29th July

Another wet and breezy morning produced a handful of seabirds including 77 Kittiwakes, three Mediterranean Gulls, a Great Skua and two Arctic Skuas.

Very quiet on the land with a single Willow Warbler in the trapping area and a Yellow Wagtail overhead.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

A check of the trapping area for Orthoptera found seven mid- to late-stage nymph Sickle-bearing Bush-crickets and four final stage nymph Tree Crickets.

Sickle-bearing Bush-cricket Phaneroptera falcata and Tree Cricket Oecanthus pellucens 

28th July

A windy day with prolonged heavy showers during the morning brought a bit of slow seawatching. Eight hours of watching produced just 191 Gannets, 29 Sanderlings, three Mediterranean Gulls and two juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls. A total of 67 Swifts and 36 Sand Martins also flew out to sea.

Tow Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

There were very few moths in the traps this morning but they did include our second Acrobasis tumidana of the year.  

27th July

Three Willow Warblers and 45 Sand Martins were the only migrants on the land. A very early flock of 22 Brent Geese flew west and five Mediterranean Gulls were also seen offshore.

A Common Seal and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

26th July

A Green Sandpiper which flew over the Observatory, six Mediterranean Gulls feeding offshore and an Arctic Skua were the highlights.

A Common Pipistrelle bat was flying around the Observatory in the early hours and a Grey Seal was seen offshore.

The best of the moths from the traps were the pyralid Acrobasis tumidana, 66 Yponomeuta evonymella, 62 Yponomeuta rorella, two Sussex Emeralds and The Ear Moth. Four Clouded Yellow butterflies were seen along the power station wall.

Acrobasis tumidana   Dungeness   26th July 2021 

25th July

A dank, dreary morning produced 420 Swifts, 33 Sand Martins and 36 Swallows  heading mainly east. The bushes were almost devoid of migrants but a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen.

A Common Pipistrelle was flying around the Observatory and a Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

The highlight on the moth front was a superb  Dark Crimson Underwing caught by a holidaying moth-er on the Point overnight.

Dark Crimson Underwing Catocala sponsa   Dungeness   26th July 2021

24th July

A violent thunderstorm between 0500 and 0800hrs brought 40mm of rain and severely hampered any birding activity. Four Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore and were virtually the day's only notable birds.

Among the more regular birds on the RSPB Reserve was a Cattle Egret.

23rd July

A two-hour seawatch this morning produced 36 Mediterranean Gulls but not much else. A Buzzard and four Yellow Wagtails flew over the area.

A Grey Seal was feeding offshore.

22nd July

The hot and dry weather continues. A three-hour seawatch this morning produced 36 Mediterranean Gulls and 72 Sandwich Terns and a couple of Whimbrel flew over.

Two Small Red-eyed Damselfies were seen at the Long Pits.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum   Dungeness   22nd July 2021

The moth traps were surprisingly quiet but a session with pheromone lures produced several Six-belted Clearwings.

Six-belted Clearwing Bembecia ichneumonifrons     Dungeness   22nd Julu 2021

21st July

Another very warm day with light NE breeze. The only migrants on the land were three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and four Yellow Wagtails.

Ten Porpoises showed offshore on several occasions.

Four Sussex Emeralds were trapped overnight.

20th July

A Marsh Harrier and four Yellow Wagtails flew over the area and a Grey Plover, a Whimbrel and six Mediterranean Gulls were seen offshore.

Five Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen on the southern Long Pit and two Clouded Yellows were patrolling along the wall in front of the power station. 

A Terrapin species was seen on the Southern Long Pit.