25/06/2023

I have been hearing Yellow Wagtails while going through my moth traps in the mornings, today I walked out into the fields opposite and found several young Yellow Wagtails, also a couple of adults that were obviously feeding young in a nest out in the bean field. I have also seen a Hobby regularly hunting Dragonflies along the track.

Drake and duck Garganey in flight at the ARC today, also 3 Little ringed Plovers and 10 Ringed Plovers there.

Duck Garganey

My first Cynaeda dentalis of the year was in the trap this morning, one of my favourite micro moths, feeds on Vipers Bugloss.

23/06/2023

Yesterdays Large Tortoiseshell found by Owen was still present by the Long pits this morning. It gave excellent prolonged views.

Another nice find by Owen this morning the first ever Scarce Emerald Damselfly. Nearby several Lunar Hornet Clearwings came to a lure.

One of my library images of a Lunar Hornet Clearwing

This Little Stint on the ARC this afternoon was in the company of 2 summer plumaged Dunlin, presumably all failed breeders returning south, also 2 Garganey present there. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over while I was at the Long Pits this morning the first I've seen for several weeks.

A Small Yellow Wave, a common moth but the first I have trapped for 9 years

21/06/2023

The star bird of the last couple of days is this 1st summer male Red-footed Falcon

Sea watching has been as expected this time of year quite slow, 2 late Arctic Skuas past east yesterday and 2 flocks of Shelducks flew east totalling 33 birds (all adults) were presumably heading for Heligoland to moult.

Around the reserve there are still a few Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers making themselves heard, Bitterns and Bearded Tits are very difficult to see at the moment, the first Great White Egret I've seen in a while was on Dengemarsh this afternoon. Waders are represented by Little and Ringed Plovers, Lapwing, Redshanks, Oystercatchers and the odd Green Sandpiper. Tern numbers have so far been abysmal this year, today there was 1 Common Tern on Dengemarsh and 2 on the ARC. 2 Garganey and a Pintail are also present on the ARC, with another Pintail on Burrowes, there are the usual 100s of summering Pochard and Gadwall around the reserve with smaller numbers of Shoveler and Mallard and Teal.

Several Hobbys around the reserve, sometimes showing very well

The 3 Spoonbills stretching there wings after a long sleep

Autumn is coming, a trickle of returning Sand Martins through the reserve today

Raven over Dengemarsh

Pair of Shelducks on Burrowes with 10 Liquorice allsorts (ducklings)

One of several Norfolk Hawkers around the reserve today

19/06/2023

3 Spoonbills have spent the last couple of days around Dungeness

Even with the arrival of the warmer weather Butterflies  and Dragonflies still seem to be thin on the ground, certainly my moth traps have not been bulging with moths as I would expect this time of year.

There are at least 4 Little Ringed Plovers around the reserve at the moment

The first Green Sandpipers have started to appear on the reserve, probably failed breeders, Bearded Tits seem to be having a poor season as I have yet to see or hear any young birds, the same applies to Bitterns

normally they would be seen making food flights, bringing food to there young in the nests, hopefully they are just running late due to the cold spring. In general there are very few young birds around except for Herring Gulls. There is just a single pair of Common terns on the ARC that look as though they may nest on one of the islands, but I think they have much change of success. 

What was once a common bird around the peninsula is now fast disappearing, only 2 years ago there were several pairs nesting in the fields in front of my house, sadly none now, they used often sit on the roof of my house early mornings when I was emptying the moth trap, so this female Yellow Wagtail in the hay fields was a pleasant sight.

This Norfolk Hawker was at Christmas Dell this afternoon, a recent coloniser at Dungeness.

A Portland Ribbon Wave was the highlight from moth trap in the last few days

15/06/2023

Dainty Damselflies

The Wednesday club visited Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory today primarily to see Dainty Damselflies, Many thanks are due to SBBO warden Steffan who took time out to show us these lovely Damselflies.

Female Dainty Damselfly

7 Red Kites flew through while we were at Sandwich

Scarce Chaser 

A posing Reed Bunting

One of many Lizard Orchids 

The beautiful Swallowtail at Bockhill this afternoon

14/06/2023

2 Black-winged Stilts can just about be seen in this image

As is usual this time of year the birding is fairly quiet. 2 Black-winged Stilts spent yesterday on Burrowes along with 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a drake Pintail, a Spotted Redshank was on the flood, elsewhere of note 4 Red Kites passed over The Point. Reed, Sedge and Cetti's Warblers can all still be seen but numbers appear to be lower than usual to me, as are Common and Lesser Whitethroats,  Hobbys and Cuckoos are still around but elusive, all 3 Egrets species were seen on the reserve yesterday.

Little Ringed Plover from Firth

 

12/06/2023

3 of 4 Avocets on the Flood behind Dengemarsh Hide

2 Green Sandpipers on Burrowes were new in and it was good to see 2 Common Terns on the ARC hopefully more will follow. In general what you saw last week on the reserve is what you wills today.

12 Black-tailed Godwits on the flood

Displaying Common Terns on the ARC

Little Ringed Plovers nesting on the peninsula

Adult male Marsh Harrier at the ARC

Grey Heron watching the pump outflow

This Hairy Dragonfly has seen better days

Rest Harrow

With the warmer weather the moth trap is getting busier, this mornings stars were a Rest Harrow and a Portland Ribbon Wave, both are scarce moths in the UK. A Fox Moth which is quite common but sadly very few have ever graced my MV. Plutella xylostella is a micro moth which is considered to be a migrant, in the last 2 nights I have caught in excess of a 1,000 in my trap.

Portland Ribbon Wave

Fox Moth

Plutella xlostella