14-15/06/2026

I spent several hours last evening walking and cycling around the fields at the back of Scotney, where I was listening for singing Quail but I failed to hear any. There did seem to be good numbers of Yellow Wagtails nesting along with Corn Buntings, Reed Buntings and Skylarks, most of the Tree Sparrow nest boxes that we have put up appear to be occupied, the Raven family and Peregrines were much in evidence, on the down side once again no Barn Owls were seen. 

Yellow Wagtail preening after a bath

Wood Sandpiper at the ARC

After a very slow sea watch this morning I visited the ARC where from Hanson more or less the bird I saw was a Wood Sandpiper, I guessing its a failed breeder returning early. I did manage to overlook an eclipse Red-crested Pochard that Kevin found a few minutes after I left Hanson 🙄

A wander across the reserve found nothing new. A visit this afternoon saw 32 Common Terns had returned to the Island they usually nest on, unfortunately a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls are already nesting there, it wont end well.

Common Terns and Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Burrowes

13/06/2026

Its that time of year when the birding becomes very hard work for little reward, though young birds often pose for the camera because they know no better.

A fledgling Sedge Warbler

 

Little Ringed Plover at Boulderwall

Little Ringed Plover

Young Reed Warbler

Cattle Egret over Boulderwall with my house in the background

There are dozens of Norfolk Hawkers around the reserve at the moment

Small Tortoishell on the reserve this morning

Remarkably this is my 5th Striped Hawkmoth this year

Shore Wainscot just about annual in my trap

Large Emerald is just about annual in my trap

Dusky Brocade is barely annual in my trap

Chilo phragmitella a regular in my trap

11/06/2026

One of at least 49 Manx Shearwaters that passed west today

Apart from the Manx Shearwaters there was very little else passing at sea, full details cab be seen HERE

The poor weather means there are many Swifts over the lakes, there appeared to be little else of note around Dungeness.

A newly fledged Black redstart on the perimeter wall this morning

Marsh Harrier hunting the field opposite my house while I was sitting on the bench having my breakfast

Southern Marsh Orchids along the track to Hanson Hide

Dytiscus Marginalis larvae (Great Diving Beetle) on the Willow Trail track this morning

Four-spotted Chaser along the Willow Trail track this morning

Hobby over the Willow Trail

08/06/2026

Corvids are major predators on the reserve and are one one of the biggest nest thieves and chick killers along with Grey Herons and Herring Gulls. All the anti predator fences are useless against them.

Carrion Crow stealing a Grebes egg after luring her away from the nest at the ARC

Carrion Crow luring the Grebe away again

A little stand off

The crow jumps over the Grebe and grabs another egg

Another very quiet day avian wise around the peninsula, on the reserve the usual Bearded Tits, Warblers and Bittern but nothing new, heavy rain this afternoon meant an early finish.

Little Ringed Plover at Boulderwall

Reed Bunting collecting food for young

One of several Common Lizards basking on the boardwalk in the early morning sun

One of several Silver Y around the reserve

07/06/2016

 An early morning sea watch from the fishing boats saw a few very distant Manx Shearwaters going East and West, small number of west bound Gannets, 11 Common Scoters east and very little else.

A couple of visits to the ARC  saw 3-4 Norfolk Hawkers, 2 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plovers and 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Hobby and Marsh Harrier of any note, only 2 Common Terns there. Apparently aa the Common terns have disappeared from the Tern rafts, they were getting a soaking during the yesterday high winds from waves breaking over the rafts. Burrowes was not much better with no Terns being seen there and the Common Gulls do not seem to be interested in breeding. A Turnstone was he only wader on Burrowes though there was numerous Swifts hawking over the lake.

An incoming Swift

Swift catching a small insect

A nice flyby Common Swift

06/06/2026

Manx Shearwater

From the fishing boats 324 Manx Shearwaters passed West, hats off to Jacob for toughing out literally all day. Also a few Balearic Shearwaters and good numbers of Fulmars, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills along with 2 Puffins, the odd Mediterranean Gull and a few Common and Sandwich Terns feeding off shore.

Shearing Manx Shearwater

05/06/2026

Yesterdays early morning sea watch saw a few west bound Manx Shearwaters and a few Swifts on the move but little else. 

The highlight of an hour at the fishing boats yesterday afternoon with Richard was this Fulmar

As the wind was due West this morning I skipped the sea watch and had a wander around the reserve.

I had an enjoyable few minutes watching a Sedge Warblers bathing by the Boulderwall track early this morning. Also good to see several recently fledged Lapwings there along with 4 Avocets, 4 Little Ringed Plovers and a Hobby. Nearby a single Cattle Egret and a Cetti's Warbler that posed for me while sunbathing. At Dengemarsh 10+ pairs of Common Terns, several Marsh Harriers and Beared Tits and brief flight view of a Bittern

 

A sunbathing Cetti's Warbler by the corral

A single summer plumaged Cattle Egret at Boulderwall this morning

Adult Lapwing at Boulderwall

A recently fledged Lapwing at Boulderwall