08/08/2025

1 of 9 Hummingbird Hawk-moths by the power station wall on my way to the sea watch hide

An hours sea watching this morning was enough to realise that there was little or no sea bird migration  today, according to the observatory ringing team the same could be said about land bird migration.

A quick look at the SE end of the ARC found no sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper, though it could have been hidden by the vegetation, 2 Common Sandpipers could be seen. From Hanson this morning the usual Egrets and wildfowl but nothing new, another visit late afternoon found a juvenile Black Tern feeding around the old Cormorant island but I'm not convinced it is not the same bird found by John Young on Burrowes.
 

Juvenile Black Tern and Juvenile Common Tern at Firth this afternoon

A walk up to Dengemarsh was pleasant but very few birds seen, 2 Greenshank flew over towards hayfield 3 and Common Sandpiper was on Dengemarsh islands.

Common Terns bathing at Firth

Adult and juvenile Little Ringed Plovers at Firth this afternoon

Cynaeda dentalis (Starry Pearl) my personal favourite micro moth

Scarce Bordered Straw

06/08/2025

This very elusive Common Redstart has been present in The Desert for at least 4 days, today was the first time I managed to lift the camera to it albeit distantly. Also there Grasshopper Warbler was seen early morning, and a few each of Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge and Willow Warbler. 3 Spotted Flycatchers were found early evening by Graham Parry & Nicky Betts round the trapping area. 

This juvenile Cuckoo was probably the star bird on The Point today.

Lovely image of the Juvenile Cuckoo in a private garden today. Image courtesy of David Gower

This Heron stood like this on the island from Hanson for at least 10 minutes before it flew off after being disturbed by a Great White Egret. There was very little change in the birds on the ARC, also the Pectoral Sandpiper appeared again at the south end, this bird can be elusive hiding among the vegetation.

A couple of hours sea watching this afternoon was again fruitless.

A Willow Warbler in the Willow Trail this morning

A pristine Bordered Straw from this mornings moth trap

05/08/2025

 An hour from the sea watch hide this morning produced just a few Sandwich and Common Terns that were generally just feeding offshore, also trickle of Gannets and Kittiwakes, the only notable was a Common Sandpiper that flew West along the tide line.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Behind the hide by the wall along the road to the carpark, a Black Redstart, 12 Hummingbird Hawk-moths and a Clouded Yellow were notable.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Valerian

Clouded Yellow nectaring on Valerian

Clouded Yellow disturbed by a Hummingbid Hawk-moth

Wheatear behind the railway station this morning

In The Desert this morning my first Common Redstart albeit very briefly of the year courtesy of Richard, also 3 Wheatears, a couple of Willow Warblers and a few Common and Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers were in a private garden.

There was no sign if the Pectoral Sandpiper at the SE end of the ARC this morning or in another look this afternoon. From Hansont he usual Egrets, Garganey, Common Sandpipers and Little Ringed Plovers, a juvenile Dunlin and a Hobby were noted, also the Avocet chicks were showing off flying up and down the length of the lake.  

Garganey on the ARC from Hanson

Another sea watch this afternoon was again uninspiring, though 2 Harbour Porpoises were feeding close inshore, but evaded the camera showing up my incompetence. 

04/08/2025

Early morning from Hanson saw the a single Garganey, 3Great White Egrets, 4 Cattle Egrets, 5 Common Sandpipers and 3 Dunlin among the resident wildfowl, it was good to watch the 2 Avocet chicks flying strongly around the lake causing mayhem wherever they landed, due to the parent bird steaming into any hapless bird that was had the temerity to be on the same island as the chicks. 

My plan when I left the ARC was to go to the fishing boats, but the wind was rising and dampness was in the air so I thought better of it, mainly because usually when a storm is coming in there is very little to be seen on the sea at Dungeness, hopefully as is often the case the couple of days after a storm can produce birds. 

 

The moth trap was as expected poor though I did get my first Small Rufous of the year and 4 Tree-lichen Beautys which were not long ago a great rarity.  

