen during the day.
Seawatching was very slow with just a steady passage of Sandwich Terns and three Black Terns and three lingering Arctic Skuas and one Great Skua lingering offshore. A Mediterranean Gull was also seen.
Five Porpoises, a Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and two Brown Hares were seen in the Desert.
Nothing of any great interest in the way of migrants in the moth trap but two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen during the day.
27th Sep
Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests continue to arrive in decent numbers whilst other bits in the bushes included a Merlin, two "continental" Coal Tits, eight Blackcaps, a Garden Warbler, four Song Thrushes and a Redstart. Overhead passage was fairly light but 17 Tree Sparrows, five Yellow Wagtails, four Grey Wagtails, 260 Meadow Pipits and 25 Reed Buntings were seen.
Very quiet offshore with just a couple of Arctic Skuas of interest.
One Clouded Yellow was seen.
A Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.
Very quiet offshore with just a couple of Arctic Skuas of interest.
One Clouded Yellow was seen.
A Brown Hare was seen in the Desert.
26th Sep
With the warm easterly wind continuing there was a distinct increase in the numbers of migrants on the ground and a decent overhead movement but the sea remained fairly quiet.
Among the good numbers of migrants on the land were a rarity in the form of a Turtle Dove, 35 Goldcrests, 12 Firecrests, 160 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, the first three Song Thrushes of the autumn, ten Spotted Flycatchers, three Redstarts, 30 Wheatears, a Rock Pipit, and 35 Reed Buntings whilst birds passing overhead included four Buzzards, a Hobby, five Yellow and four Grey Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 420 Meadow Pipits.
Ten Porpoises were feeding offshore.
The moth trap was good this morning with two Clancy's Rustics, a Delicate and the migrant pyralid Palpita vitrealis of note. Clancy's Rustic was first seen in Britain at Greatstone in 2002. It then increased rapidly across southern Britain, with the first Observatory record in 2006 and when 14 of the 15 previous Observatory records were seen and with final individual on 6th October 2013.
A Clouded Yellow was also seen.
Among the good numbers of migrants on the land were a rarity in the form of a Turtle Dove, 35 Goldcrests, 12 Firecrests, 160 Chiffchaffs, 12 Blackcaps, two Garden Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Sedge Warbler, the first three Song Thrushes of the autumn, ten Spotted Flycatchers, three Redstarts, 30 Wheatears, a Rock Pipit, and 35 Reed Buntings whilst birds passing overhead included four Buzzards, a Hobby, five Yellow and four Grey Wagtails, a Tree Pipit and 420 Meadow Pipits.
Ten Porpoises were feeding offshore.
The moth trap was good this morning with two Clancy's Rustics, a Delicate and the migrant pyralid Palpita vitrealis of note. Clancy's Rustic was first seen in Britain at Greatstone in 2002. It then increased rapidly across southern Britain, with the first Observatory record in 2006 and when 14 of the 15 previous Observatory records were seen and with final individual on 6th October 2013.
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| Palpita vitrealis and Clancy's Rustic Caradrina kadenii Dungeness 26th September 2017 |
25th Sep
The day dawned with what felt like ideal conditions for an arrival of migrants on the land and a bit of movement offshore but unfortunately the birds hadn't read the script. The only migrants in the bushes of any significance were 12 Firecrests and two Spotted Flycatchers whilst birds passing overhead included 3500 Swallows, 850 House Martins, four Grey Wagtails, 900 Meadow Pipits, a Siskin and 13 Reed Buntings. The best on the sea were 199 Brent Geese, 86 Wigeon, eight Shoveler, six Arctic Skuas and two Great Skuas and three Mediterranean Gulls.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Weasel and three Brown Hares were seen on the land.
The best of the moth trapping was a Delicate.
Four Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore and a Weasel and three Brown Hares were seen on the land.
The best of the moth trapping was a Delicate.
24th Sep
There was a small arrival of migrants this morning with five Firecrests and a Pied Flycatcher of interest and this Red-backed Shrike around Southview Cottage from mid-morning of particular note.
Seawatching was pretty slow this morning with 195 Brent Geese, a Shag and just a few Arctic and Great Skuas lingering or passing through but late in the day this Caspian Gull made an appearance on the beach at the fishing boats. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was also seen.
Five Clouded Yellows were seen during the day and a Scarce Bordered Straw was trapped overnight.
