20/09/2026

The only wader on the 2 Midrips Pools was this Avocet

Another visit to The Midrips this morning where the Avocet was the only bird in the pools, also of note was a flyover Whimbrel, a Merlin chasing Linnets and a Common Buzzard on sentry duty.

Over the road in the ploughed field there were only c80 Golden Plovers there was no sign of yesterdays AGP though I'm sure it wasn't far away, a juvenile Hobby was sitting in the field, no doubt tomorrow I'll have another look. In the fields around the old sandpit there were good numbers of Starlings, Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls and Corvids with a few Mediterranean Gulls, Ruff, a Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harriers and Common Buzzards, a single Common Sandpiper was at the far end of the sandpit. On my way back home for a late breakfast I paid my regards to the local Little Owl.

The local Little Owl giving me the look!

Neil & Jan Burt found a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Dengemarsh viewed distantly from Springfield Bridge which frustratingly disappeared almost as soon as they found it. This afternoon I decided to cycle to Dengemarsh for a look for it with no luck, so i moved on to Christmas Dell where I found the bird on a small island where it remained all afternoon showing to those who wanted to see it.

Pectoral Sandpiper on on one of the Christmas Dell Islands

 

19/09/2026

An American Golden Plover(centre) with European Golden Plovers at Jury's Gap today

 The reserve has been very quiet the last few days, a White-winged Black Tern was still around on the ARC today though can be very elusive, 3 Little Gulls were still present, late this afternoon a Red-necked Phalarope was found at the southern end of the ARC by James, Tom and Ollie, presumably a different bird to the long staying bird on Burrowes, viewing the southern end is always difficult due to the speed of the traffic. Sea watching has provided Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters along with many Tern and Arctic Skuas along with a single Great Skua this morning. On the land the Hirundines have provided the numbers.

16/09/2026

Common Whitethroat grazing on Blackberries in The Desert

From The Desert I could see 100s of House Martins around the power station chimney, small numbers of Swallows were moving through The Desert. The bushes also held Lesser Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps. 2 Spotted Flycatchers were seen at top of the Long Pits per OL.

The WWBT was still present on the ARC per DW late afternoon. It seems the Red-necked Phalarope has gone.

A Jay popped out of the Pear Tree in The Desert (A scarce bird here)

The Jay flew length of The Desert before heading towards the Long Pits

A Little Owl watching a Common Buzzard fly over

Red Kite over the Long Pits/Desert this afternoon

One of the Balearic Shearwaters from this afternoon sea watch doing a very high sheer

Autumn Lady's Tresses at The long Pits early afternoon

Early this morning I found this huge beast on the wall next to my moth trap

Clifden nonpareil(safely released into Lydd Wood)

14/09/2026

Western Bonelli's Warbler

A drizzly morning was cheered up on the news that Tom Rosas had found a Western Bonelli's Warbler at the bottom end of the Long Pits, fortunately I was very nearby and on site very quickly. My images of this lovely warbler in the dark drizzly conditions do not do it justice. 

Early this morning I found a White-winged Black Tern on the ARC which promptly disappeared when a heavy drizzle shower came through. There were 3 Little Gulls present along with 2 Ruff and Greenshank.

Then news of Bonelli's Warbler came through so the search for the WWBT was abandoned. Later in the day an Osprey flew around the ARC and perched up for a while before disappearing per Ken & Sue.

The WWBT had relocated to Burrowes and later in the day went back to the ARC

The Red-necked Phalarope was still feeding on Burrowes, constantly ducking as Sand Martins flew low overhead

At the fishing boats this afternoon there were many Common and Sandwich Terns feeding as well 10 Arctic Skuas robbing them, a few Guillemots are appearing also there was a constant stream of SWallows and Sand Martins leaving our shores.

One of several Black Terns at the fishing boats this afternoon

A Guillemot close inshore at the fishing boats this afternoon

This Convolvulous Hawkmoth was the star in the trap this morning

This Pink-barred Sallow was new for the year, indeed I seldom see them in my trap

13/09/2026

The early sea watch in light drizzle at times was very much after the Lord Mayors Show. Lots of Arctic Skuas up and down harasing the many Sandwich and Common Terns feeding off shore, also 15+ Black Terns, c150 Gannets but little else.

After seeing the American Golden Plover the day fizzled out with domestic duties. A late afternoon visit to Burrowes saw the Red-necked Phalarope still keeping as far as is possible away, 3 Greenshanks, 4 Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Redshank.

American Golden Plover with a Golden Plover at Jurys Gap early afternoon

The local Little Owl sunbathing 

Local Little Owl in more gloomy conditions a few minutes after the first pic

Red-necked Phalarope on Burrowes taken in appalling light conditions

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Four-spotted Footman

Ni-moth

Shore Wainscot

Dungeness Birding At Its Very Best 12/09/2026

Poor images of the best bird so far this year a fabulous Brown Booby that spent c30minutes off shore from the fishing boats this afternoon. The first Dungeness record.

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

1 of at least 2 Whinchat in The Desert this morning

Spotted Flycatcher in The Desert this morning

There were 1,000s of House Martins around The Point this morning

This lovely Short-eared Owl was flying around The desert this morning

Juvenile Long-tailed Skua from the fishing boats

Black Tern from the fishing boats

Arctic Skua from the fishing boats