31/07/2025

A fairly quiet day around the peninsular, apart from the Pectoral Sandpiper there were few common waders in the form of 2 Greenshanks, Avocets, 10+ Common Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Common Snipe etc.

Around the Long Pits Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers, also a Grasshopper Warbler in the nets at 05.30 and a Common Redstart seen by Richard.

Greenshanks from Hanson first thing this morning

Great White Egret at the ARC, also Cattle and Little Egrets there

The Pectoral Sandpiper again spent the day at the SE end of the ARC

 

One of 29 Willow Warblers I counted at the Long Pits this morning

The first ever Dark Spinach to grace my VC15 trap

Oak Processionary

Tree Lichen Beauty

30/07/2025

Pectoral Sandpiper early morning at the SE end of the ARC

A long fruitless wander around the Long Pits and Desert this morning, it can only get better.

Reed Warbler at the ARC this afternoon about to feed its young with a Brown-veined Wainscot I think?

At the ARC the Red-crested Pochard was still present this afternoon along with the Avocet family, they appear to have move to the back of the lake, so maybe birds will come to the near islands without fear of being chased off by protective Avocet parents, 5 Cattle Egrets were present with 2 Great White Egrets and the usual wildfowl but little of note.

Report from Burrowes of 2 Wood Sandpipers still, 2 Turnstones and a few Dunlin but nothing else notable.

A lovely Red Underwing resting on the Axell Viewpoint this afternoon

 

A gorgeous Beautiful Marbled was a welcome sight in my trap this morning

A Copper Underwing, although common on the peninsula this is only the second to grace my trap

A lovely Gem. always a pleasure to find one in the trap

29/07/2025

This Garden Warbler was highlight of a 2hr walk around the Long Pits this morning, among a few each of Common and Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warblers, there was zero overhead passge. 

Pintail on the ARC an uncommon sight this time of year

The duckling Red-crested Pochard at the ARC today appears not to have grown wings yet??

A Pectoral Sandpiper at the SE end of the ARC with 2 Common Sandpipers, it was often difficult to se due the vegetation. It was found by JY whilst he was doing his weekly duck on the reserve. If you you are thinking of looking for the Sandpiper please refrain from parking on the main road.

Apart from the Pectoral Sandpiper there was no change in the birds there, 4 Cattle Egrets, 4 Great White Egrets, 2 Garganey, numerous Common Sandpipers and the Avocet family.

On Burrowes 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks a few Dunlin, 40+ Common Terns and the usual wildfowl.

Pectoral Sandpiper

28/07/2025

Willow Warbler

I had a 3hr walk around the Long Pits this morning where I encountered 21 Willow Warblers, 28 Common Whitethroats, 8 Lesser Whitethroats, 16 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti's Warblers, singles of Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler, a juvenile Cuckoo, 2 Marsh harriers, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks, a Great Spotted Woodpecker along with Blue & Great Tits, Song Thrush, Blackbirds etc. Nothing fantastic but at least there were migrants.

An early afternoon visit to the ARC saw just a Garganey, a Great White Egret and the Avocet family, rather disappointing.

At Burrowes Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers, Greenshank and LRPs all reported today.

Garden Warbler (Many thanks to Jacob for showing me this bird)

Juvenile Common Whitethroat

Sanderling that were roosting near the fishing boats this afternoon then disturbed by dog walker

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats this afternoon

Another victim of anglers debris

Twin-spotted Plume a first for my trap. A common moth so pretty sure due to my incompetence I must have overlooked it in the past.🙄

27/07/2025

4 Smart looking Cattle Egrets with a Great White Egret from Hanson this morning

With a light NW wind the sea was as expected very quiet. There were a few migrants trapped at the observatory, the first Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warblers, Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and some local Tits. A count of 220 Curlew, 320 Oystercatchers and 143 Sandwich Terns at Kerton Road by JY was good. At Burrowes 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks, Common Sandpipers and a couple of Dunlin. A Green Sandpiper was on the ARC this afternoon.

A skulking Garganey from Hanson this morning

The 2 Avocet chicks are flapping there wings and managing to fly a few yards, so wont be long before they fledge, then maybe more waders might stay at the ARC instead of being chased off by very protective Avocet parents.

Tufty is still holding on to her 3 Ducklings at the ARC

Wood Sandpiper from Firth late afternoon

 

26/07/2025

My first Golden Plover of the Autumn at the ARC from Hanson this morning

At the ARC today the usual Waders and Wildfowl along with the 3 species of Egret. 4 Cattle Egrets were seen at Boulderwall per NB. On Burrowes Little Stint, Red Knot, Wood, Green and Common Sandpipers per NB, DB & BW but no sign of the Night Heron at Hookers today, though it could easily still be lurking.

At the fishing boats this afternoon 7 Black Terns were the highlight with a trickle of Sandwich and Common Terns. At the observatory a few migrant Reed,Sedge and Willow Warblers along with Stonechat were ringed, Jacob found a Whinchat in The Desert today hopefully many more to come.

Juvenile Common tern at the fishing boats this afternoon

A beautiful 4lb 9oz Bass was landed by this gentleman st the fishing boats this afternoon, who then returned it safely to the sea, there are nit many anglers that come to Dungeness that would do that.

A worn Scorched Carpet in my trap this morning, barely annual for me.

 

25/07/2025

The sea is still very quiet especially now that The Patch is no more. The first autumn Pied Flycatcher turned up yesterday with presumably another today with handful of Willow Warblers. There have been a couple of Wood and Green Sandpipers around the reserve also up to 20 Common Sandpipers, the 2 Avocet  chicks seem to be growing well at the ARC. where there are also 2 Garganey present but wader passge is slow at the moment.

Night Heron at Hookers this afternoon

Pied Flycatcher briefly on The Point this morning

One of 4 Great White Egrets at the ARC

 

Poplar Kitten (left) Sallow Kitten (right)

Tree-liched Beauties

Scarce Chocholate Tip

Jersey Tiger

21/22/07/2025

Yestrerday mornings sea watch saw a reasonably close West bound Balearic Shearwater as the highlight, among a few west bound Sandwich and Common Terns, Gannets and Kittiwakes. 

From Hanson the usual Avocets and Garganey up to 4 Green Sandpipers, 10 Common Sandpipers, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Cattle Egret of note.

On Burrowes The Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, several each of Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, a Little Gull and c50 Common Terns and the usual wildfowl. Today was basically a repeat of yesterday without the Little Stint but other waders drop in and out through the day, Whimbrel, Turnstone, Knot, Redshank and Dunlin.

Little Stint at Firth yesterday, but no sign of it today.

Little Stint at Firth yesterday

                                Little Stint and a Wood Sandpiper at Firth yesterday

Wood Sandpiper at Firth yesterday

One of a several thunderstorms that skirted the northern edge of the peninsular

A pristine Gypsy Moth, the highlight of a meagre haul in my trap this morning