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| Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Dungeness 24th September 2017 |
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| Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans Dungeness 24th September 2017 |
23rd Sep
Birds were fairly few and far between in the bushes but there was a bit of movement overhead including 400 Swallows, two Yellow Wagtails, five Grey Wagtails, 300 Meadow Pipits, 35 Goldfinches and four Reed Buntings.
Most of the interest was offshore where there was a good variety of birds seen with 21 Wigeon, 22 Teal, two Pintail, four Eider, a Black-necked Grebe, 32 Arctic Skuas, 26 Great Skuas, a Little Tern and a Mediterranean Gull of note and numbers provided by 160 Brent Geese, 175 Common Scoters, 40 Gannets, 35 Dunlin and 237 Sandwich Terns.
At least ten Porpoises were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
Small numbers of butterflies were on the wing and included two Clouded Yellows and a Brown Argus.
Most of the interest was offshore where there was a good variety of birds seen with 21 Wigeon, 22 Teal, two Pintail, four Eider, a Black-necked Grebe, 32 Arctic Skuas, 26 Great Skuas, a Little Tern and a Mediterranean Gull of note and numbers provided by 160 Brent Geese, 175 Common Scoters, 40 Gannets, 35 Dunlin and 237 Sandwich Terns.
At least ten Porpoises were feeding offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
Small numbers of butterflies were on the wing and included two Clouded Yellows and a Brown Argus.
22nd Sep
A nice day after a foggy start produced another large movement of Swallows in the afternoon along with five Grey Wagtails and two Yellow Wagtails in the morning whilst the best of the grounded migrants was a single Firecrest. The sea was also fairly quiet with seven lingering Arctic Skuas and two Great Skuas passing west being the highlights.
Six Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
A Clouded Yellow was the best of the butterflies.
A search just after dusk this evening produced plenty of singing Tree Crickets in the usual area.
Today two of us attended a meeting at Sandwich Bay which was looking at ways of working more closely with our french colleagues on a "Migrating Birds of the Straits of Dover" project. It was an enjoyable day and great to meet up with our french friends again. Thank you to Caroline Delelis for organizing and chairing the meeting and to Sandwich team for hosting us.
Six Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore and a Brown Hare was seen on the land.
A Clouded Yellow was the best of the butterflies.
A search just after dusk this evening produced plenty of singing Tree Crickets in the usual area.
Today two of us attended a meeting at Sandwich Bay which was looking at ways of working more closely with our french colleagues on a "Migrating Birds of the Straits of Dover" project. It was an enjoyable day and great to meet up with our french friends again. Thank you to Caroline Delelis for organizing and chairing the meeting and to Sandwich team for hosting us.
21st Sep
Given the change to a more southerly breeze the day was a bit disappointing. There were very few grounded migrants and overhead passage was more or less limited to hirundines with 3500 Swallows passing through along with three Grey Wagtails and 105 Meadow Pipits. Other grounded bits included 20 Chiffchaffs and five Wheatears.
Seawatching was also slow but six hours of observation eventually produced 20 Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas, a Black Tern and 625 Sandwich Terns.
Two Clouded Yellows were seen during the day.
Seawatching was also slow but six hours of observation eventually produced 20 Arctic Skuas, two Great Skuas, a Black Tern and 625 Sandwich Terns.
Two Clouded Yellows were seen during the day.
20th Sep
There was a decent arrival of Chiffchaffs this morning along with a latish Willow Warbler, 12 Blackcaps and a Sedge Warbler.
More hirundines moved through with 5000 Swallows and 650 House Martins and six Grey Wagtails and six Siskins also passed overhead. The Osprey made a couple of visits into the area again.
About 14 Arctic Skuas and a Mediterranean Gull were lingering offshore.
Three Porpoises were feeding offshore and Brown Hare was seen on the land.
On a more or less unrelated subject but of great interest was the snagging in pot lines of an aeroengine by Joe Thomas and brought ashore this afternoon. It is a 9 cylinder radial engine and various suggestions have been made on Twitter as to what it may have been part of. The most likely options so far appear to be either from a B-17 Flying Fortress or Dornier D-17. Hopefully there will be a definitive answer shortly.
On a more or less unrelated subject but of great interest was the snagging in pot lines of an aeroengine by Joe Thomas and brought ashore this afternoon. It is a 9 cylinder radial engine and various suggestions have been made on Twitter as to what it may have been part of. The most likely options so far appear to be either from a B-17 Flying Fortress or Dornier D-17. Hopefully there will be a definitive answer shortly.
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| Covered in a variety of deep sea life we do not usually see. |
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