6-8/11/2026

On Friday a late evening visit to the observatory to see a Long-eared Owl that was trapped and ringed by the DBO ringing team. Images taken at 40,000 ISO😬

A long walk on Saturday along The Midrips and Wickes hoping to stumble across a Wheatear/Bunting was as usual a fools errand, the highlight being a Black Redstart. The pools look good but held no birds, only a few Oystercatchers on the beaches, at least it wasn't blowing a gale.

This Reed Bunting posed by the cycle track at Scotney

Late Saturday afternoon at Dengemarsh Gully the Isabelline Wheatear posed some what distantly for a snap .           

As there was no wind this morning I gave the sea watch a miss and had a cool start at the ARC, with a wander up to the pines, very little overhead migration , no doubt due to the completely still conditions. In the bushes at least 10 Chiffchaffs, by the track a Cloude Yellow Butterfly which is certainly the latest I can recall seeing one.

Apart from a Rough-legged Buzzard that flew straight through the point, that was seen and photographed by Jim Dee there was little else down there.

With the sunny still conditions I called in to see the Little Owls

The Lydd Ring-necked Duck showing the ring on its neck today

Ring-necked Duck showing the ring on its neck

Ring-necked Duck showing the ring on its neck

Ring-necked Duck

Female Scaup behind Lydd caravan park

At Scotney and the sand pit lots of birds but nothing new seems to have arrived.

06/11/2026

An enjoyable hour in the sea watch hide this morning, with a trickle of Auks and Gannets, the highlight was 14 White-fronted Geese that flew west. 

9 Pink-footed Geese that flew down the peninsula then out to sea as I left the sea watch hide. Thanks are due to Jacob for the prompt radio message. When I got back to my car there was 4 Black Redstarts around the car park.

AS Galloways was open today I had a look there for the rare Wheatear that really should be there to no avail. 2 Firecrests, a Goldcrest and a party of Long-tailed Tits were all I found.

Firecrest

Firecrest

Long-tailed Tit

An adult and 2w Caspian Gull at Dengemarsh

Other news was that the Ring-necked Duck was still still on the Lydd caravan park lake, very little else reported.

One of sixteen Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge late morning

Juvenile Little Gull from Firth

Michaela left the ARC late afternoon, heading off towards Lade Bay on her own, 10 minutes later she dropped back into the ARC.

Some of the Cattle Egrets dropping into the ARC at Dusk today

We saw 2 Bitterns from Hanson while waiting for the Starling murmuration.

Egrets From Hanson this afternoon

05/11/2026

Sunrise over the fishing boats

Black Redstarts behind the hide at sunrise

A drake Eider flew East as I sat down in the hide

1 of 2 Merlins seen this one carrying breakfast in the appalling early morning light

Ring-necked Duck above and Greater Scaup below at the Lydd caravan park pit today

The local Little Owl enjoying the sunshine

 Michaela a radio tagged Bewick Swan that arrived at the ARC just before dusk today, many thanks to Jim Dee for the timely heads up. They did not stop long as they left at dusk.

3 Adult and 3 Cygnet Bewick Swans on the ARC late afternoon

Isabelline Wheatear 03/11/2026

2 Velvet Scoter passing the Dungeness Bouy this morning

 

Little Egret, still quite rare on a sea watch at Dunge

Terrible record image of a Scaup with 2 Common Scoter passing the hide this morning

2 Spoonbills at the ARC with 3 Great White Egrets (13 were scattered around the lake this morning) 

2 of 3 Whoopers at the ARC this morning

Record images of the superb Isabelline Wheatear at Dengemarsh Gully today. Found by Paul and Ted Trodd. Pauls account of finding the bird can be seen HERE