14/09/2026

Western Bonelli's Warbler

A drizzly morning was cheered up on the news that Tom Rosas had found a Western Bonelli's Warbler at the bottom end of the Long Pits, fortunately I was very nearby and on site very quickly. My images of this lovely warbler in the dark drizzly conditions do not do it justice. 

Early this morning I found a White-winged Black Tern on the ARC which promptly disappeared when a heavy drizzle shower came through. There were 3 Little Gulls present along with 2 Ruff and Greenshank.

Then news of Bonelli's Warbler came through so the search for the WWBT was abandoned. Later in the day an Osprey flew around the ARC and perched up for a while before disappearing per Ken & Sue.

The WWBT had relocated to Burrowes and later in the day went back to the ARC

The Red-necked Phalarope was still feeding on Burrowes, constantly ducking as Sand Martins flew low overhead

At the fishing boats this afternoon there were many Common and Sandwich Terns feeding as well 10 Arctic Skuas robbing them, a few Guillemots are appearing also there was a constant stream of SWallows and Sand Martins leaving our shores.

One of several Black Terns at the fishing boats this afternoon

A Guillemot close inshore at the fishing boats this afternoon

This Convolvulous Hawkmoth was the star in the trap this morning

This Pink-barred Sallow was new for the year, indeed I seldom see them in my trap

13/09/2026

The early sea watch in light drizzle at times was very much after the Lord Mayors Show. Lots of Arctic Skuas up and down harasing the many Sandwich and Common Terns feeding off shore, also 15+ Black Terns, c150 Gannets but little else.

After seeing the American Golden Plover the day fizzled out with domestic duties. A late afternoon visit to Burrowes saw the Red-necked Phalarope still keeping as far as is possible away, 3 Greenshanks, 4 Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Redshank.

American Golden Plover with a Golden Plover at Jurys Gap early afternoon

The local Little Owl sunbathing 

Local Little Owl in more gloomy conditions a few minutes after the first pic

Red-necked Phalarope on Burrowes taken in appalling light conditions

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Four-spotted Footman

Ni-moth

Shore Wainscot

Dungeness Birding At Its Very Best 12/09/2026

Poor images of the best bird so far this year a fabulous Brown Booby that spent c30minutes off shore from the fishing boats this afternoon. The first Dungeness record.

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

1 of at least 2 Whinchat in The Desert this morning

Spotted Flycatcher in The Desert this morning

There were 1,000s of House Martins around The Point this morning

This lovely Short-eared Owl was flying around The desert this morning

Juvenile Long-tailed Skua from the fishing boats

Black Tern from the fishing boats

Arctic Skua from the fishing boats

10/09/2026

Little Owl

An early morning cycle ride to The Midrips this morning, first stop was the local Little Owl sitting out in the early morning gloom. At Scotney the mirror calm lakes were smothered in feral geese, despite the yesterdays heavy rain more small islands have appeared in the lakes, but very few waders apart from Lapwing on the main lakes, 2 Ruff, 2 Common Sandpipers and a single Green Sandpiper with just 2 Curlew fighting for space on the sward among the Egyptian Geese. The Sward also held a couple of Wheatears and c20 Yellow Wagtails. 

Only 3 Golden Plover in the ploughed field at Jurys Gap but I could see more on the shingle in the ranges.

Little Stint at The Midrips

Inside the Midrips on the shingle I counted 136 Golden Plover but unfortunately nothing else with them,

the green wall held the usual Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Wheatears and Meadow Pipits. The pools are looking much better thanks to the high tides, as usual the first was the most productive holding a Little Stint, a Sanderling, 5 Dunlin, and 8 Ringed Plovers, there were many Sandwich Terns off shore.

Little Stint with a Sanderling on The Midrips

Dunlin on The Midrips

A couple of the Wheatears that were present on the Green Wall at The Midrips

Juvenile Little Gull at the old Sandpit Jurys Gap 

At the sandpit today a juvenile Little Gull, 3 Common and 2 Green Sandpipers and a Hobby, moving on to flat pit where a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpipers, 8 Dunlin and 4 Ruff were scattered around the margins. 3 more Ruff were on the eastern causeway.

Apparently the Red-necked Phalarope was still on Burrowes despite island clearance work clearing out all the other waders.

At the fishing boats this afternoon several Arctic Skuas, a couple of which gave close flybys, also several Little Terns and Black Terns with numerous Sandwich and Common Terns tooing and froing.

Arctic Skua at the fishing boats this afternoon

Juvenile Little Terns at the fishing boats

Juvenile Black tern at the fishing boats