22/07/2026

This gorgeous Wood Warbler was briefly in Dave Scotts Greatstone garden yesterday, many thanks to him for sending me this image and letting me use it on the blog.

Nightingale

Thanks to Jacob for letting us know he had trapped this lovely Nightingale in the TA early this morning, a trio of locals got to the Obs quickly enough to see it just before release.

This Fox cub seems to be the new resident at the Obs

A very quiet day today with little in the way of new birds arriving, though I did see my first returning Willow Warbler at he ARC. The usual July invasion of Sand Martins continues todaywith a few less due to marauding Hobbys on the reserve, 1 was taken over the VC car park. Waders are still thin on the groundbut this will hopefully soon improve. 

The Garganey at the ARC from Hanson this morning

20/07/2026

A very bedraggled young Herring Gull, who I'm guessing was on its maiden flight from the power station and crashed landed in the sea, in a most undignifyed manner. A parties of 2 & 13 Common Scoter flew East, a few each of Sandwich and Common Terns were feeding off shore, 3 Oystercatchers flew east but nothing of note was seen. Another watch from the fishing boats this afternoon saw even less.

Presumably last years White-cheeked Pintail returning for another visit to the ARC, the Garganey was still present along with 2 Great White Egrets and the usual Feral Geese and eclipse ducks. A few Common sandpipers , Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were present and 11 Black-tailed Godwits.

Bar-headed Goose from Hanson

A male Brown Hawker settled along the track to Hanson

1 of 14 Black-tailed Godwits around the reserve today

You do not want to be bitten by this monster at Dengemarsh. A Marsh Horsefly

The local Little Owl is still present despite much disturbance

A gorgeous Peach Blossom from yesterdays trap

18/07/2026

These 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers came out of the Lighthouse Garden and paused at West Beach before heading towards The Moat.

The sea watching continues to be poor, though there are probably birds out there as in the case of the Gull-billed Tern that was briefly in front of Hanson Hide, an excellent find by Peter Eerdmans, I was unfortunately at The Midrips when he found it.

There were 3 juvenile Black Redstarts along the perimeter wall behind the sea watch hide

Wigeon at the ARC

There are a few waders appearing around the reserve. Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Common and Green Sandpipers, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Ruff, Turnstone, Dunlin, Lapwing etc.

Hopefully in the nest few days young bright yellow Willow Warblers will start appearing along with Redstarts , Winchats and flycatchers and hopefully something better.

Ruff from Firth 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on my Budlia in the garden

A few moths for last nights catch

Acrobasis tumidana

Bordered Straw

Cydia amplana

Latticed Heath

Lobesia reliquana

Lozotaeniodes formosana

15/07/2026

A party of 12 Common Scoter drifting past the bouy early morning, a few each of Mediterranean Gulls, Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and Gannets, about the only notable was Kestrel that flew SE out to sea.

On the reserve a few Common Sandpipers, Dunlins and a Ruff per  DBO Whatsapp.

 

Sanderling on the beach  at The Midrips this afternoon

Sanderling

SanderlingRinged Plover nest at The Midrips by the main path with a very newly hatched chick and 3 eggs that will all hopefully hatch overnight.

Mum back on the nest as soon as I walked past

Juvenile Wheatears at The Midrips

2 of the 3 Marbled Clover in my trap this morning. My first record of this species, with only 3 prious records on the Dungeness peninsula since the 1950s

13/07/2026

Despite the gale force NE wind I went to the sea watch hide for an hour this morning, a handful each of Sandwich and Common Terns, along with small numbers of Mediterranean Gulls and Gannets all just messing around offshore, there appeared to be absolutely no sea passge.

The NE gale ensured the moth traps were virtually empty despite the high night time temperatures.😢

One of 2 Garganey at the ARC from Hanson today

Black-tailed Godwits at the ARC from Hanson today

                                           Green Sandpiper at the ARC from Hanson today

One of at least 12 Common Sandpipers around the reserve today, this one at Dengemarsh

2 Ruff from Firth today

There were signs of Autumn migration today with a few waders around the reserve and a steady eastward passage of Sand Martins through the peninsula. From the garden a few Yellow Wagtails over though they may have been local breeders.

Ruff from Firth today

3 Greenshanks on distant island from Firth today

11/07/2026

Highlights of a cycle ride to Jurys Gap this morning were 2 young Bearded Tits calling on the edge of the copse. Ther sward was covered in Canada, Greylag and Egyptian Geese and not much else.

A brief visit to the ARC saw one of the female Garganey among all the other eclipse ducks, two Lesser Emporer were patrolling the back of Hanson.

2 young Bearded Tits at the Sussex end of the Scotney copse, presumed disspersal movement

A moulting adult Mediterranean Gull at the fishing boats

3 Common Scoter drifted past the fishing boats in the strong winds

A tatty Light Crimson Underwing only the second record for my garden

Gypsy Moth the first of the year

Six Belted Clearwing a first for my garden

09/07/2026

Some of the 100+ Tree Sparrows on Walland Marsh last evening

Adult Little Owl last evening

Juvenile Little Owl last evening

Early morning at the Midrips

An Early morning cycle ride to visit The Midrips and Wickes this morning was very pleasant. Yellow Wagtails, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Corn Buntings were all along the raised sea wall, at least 2 pairs of Wheatears are still present. Waders were represented by 3+ Little Ringed Plovers, several each of Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers 1 of which was sitting on 4 eggs, also a single Curlew. I guess low numbers of waders are explained by the speed at which the pools are drying out.

A couple of the locals visited the reserve but found nothing to report.

The Guardhouse and Coastguard Cottages at Jurys Gap

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover at The Midrips