30th Oct

A quiet day on both land and at sea. A trickle of birds passed overhead including 67 Siskins and a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest, 14 Goldcrests were seen in the bushes. Two Arctic Skuas and an Arctic Tern were of note offshore.

Moths continue to provide the excitement with a Red-headed Chestnut (second Observatory record of this rare migrant), three Palpita vitrealis, a Vestal, 12 Scarce Bordered Straws and a Cosmopolitan., In a brief spell of better weather another Crimson Speckled was also found. An adult Mediterranean Stick-insect was found this evening.

Red-headed Chestnut Conistra erythrocephala   Dungeness   30th October 2022

29th Oct

Very quiet on the land and passing overhead with just a Dartford Warbler, a Firecrest, three Fieldfares, a Mistle Thrush, two Rock Pipits, 1465 Goldfinches and 45 Siskin of note. Over 3.5 hours of seawatching produced two Gadwall, a Great Northern Diver, 276 Kittiwakes, 125 Mediterranean Gulls, 32 Little Gulls, an Arctic Skua, two Arctic Terns and 797 Razorbills of interest. 

Two Porpoise and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore, a Brown Hare was seen in the Desert and Badger spent much of the evening in the Observatory garden, 

There was little doubt about the highlight of the day though with the finding of a remarkable 12 Crimson Speckled moths during the day and our first record of the rare pyralid Antigastra catalaunalis. Further exciting moths included Caloptilia rufipennella, Tuta absoluta (new for the Observatory), nine Palpita vitrealis, two Vestals, nine Scarce Bordered Straws and a Delicate.  A Birch Shieldbug was found on the Observatory wall and two Western Conifer Seed-bug came to the lights.

Crimson Speckled Utetheisa pulchella   Dungeness   29th October 2022

Antigastra catalaunalis   Dungeness   29th October 2022

28th Oct

Just under five hours of seawatching produced six Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Sandwich Terns and the bird of the day in the form of a Puffin passing west. Grounded migrants were few and far between with just four Firecrests of interest but there was a reasonable overhead passage with 25 Swallows, five Rock Pipits, two Bramblings, 30 Redpolls, 1200 Goldfinches and 43 Siskins. A Barn Owl was heard in the evening.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen offshore.

An excellent arrival of migrant moths occurred overnight with two Cosmopolitans of great note along with six Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, a Box-worm Moth Cydalima perspectalis, a Vestal, a White-speck, three Delicates and a Scarce Bordered Straw. A nymph Mediterranean Stick-insect was found in the Observatory garden.

Cosmopolitan Mythimna loreyi   Dungeness   28th October 2022
Two individuals trapped overnight were the 6th and 7th Observatory records.

27th Oct

Strong southerly winds brough a bit more variety to the seawatching where seven hours of coverage eventually produced a Sooty Shearwater, 630 Kittiwakes,159 Little Gulls, 35 Mediterranean Gulls, 18 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern, nine Arctic Skuas, 1521 Razorbills and the highlight in the form of a Grey Phalarope. Grounded migrants were relatively scarce although three Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests and a Wheatear were of note and passage overhead included two Great White Egrets, 21 Swallows, 470 Starlings, three Rock Pipits, 1060 Goldfinches and 73 Siskins.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

Moths provided much of the days excitement with a remarkable total of five Crimson Speckled being found during the day and two Palpita vitrealis, a Vestal, two Scarce Bordered Straws and a White-speck trapped overnight. Six Ornate Shieldbugs and two Forest Bugs were seen from around the Observatory and a Tree Cricket was heard singing at dusk.

Crimson Speckled Utethesia pulchella   Dungeness   27th October 2022
One of the five Crimson Speckled seen in the DBO recording area today.

26th Oct

Very little to be seen on both the land and at sea. The best on the land were two Dartford Warblers, two Firecrests and a Wheatear while ten Little Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls and six Sandwich Terns flew west offshore.

A Porpoise was feeding offshore, two Brown Hares were seen during the day and a Badger came into the garden again.

