08/07/2026

An early morning visit to Rye Harbour LNR to avoid the heat of the day to see the Sandwich Tern colony before they are all gone. A wonderful sight and sound sadly lacking at Dungeness for many years now.

From Parkes Hide with the early morning sun behind us we had superb views of the Terns and some waders.From near Gooders Hide we had nice but distant views of some Little Terns with chicks, Greenshanks, Avocets and 100s of Mediterranean Gulls. Many thanks to John for driving and being our carer today.

Sandwich Terns

Common Tern

Juvenile Redshank

Common Sandpiper

Oystercatcher family

Turnstone

07/07/2026

An hours sea watch from the hide this morning was as expected very poor, the upside was the very pleasant sea breeze. The highlight was this quite far out juvenile Yellow-legged Gull my first of the autumn.

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull off shore with 3 Herring Gulls

I could only find 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoths along the east facing perimeter wall, most of any nectaring plants have shrivelled up in the heat and wind.

There was very little news from the reserve and surrounding area apart from the elusive female Garganey still present on the ARC.

A juvenile Corn Bunting at Scotney

There were lots of Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagatils at the back of Scotney but no sound of any Quail.

A juvenile Yellow Wagtail at Scotney

A Bright Wave just about annual in my trap this morning

Syncopacma larseniella apparently only the second Greater Dungeness area record was in my trap last Friday. Many thanks to Sean Clancy for sorting the ID.

05/07/2026

The superb Caspian Tern at Dengemarsh from Springfield Bridge for its 5th day. It spends much more time sitting on a distant island on Burrowes, so sometimes a long wait to see it at Dengemarsh, the views make the wait worthwhile.

Caspian Tern preparing to dive into Dengemarsh

Emerging from the lake after its dive

Just a Cow chilling in Dengemarsh lake

7 stunning Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits from Hanson, some Little Ringed Plovers there and gemale Garganey.

 

Small Red Eyed Damselfly from Hanson

One of many stunning Yellow Wagtails at the back of Scotney

Scotneys seemingly resident Spoonbill

Emperor Dragonfly, a new visitor to my moth trap

A good turn out for the DBO Moth event. A superb number and range of Moth species were shown and photographed. Many thanks to all who came and to the locals fro bringing there traps.

Rose Plume a gorgeous moth.

Leopard Moth, another stunner

02/07/2026

After doing the moth traps early morning I made my way to the reserve where the Caspian Tern was still loitering on the islands from Dennis's picnic site, it frequently went on fishing forays over to the ARC, Boulderwall, Lydd Fields and Dengemarsh but always came back to Burrowes eventually. At one stage I could see my house and the the Tern in the same field of view, apparently that is not allowed as a garden tick. There were pulses of Sand Martins pushing South West all day, also a few pulses of Swifts. Apart from the Tern there was not a great deal to see avian wise.

 

27/06-01/07/2026

One of the Quail that I found at Scotney. This excellent image courtesy of Graham Parry taken in near darkness. The Tree Sparrows seem to have had a very good season so far, I counted 100+ and it looks like they are having another brood. Also young Yellow Wagtails and Wheatears there with lost of Corn Buntings. Each evening I have been seeing a Hobby hunting at last light suggesting its breeding nearby.

Spoonbill in its usual pose on the western back lake, plenty of Herring Gull chicks there but no Avocets or

terns.

  Kentish Plover at Lade Sands yesterday, another excellent find by Jacob

Caspian Tern found by Gary Johnson which frequented Burrowes most of the day, image taken from the Dennis's picnic area.

One of several Six Belted Clearwing at the ARC

A few moths from last nights catch

Small Marbled

Sussex Emerald

July Highflyer