Tree Lichen Beauty

Small Rufous

Another visit to Hanson this afternoon and to Burrowes just in case a storm blown waif had dropped in drew blanks at both sites. There was no news either way on the Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Black-necked Grebes were on Lade South per PT.

02/08/2025

Garganey at Hanson first thing this morning

Very little change around the reserve today, basically the same as yesterday and the day before, bumping into a juvenile Cuckoo was a bonus.

A frustrating sea watch this afternoon when a large Shearwater sp flew East at a great distance making ID for me impossible. 100s of Terns moved West with 12 Black Terns the best.

Lesser Whitethroat along the path to Hanson

Shouting match at Dengemarsh

Juvenile Cuckoo at Hookers late morning

Chocholate-tip my first of the year

 

31/07/2025

A fairly quiet day around the peninsular, apart from the Pectoral Sandpiper there were few common waders in the form of 2 Greenshanks, Avocets, 10+ Common Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Common Snipe etc.

Around the Long Pits Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, also a Grasshopper Warbler in the nets at 05.30 and a Common Redstart seen by Richard.

Greenshanks from Hanson first thing this morning

Great White Egret at the ARC, also Cattle and Little Egrets there

The Pectoral Sandpiper again spent the day at the SE end of the ARC

 

One of 29 Willow Warblers I counted at the Long Pits this morning

The first ever Dark Spinach to grace my VC15 trap

Oak Processionary

Tree Lichen Beauty

30/07/2025

Pectoral Sandpiper early morning at the SE end of the ARC

A long fruitless wander around the Long Pits and Desert this morning, it can only get better.

Reed Warbler at the ARC this afternoon about to feed its young with a Brown-veined Wainscot I think?

At the ARC the Red-crested Pochard was still present this afternoon along with the Avocet family, they appear to have move to the back of the lake, so maybe birds will come to the near islands without fear of being chased off by protective Avocet parents, 5 Cattle Egrets were present with 2 Great White Egrets and the usual wildfowl but little of note.

Report from Burrowes of 2 Wood Sandpipers still, 2 Turnstones and a few Dunlin but nothing else notable.

A lovely Red Underwing resting on the Axell Viewpoint this afternoon

 

A gorgeous Beautiful Marbled was a welcome sight in my trap this morning

A Copper Underwing, although common on the peninsula this is only the second to grace my trap

A lovely Gem. always a pleasure to find one in the trap

29/07/2025

This Garden Warbler was highlight of a 2hr walk around the Long Pits this morning, among a few each of Common and Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warblers, there was zero overhead passge. 

Pintail on the ARC an uncommon sight this time of year

The duckling Red-crested Pochard at the ARC today appears not to have grown wings yet??

A Pectoral Sandpiper at the SE end of the ARC with 2 Common Sandpipers, it was often difficult to se due the vegetation. It was found by JY whilst he was doing his weekly duck on the reserve. If you you are thinking of looking for the Sandpiper please refrain from parking on the main road.

Apart from the Pectoral Sandpiper there was no change in the birds there, 4 Cattle Egrets, 4 Great White Egrets, 2 Garganey, numerous Common Sandpipers and the Avocet family.

On Burrowes 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks a few Dunlin, 40+ Common Terns and the usual wildfowl.

Pectoral Sandpiper

28/07/2025

Willow Warbler

I had a 3hr walk around the Long Pits this morning where I encountered 21 Willow Warblers, 28 Common Whitethroats, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 16 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, singles of Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler, a juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Marsh harriers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Great Spotted Woodpecker along with Blue & Great Tits, Song Thrush, Blackbirds etc. Nothing fantastic but at least there were migrants.

An early afternoon visit to the ARC saw just a Garganey, a Great White Egret and the Avocet family, rather disappointing.

At Burrowes Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Greenshank and LRPs all reported today.

Garden Warbler (Many thanks to Jacob for showing me this bird)

Juvenile Common Whitethroat

Sanderling that were roosting near the fishing boats this afternoon then disturbed by dog walker

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

Another victim of anglers debris

Twin-spotted Plume a first for my trap. A common moth so pretty sure due to my incompetence I must have overlooked it in the past.🙄