Moths in the traps included two Palpita vitrealis, a Delicate and two Scarce Bordered Straws but the highlight was found during the morning with a superb Crimson Speckled. Two Ornate Shieldbugs were still present in front of the Observatory.

Crimson Speckled Utethesia pulchella   Dungeness   26th October 2022

25th Oct

A few birds passed overhead but it was otherwise fairly quiet. Visible migrants included 67 Skylarks, 27 Swallows, three Tree Sparrows, three Rock Pipits, 12 Bramblings, eight Redpolls, 680 Goldfinches and 25 Siskins. Over three hours of seawatching produced just an Eider, 26 Kittiwakes, 34 Little Gulls, 13 Sandwich Terns and 480 Razorbills. A Short-eared Owl was seen in the Desert and 14 Chiffchaffs, three Dartford Warblers and Firecrest were seen in the bushes.

The moth traps produced three Palpita vitrealis and a Scarce Bordered Straw of interest.

24th Oct

Fresh SW winds and frequent heavy rain made things difficult. Most of the interest was offshore where over three hours of watching produced two Balearic Shearwaters, 873 Gannets, a Little Stint, 214 Little Gulls, seven Mediterranean Gulls, 75 Sandwich Terns, an Arctic Tern, two Arctic Skuas and 517 Razorbills. A Hen Harrier and two Short-eared Owls were also seen. Other birds passing overhead included 14 Swallows, 80 "alba" Wagtails, 190 Meadow Pipits, two Rock Pipits, a Brambling, 590 Linnets, 1960 Goldfinches and 19 Siskins. Grounded migrants were almost non-existent.

Two Porpoises and a Grey Seal were seen.

23rd Oct

With strong winds and frequent heavy showers most of the interest was offshore where there was a record-breaking movement of Little Gulls with 1125 birds passing west. Over nine hours of watching also produced a Pintail, three Velvet Scoters, a Great Northern Diver, a Leach's Petrel, a Balearic Shearwater, 178 Mediterranean Gulls, four Great Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, two Puffins and 1475 Razorbills. Three Caspian Gulls were also loafing around the beach and fishing boats.

Coverage of the land was limited but the Yellow-browed Warbler and a Dartford Warbler were seen again during a brief spell of nicer weather and birds passing overhead included 44 Swallows, a Rock Pipit, five Redpolls and 250 Goldfinches.

A Grey Seal and three Porpoises were seen offshore.

The weather overnight was appalling but the moth traps still produced four Palpita vitrealis, a Delicate and two Scarce Bordered Straws. Four Ornate Shieldbugs were also found.

22nd Oct

The highlight on the land was a Yellow-browed Warbler in the trapping area although it was hard to see. Other grounded migrants included ten Chiffchaffs, seven Firecrests and two Wheatears. Birds passing overhead included 34 Skylarks, 25 Swallows, a Tree Sparrow, three Rock Pipits, 20 Redpolls, 500 Goldfinch and 24 Siskins. The sea was quiet but first-winter Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls were seen on the beach.

Two Porpoises were seen offshore and a Badger came into the garden again this evening.

Despite strong winds the moth traps produced some migrants with our seventh record of Ni Moth and two Palpita vitrealis. A Mediterranean Stick-insect was seen in the garden again.

Ni Moth Trichplusia ni   Dungeness   22nd October 2022

21st Oct

A day of strong winds and some rain. There was a good overhead movement of finches with 16 Redpolls, 5040 Goldfinches and 40 Siskins as well as 100 Skylarks, 30 Swallows, two Tree Sparrows and 260 Meadow Pipits. Grounded migrants included a Short-eared Owl, two Dartford Warblers and four Firecrests. Seawatching produced three Velvet Scoters, a Red-breasted Merganser, five Little Gulls, 17 Mediterranean Gulls, a second-winter Caspian Gull, an Arctic Tern and 1080 Razorbills.

Three Porpoises and a Grey Seal were feeding offshore.

The moth traps were very productive with a Dewick's Plusia of great note along with three Vestals, a Scarce Bordered Straw and 140 Rush Veneers. The undoubted highlight though was a Crimson Speckled found this afternoon near the Sanctuary.

Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa   Dungeness   21st October 2022