29/03/2026

Sea watching at Dungeness the last 3 days in the cold NW winds has been pitiful with absolutely nothing of note seen, while our friends the other side of the channel at Cap Gris-nez and Sangatte have been loving life with excellent sea watches.   

Linnet and Wheatear  behind the sea watch hide

It seems every year I get excited when a few Wheatears, Chiffchaffs, Firecrests and Hirundines arrive in late March, when I know that not a great deal happens before the 3rd week of April🙄. The first Sedge Warblers and Blackcaps have been singing on the reserve, the first Willow Warbler was heard at the Long Pits today but it is barely a trickle of migrants. Highlights have been a Black-necked Grebe on Burrowes, several Water Pipits around the reserve and a flyover Common Crane. The family of 3 Whooper Swans were still in the fields by the sand pit on the 27th.
 

A Skylark over Kennys Field

Ravens at Dengemarsh

White Wagtail on the new Boulderwall flood

Avocets at the ARC from Hanson

26/03/2026

With a stiff NNW wind blowing and only 2º, it wasn't surprising that I was on my own at the sea watch hide for a the poorest sea watch of the year. When I left the hide I joined Dave Bunney for a chat and a warming cup of tea, sitting in the sun staring out across the shingle not seeing any wheatears, though an hour later there was c20 of them along the beach.

I went to the DMG and found a minimum of 10 newly arrived Wheatears but very little else.

Wheatears around the DMG

Wheatears around the DMG

 

A Raven giving a Common Buzzard grief at Dengemarsh

While I was at Dengemarsh news from Ray O'reilley that there was a Hooded Crow near the VC but no sign by the time I arrived.

The family of 3 Whooper Swans at the old sand pit Jurys Gap

A late afternoon stroll up to the Water Tower was rewarded by a phone call from Richard telling me that there was a Crane circling high over Burrowes, when I eventually locked onto the bird it was over Kerton Road heading for Lade where I lost it in the haze.

The Lesser Whitethroat still present for its 87th day but becoming very elusive

24/03/2026

 Very windy and cold on the peninsula today where 4hrs of sea watching produced only a single Manx Shearwater of any note.

A visit to Burrowes saw my first Swallow of the year and another Sand Martin.

Barn Swallow

Sand Martin

A visit to the ARC failed to find any scarce Grebes, a Bittern made a brief flight but little else was seen in the blustery conditions. At Cockles Bridge and the Donkey paddock 10+ Cattle Egrets.

23/03/2026

Hopefully today was the last day in this run of very foggy mornings, tomorrows forecast of fairly strong SW winds looks like it will be good for sea watching.

A look at the ARC saw the 2 Black-necked Grebes and 6+ Goldeneye on a mill pond like ARC, a further 3 Goldeneye were on the New Diggings.

A wander around The Point was disappointing, a Chiffchaff in the lighthouse garden, a single Redwing in the TA, a Black Redstart at the Power Station along with the resident Peregrines was as good as it got for me.

At lunchtime a sub adult male Marsh Harrier was hunting the field in front of house giving super views.

Sub adult male Marsh Harrier

A very cool cycle ride this afternoon to and around the reserve saw usual 3 Whitefronts at Dengemarsh and a Water Pipit along with the usual wildfowl but nothing else notable.

At Christmas Dell 14 Common Snipe and another Water Pipit were notable.

On Burrowes 2 more Goldeneye and 2 Little Gulls feeding among the Black-headed Gulls.

On the way back an Avocet was flying around the hayfields, also 3 Redshank a Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin there with several displaying Lapwings.

One of the Little Gulls over Burrowes this afternoon

Avocet over the Hayfields

The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still present in the garden today

22/03/2026

 No early morning sea watch again today due to fog. As it started to clear I made my way to the ARC then walked across the reserve to Springfield Bridge.

I was hoping to find Garganey on the new Boulderwall Flood, alas not today nor any of the hoped for Hirundines feeding over it. There was still c100 Wigeon with a few Teal and Shoveler there, also several Lapwings were displaying but nothing out of the ordinary was noted.

The only spring migrant I saw was at Dengemarsh a lovely White Wagatail, the 3 White-fronted Geese were still in the field at the back of Dengemarsh, while I was there 5 Cattle Egrets flew high West possibly migrants. 

White Wagtail from Dengemarsh Hide

White Wagtail Fly catching

Wandering around the hayfields the Water Pipits were heard but not seen, 4 Bearded Tits however were much more obliging. While I was there several Red Kites were being reported from The Point, sadly none came my way as far as I know. Late afternoon the 2 Black-necked Grebes were still at the southern end of the ARC.

