12/11/2022

Boathouse Gem apparently only the 4th ever British record

When I saw this moth in the trap this morning it seemed to be familiar but I was unable to name to it, I checked my moth books but was unable to find it. It was only when I took it down to Dungeness Bird Observatory and showed it to David Walker that I realised it might be something special, David was quickly able to inform me as to its identity and how rare the moth was, so many thanks to David.

Today juvenile Sabines Gull at the fishing boats

Black-headed Gull chasing a 1w Arctic Tern at the fishing boats

 

10/11/2022

Once again sea watching from the fishing boats has been the main pass time, Plenty of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks, with highlights of Leach's Petrel, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters. On the beach several Caspian Gulls, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 2+ Merlins chasing the incoming finches and Pipits, the gorgeous Arctic Tern and the Grey Phalarope that has been present for the last couple of days. also Swallows still being seen daily here.

The lakes have disappointing this week, though the Kingfishers are still present as are 2 Glossy Ibis up to 8 Cattle Egrets, 10+ Great White Egrets, Bearded Tits and the ever elusive Bitterns.

The superb adult Arctic Tern that has been lingering off the fishing boats

The very photogenic Grey Phalarope at the fishing boats

One of 2 Merlins at the fishing boats this morning

A new Kingfisher perch

07/11/2022

Eider past in the morning gloom

With the recent weather sea watching is the only real option at Dungeness. So far the sea has produced the goods with Leach's Petrels, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, Great Northern Divers, 1,000s of Gannets and Kittiwakes, 100s of Auks, Purple Sandpipers which are very scarce at Dungeness, 1,000s of Gulls including Caspian, Yellow-legged and Little Gulls. Oddly my highlight was a Tuna that leapt clear out of the water, the first I have seen at Dungeness.

Juvenile Little Gull

One of at least 4 Caspian Gulls today, this Polish ringed

Caspian Gulls

Hybrid Black-headed Gull X Mediterranean Gull at the boars yesterday

Little Gulls past the fishing boats yesterday

05/11/2022

Eider passing the bouy this morning

 09.00-10.00 From the sea watch hide

Brent Goose: 48W
Shelduck: 1W
Eider: 2W
Common Scoter: 7W
Red-breasted Merganser: 1W
Gannet: 115W
Little Gull: 3W
Kittiwake: 626W
Mediterranean Gull: 12W
Guillemot: 6W
Razorbill: 27W
Auk sp: 31W

Whilst trying to re-find the Hoopoe Jacob found a lovely Siberian Stonechat, I'm afraid my images do not do it justice. mainly because the weather was so appalling and tomorrow looks no better.

My first view of the Siberian Stonechat

Yellow-legged Gull bearing a Dutch colour ring marked H=

02/11/2022

Adult Arctic Tern

A long wander around The Point this morning in the vain hope of finding maybe a rare Wheatear drew a blank. Small numbers of Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves were seen moving but little else, highlight in The Desert was a Brown Hare.  Behind The Patch a Black Redstart, 2 Robins, 8 Chaffinch among the rocks, also a fine Grey Wagtail feeding at the base of the ramp. From the fishing boats the 2 Arctic Terns, a few Mediterranean Gulls, Gannets and Brent Geese, hopefully the sea will improve over the next few days. 

Both Arctic Terns

Adult Arctic Tern

1w Arctic Tern

 

01/11/2022

The morning sea watch was again very poor, the highlight being a single Goldeneye west and a few Brent Geese. As the rain set in I got on with domestic stuff.

On arrival at the beach this afternoon I was informed not to bother as Russ had been there for 3 hours and seen just a single Merganser and some Gannets. I did see the adult Arctic Tern which I think is the first I have seen in November.

I went to Hanson Hide which unsurprisingly was empty, I was soon joined by Russ for a short time, while I stayed till dusk.

The female Kingfisher came in to the perches but did not feed, A great White Egret spent some time feeding in fron the hide where it was catching numerous tiddlers in the torrential rain and general gloom. On the islands at least 3 different Caspian Gulls came and went as did a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls, a Norwegian Great Black-backed Gull and 2 Dutch ringed Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Water Rails were squealing around the hide, a single Dunlin was feeding along the edge of the islands. As dusk approached 2 Glossy Ibis appeared, as did 8 Cattle Egrets and 4 more Great White Egrets, all made their way down to the roost. I didn't see the Long-tailed Duck but most of the time the shutter on that side of the hide were kept shut to keep the weather out.

The female Kingfisher in the torrential rail at Hanson this afternoon

Great White Egret catching 3 tiddlers at a time in the rain at Hanson

1w Caspian Gull and 3w Yellow-legged Gull from Hanson

Another 1w Caspian Gull