19/08/2023

The sea watching at Dungeness continues to be abysmal, Skuas and Shearwaters are very scarce so far this autumn and only small numbers of Terns off shore. Probably due to the seemingly lack of fish.

This bird made me double take when it came onto the beach. It's definitely got some Caspian in it, but probably a hybrid with Yellow-legged or Herring Gull.

Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull J40CM

Norwegian ringed Great Black-backed Gull J62AR

1 of 2 Spotted Flycatchers at the Long Pits during the week. There are still a few Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats around but only small numbers.

Up to 4 Lesser Emperors were showing well from Hanson Hide during the week, The Glossy Ibis are still there as is the Wood Sandpiper and up to 5 Garganey, hopefully very soon there will be some new birds arriving at the ARC, Burrowes has been abysmal with just the Greenshank, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper. It is increasing looking like a new milestone in the decline of Dungeness RSPB will be passed this year,  for the first time in its history no Terns bred on the reserve. I have not seen any evidence that the Bitterns and Marsh Harriers were successful on the reserve, though this could be attributed to very high water levels which the RSPB have no control over.

a Spinnach Moth, despite being a relatively common moth, this is the first to come to my trap.

Cydia Amplana a suspected migrant, Though with the numbers being recorded it could be breeding locally

15/08/2023

 Egyptian Goose passing the fishing boats this morning. You know the sea watching is poor when this is the highlight!

Avian wise around the peninsula what was seen last week is still now with very little additions.

There has been reasonable numbers of Willow Warblers around the Long Pits this week, Busily feeding up for the next leg of their journey to Africa.

Possibly the last Swift I'll see this year

Autumn Lady's-tresses at the Long pits

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly from Hanson today

Many Common Lizards along the Willow trail boardwalk

 

12/08/2023

Wheatears are appearing just about anywhere on the peninsula, though they are easier to see on the beach, say there is no improvement to the sea watching.

Willow warblers have started arriving in reasonable numbers, this one was basking in the sun by the Long Pits, also there to be found are good numbers of Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, also a few Blackcaps and Garden Warbler, today also brought in 4 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart.

1 of 4 Spotted Flycatchers at the Long Pits today 

Reed Warbler at the Long Pits

Great White Egret from Hanson

Hanson Hide is still providing the most avian interest on the reserve, with daily occurrences of Great, Cattle and Little Egrets, 2 Glossy Ibis, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Golden plover, Lapwing, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Garganey, Mediterranean Gulls as well as all the expected species.

Redshanks from Hanson

Glossy Ibis from Hanson

Swallows gathering on the road at Dengemarsh this evening. All week 1,000s of Sand Martins have been moving South and West through the peninsula, this afternoon 43 Swifts flew south out to sea, hopefully not the last I'll see this year.

08/08/2023

Juvenile Black Tern

The mucky weather at the weekend brought in up 8 Black Terns, an Arctic tern and several Common and Sandwich Terns, disappointingly there wasn't a big arrival of waders, but Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Redshanks, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin, which have all been present for sometime. Up to 4 Garganey can be found at the ARC along with 2 Glossy Ibis, 6 Golden plover dropped in today and 40 more were at Galloways with a Whinchat per CT.

There a few Swifts over the ARC and beach today(possibly the last I'll see this year) and 100s of Sand Martins.

4 Cattle Egrets came to the ARC before going to roost

Greenshanks

The last few days have also brought an arrival warblers with many Willow Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, with smaller numbers of Garden, Sedge and Reed Warblers., 2 Pied Flycatchers and a Redstart.

Lesser Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Lovely lemon Willow Warbler

Shag from the fishing boats 

Sea watching has remained abysmal with a Shag off the fishing boats being the highlight which will more than likely be the only one I see at Dungeness this year as it is surprisingly scarce here.

I found another Great Green Bush Cricket in Brambles by the Screen at the ARC

04/08/2023

Wood Sandpiper

Once again the ARC has been the most productive place avian wise, with 17 species of wader recorded this week, also 3 Egret species , Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and the usual wildfowl and warblers.

Wood and Green Sandpiper

Greenshanks

The sea is gradually improving with more Terns and the occasional Shearwater and Skua, but it requires a lot of time and effort.

This Herring Gull caught a stranded Weaver Fish, delicately picking it up, then repeatedly beating it on the pebbles presumably to neutralise the stinging spines, (which I can attest to being excruciatingly painful after picking up a stranded one a few years ago) eventually it carefully positioned the fish head first to swallow it even though the spines were still attached.

Great-crested Grebe at the fishing boats

Turnstone at the fishing boats

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler at the ARC one of a reasonable fall of them this week

Willow Warbler

Great Green Bush Cricket at the ARC today

Fire Bugs at the observatory today