20/09/2025

The peninsula was full of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs with the odd Redstart and Flycatcher this morning per the brave souls that stayed out in the thunderstorms, I made a beeline for the comfort of the sea watch hide, where I counted a couple of thousand Swallows leaving our shores (JY & JS) who braved the weather counted many thousands, full details will be on the DBO blog and Trektellen.

2 Glossy Ibis west past the fishing boats this afternoon, my first ones on a sea watch

Juvenile Little Tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

Oystercatchers past the fishing boats this afternoon

Shags are very scarce at Dungeness, so I took this poor record image this morning as one flew past the bouy in a thunderstorm, but immediately forgot all about it as I was distracted by a Bonxie. Getting old would be fun if I had a memory as well😟 I also saw a couple of Manx Shearwaters, 3 Bonxies  (another this afternoon) lots of Arctic Skuas, a few Bar-tailed Godwits, Sandwich and Common Terns.

7 Cattle Egrets and 5 Glossy Ibis were seen on the reserve, the Red-backed Shrike was again just East of the Long Pits, The Grey Phalarope was again at the fishing boats but distant and very elusive.

19/09/2025

The local Little Owl this morning

The American Golden Plover was still in the ploughed field at Jurys Gap this morning with c300 Golden Plover. 60+ Manx Shearwaters went past the fishing boats, also a Grey Phalarope was lingering several 100mts offshore, full sea watching details will be on Trektellen.

Many 1,000s of Hirundines moved through the peninsular today, reasonable numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were in the bushes, Honey Buzzard and Osprey flew through, 2 Spoonbills were on the reserve one at Denge Marsh and the other on the ARC. The Red-backed Shrike east of the Long Pits was still present today.

Manx Shearwater viewed from the fishing boats this morning

Spoonbill on the ARC from Hanson mid afternoon

 

18/09/2025

Again most of today was spent sea watching despite the constant drizzle, there was no where near the number of birds passing today, but there was still 30+ Shearwaters of 3 species, lots of Arctic Skua action, along with Terns and Gannets. Singles of Leach's Storm Petrel and European Storm Petrel were seen, neither of which gave satisfying views. Full details will be on Trektellen.

Manx Shearwater feeding along the colour change

Manx Shearwater passing the fishing boats

Juvenile Kittiwake passing the fishing boats

Common Terns passing the fishing boats

Black Terns off the fishing boats

Arctic Skua looking for a victim at the fishing boats

Incoming Arctic Skua at the fishing boats

Common Sandpiper at the ARC this afternoon was the only wader other than Lapwings present. A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported on Burrowes briefly this morning. but no sign this afternoon. 

The American Golden plover was again in its chosen field at Jurys Gap today, nearby 3 Ruff at the double bends Scotney.

17/09/2025

My whole day was spent at the fishing boats staring out to sea at a procession of mainly Sooty Shearwaters, definitely a day to remember in excellent company. The only other news was that the American Golden Plover was still present and at least 2 Glossy Ibis still, no news either way on the Shrikes.

3 Sooty Shearwaters passing

Sooty Shearwater

The first Red-throated Diver of the Autumn

Sandwich Tern

Common Tern

Mediterranean Gull

16/09/2025

After an uninspiring sea watch this morning I visited the ARC with JY, this too was underwhelming, apart from Lapwing the only wader was a Black-tailed Godwit, there were 300+ Shoveler present and lots of Sand Martins hawking over the lake, a single juvenile Common Tern and a single Pintail. 

Leaving Hanson I went to Jurys Gap where more or less the first bird I spotted was the American Golden Plover among a flock of c80 Golden Plover, a Hobby and 2 Marsh harriers were also seen there.

From the double bends a Ruff and 2 Curlew among the hordes of feral Geese.

A distant image of the American Golden Plover at Jurys Gap this morning

One of 3 Clouded Yellows in Denge Marsh Gully

A late morning visit to Denge Marsh Gully found 3 Wheatears, 2 Whinchat, a Common Redstart and 3 Clouded Yellows of note.

The one eyed cross billed Red-backed Shrike on the RSPB Reserve

Early afternoon visit to the reserve gave super views of the wonky Red-backed Shrike, at least 8 Glossy Ibis were seen and another Whinchat.

Red-backed Shrike opposite the Long Pits 

Also early afternoon a wander around the area East of the Long Pits with Richard and Colin where the other Long staying Red-backed shrike showed distantly, this bird is quite skittish.

News of Storm Petrels being seen off the fishing boats saw Richard and and Colin hurry on down, alas I had to go to Tenderden to pick up my new glasses, though I did manage to get back to the around 17.30 and managed to see a few distant Storm Petrels and and Osprey that flew out to sea then changed its mind and came back to the land before dusk fell.

14/09/2025

I  only managed to get out for a short time Saturday morning as the rest of the day was taken up with domestic stuff, but I did manage to see this superb Pomarine Skua with David Walker.

Sub adult Pomarine Skua from the fishing boats yesterday morning

 Today first thing another visit to Jurys Gap where the Amaerican Golden plover was showing quite well though rather distantly for images.

Red-backed Shrike East side of the Long Pits

One of two Common Redstarts seen East of the Long Pits

On the east side of the Long Pits lots of migrant Warblers comprising of mainly Chiffchaffs, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps with small numbers of Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers, also good numbers of Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits, at least 2 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats and 4 Wheatears along with a few Skylarks and unseen Woodlark, the long staying Red-backed Shrike and my first Jay on the peninsula this year, I also missed an Osprey,

Red-backed Shrike on the reserve

Male Common Redstart on the reserve

On the reserve the pther long staying Red-backed Shrike was still present, also 2 Common Redstarts, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Whinchats, more Yellow Wagtails, at least 2 Hobbys also a mobile flock of at least 18 Glossy Ibis.

Glossy Ibis

14 Glossy Ibis in this image

One of the Ibis bears a colour ring

This afternoons sea watching totals that I know of

This Manx Shearwater gave us a close flyby this afternoon

 

12/09/2025

This mornings sea watch was a fairly short one due to the lack of birds and looking into the bright sunshine.

After breakfast I went to Scotney and strolled along the cycle path scanning the sward which was littered with Greylag, Canada and Egyptian Geese, among them 26 Wigeon, 9 Curlew, 10 Ruff, c200 Lapwing 30+ Yellow Wagtails and 20+ Pied Wagtails.

Moving onto to Jurys Gap where there were 36 Golden Plover and the American Golden Plover.

Another sea watch this afternoon rewarded me with a Intermediate juvenile Long-tailed Skua and plenty of Arctic Skuas as well as Sandwich and Common Terns also a steady trickle of Swallows leaving our shores.

Other news Red-backed Shrikes were again seen on the walkers trail on the reserve and East of the Long Pits, where a couple of Redstarts and Whinchats were also seen.

 

4 of 10 Ruff on the Scotney Sward today

Yellow Wagtails on the Scotney Sward

American Golden Plover at Jurys Gap again today

Juvenile intermediate Long-tailed Skua passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile Arctic Skua passing the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile Little Tern feeding off the fishing boats this afternoon