The regular male Sparrowhawk in my garden this afternoon

After being missing for a couple of days leading me to believe it had gone, the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) was back in the garden today

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) this afternoon

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) picking insects off the Camelias this afternoon

21/03/2026

 Unsurprisingly this mornings sea watch a non event, it was still good to be able to sit in front the hide in the early morning sunshine and importantly out of the biting NE wind. Soon after I left 3 Red Kites flew across The Point. As far as I am aware there was nothing else apart from Black Redstarts and Peregrines.

On the way home for breakfast I stopped on the causeway for a quick scan of the ARC, I soon spotted 2 Black-necked Grebes far out on the lake, also a couple of Goldeneye still present.

Presumably yesterdays Black-necked Grebes still on the ARC this morning

A walk around Dengemarsh saw a Couple of Water Pipits, a Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, a Redshank and 3 White-fronted Geese of any note.

A Ruff from Dengemarsh Hide

A couple of Water Pipits on Dengemarsh Flood being as usual elusive

After announcing yesterday that the Lesser Whitethroat had gone as I had not seen it since the 17th, I was putting the moth trap out late this afternoon and the Lesser whitethroat popped out of bush in front of me🙄😆

20/03/2026

Hopes for a good sea watch this morning after yesterdays reasonable one, where the first Garganey and Arctic Skua of the spring were recorded, were quickly dashed as soon as I looked out of the bedroom window this morning to see dense fog. After an extra coffee I went to Dengemarsh for a wander despite the fog, lots of singing Reed Buntings and a few Bearded Tits were heard, 3 White-fronted Geese sailed out of the gloom in front of me but little else.

Back home for breakfast and domestic stuff after which I cycled to Scotney, where the sun was beggining to clear the fog. A couple of Little owls found a sheltered warm spot.

Little Owl

Little Owl

By the time I reached the back of Scotney the worst of the fog had cleared, so I visited the Tree Sparrow nest boxes put up by the Wednesday Birders Club, (many thanks to Paul Trodd for making and repairing the boxes). Last year 25 boxes were occupied by the Tree Sparrows we now have 36 boxes up and waiting for the Tree Sparrows to move in. While there I saw several Tree Sparrows along with Corn Buntings and Skylarks.

Further round the lakes 2 Avocets flew over, at least 4 Marsh Harriers and 2 Common Buzzards were also there, unfortunately the fog came down again and the temperature plummetted.

As I approached the end of flat pit the 3 Whooper Swans appeared out of the gloom, the tractors were out spraying and quickly flushed them giving me a very close flyby before they settled on the old sand pit.

Whooper Swans in the gloom

Whooper Swans giving me a close flyby

Whooper Swans on the old sand pit

One of two Little Gulls on Burrowes this afternoon, where I also saw my first Sand Martin of the year thanks to Johns sharp hearing.

Blossom Underwing a scarce early spring visitor my trap

17/03/2026

Most of the days interest was in the sea watching, unfortunately I missed the Smew and Black-throated Diver by leaving early to see a Wheatear and get a cup of tea.

There were a few more Chiffchaffs and Firecrests around today. At Cockles Bridge 19 Cattle Egrets and the 2 Whooper Swans were still present though the Swans look very fidgety and could well go overnight.

There was nothing new from the reserve. The 3 Dartford Warblers remain around the DMG. The Lesser Whitethroat was still around today though very elusive.

Some of the Brent Geese from today

A flock of 72 Pintail passing the sea watch hide

 

15/03/2026

There has been little improvement in the sea watching apart from a nice flock of 7 Black-necked Grebes that drfted slowly East in front of the sea watch hide this morning, Sandwich Tern numbers are improving but wildfowl numbers remain very low. however I have high hopes for later this week providing the weather forecast doesn't change.

The Cockles Bridge Whooper Swans are still insitu as are the family of 3 at the Jurys Gap sand pit, the former came into the ARC to roost last night at 18.45, also 2 Bitterns seen there. The reserve remains very quiet but I'm confident the new Boulderwall flood will come good.

2 of the 3 Dartford Warblers in the Dengemarsh Gully yesterday

The Lydd Little Owls sunbathing yesterday

One of the 17 Cattle Egrets at Cockles Bridge yesterday

This Great Spotted Woodpecker is becoming a regular visitor to my feeders, it is only the second I have seen in my garden in 16 years.

The Lesser Whitethroat still present but becoming more elusive each day