This Pine Beauty was the highlight of another disappointing night in my VC15 trap. Quite scarce on the shingle peninsula.

Merlin sitting on a pebble beach

Merlin sitting on a pebble beach

Merlin just after take off

Dungeness.: This presumed 2nd year Merlin landed on the beach in front the sea watch hide this morning.
Due to my incompetence with the camera the flight image is blurry, it was taken at F18 😒
#UKbirding

At Dungeness today

Female Pied Flycatcher

Dungeness: Light rain early morning dropped lots of Willow Warblers on the peninsula, also Pied Flycatcher, singing Wood Warbler, Redstarts, a Ring Ouzel, Garden Warblers, Blackcaps, Common & Lesser Whitethroats, many melted away as the sun came out.
#UKBirding

Yes. It’s rather annoying. Haven’t a clue how to stop it I’m afraid.

326 gannets west close to shore at the Bill, a single arctic skua, six (!) common terns and a fair number of Sandwich Terns east per IP et al

A sedge Warbler singing in a Rape field

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail calling from a barbed wire fence

A pair of Swallows perched on a barbed wire fence

A refreshing wander out the back of Scotney this evening, 40+ Yellow Wagtails, Swallows nest building under the old conveyer, also a Sedge Warbler singing in a sea of Rape.
#UKBirding

We can only hope🤞

A Lunar Marbled Brown Moth

This Lunar Marbled Brown was a very nice surprise in my VC15 trap today. A scarce moth on the peninsula, the first since 2019 I believe.
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#Teammoth

Lesser Swallow Prominent moth

The best night so far in my VC15 trap 22 of 6, but still very poor. The highlight being Lesser Swallow Prominent less than annual in my trap.

A Ring Ouzel about to be released after being ringed.

Dungeness: A very smart Ring Ouzel that was trapped and ringed early this morning by the DBO ringing team, many thanks to them for the call.

Willow Warbler feeding and singing in a Sallow

Willow Warbler feeding and singing in a Sallow

Willow Warbler feeding and singing in a Sallow

Dungeness: My first Willow Warbler of the year at the ARC this morning, lovely to watch it fly catching while constantly singing.
#UKBirding

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

2 Water Pipit

Dungeness: On an otherwise uninspiring day around the peninsula, there were at least 4 Water Pipits around Dengemarsh.
#UKBirding

You missed the 5th one Neil😀

Many thanks for clarifying Martin.

Lesser Whitethroat (S c curruca) on a bird table

Lesser Whitethroat (S c curruca) eating a Rowan berry

Lesser Whitethroat (S c curruca)

Lesser Whitethroat (S c curruca) on a bird table

@docmartin2mc.bsky.social has sent me the DNA results of the Lesser Whitethroat wintering in my garden and confirmed it as S c curruca, not what I expected, but more unusual than the Eastern races. Many thanks to him and his staff for all their work. The bird is still present for its 88th day.

Newly arrived Wheatear

Newly arrived Wheatear

Newly arrived Wheatear

Newly arrived Wheatear

Dungeness: A bitterly cold morning brought an arrival of at least 30 Wheatears to the peninsula. These are 4 of at least 10 around the DMG.
#UKBirding

A female Sparrowhawk plucking a feral Pigeon.

A female Sparrowhawk plucking a feral Pigeon.

Drake Eider drifting East past the Bouy

As I got out of my car at home after an underwhelming sea watch, a female Sparrowhawk came past me like a rocket and took out a feral pigeon under a feeder, took it deep in the hedge and spent an hour plucking and eating it before leaving with a very full crop. The Eider was the sea watch highlight.

Swallow

Sand Martin

Dungeness: A very windy and cold day on the peninsula. A visit to Burrowes lunchtime saw my first Swallow of the year, also a Sand Martin there. In 4hrs of Sea watching the first Manx Shearwater of the year was the highlight and very little else.
#UKBirding

Lesser Whitthroat (halimodendri)?

Male Sparrowhawk

After going missing for a couple of days and me thinking it had gone the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? appeared again despite the visits of the gorgeous male Sparrowhawk.

Bearded Tits

Beareded Tits

White Wagtail

White Wagtail flycatching

Bearded Tits and my first White Wagtail of the year at Dengemarsh today when the fog cleared.
#UKBirding

Partially obscured and distant Water Pipit

A distant Water Pipit

A Ruff with a Great black-backed Gull behind it.

It's always tough to obtain good views of Water Pipits at Dungeness, a couple today in Dengemarsh Flood were no easier. The lone Ruff at Dengemarsh was showier.
#UKBirding

Lesser Whitethroat on a bird table

Lesser Whitethroat on a bird table

After at least 78 days in my garden (30/01/2025)-17/03/2026) it appears that the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? has departed. hopefully in due course the DNA sample will prove its race.
#UKbirding

Superb as usual Owen.

Red Sword-grass moth sitting on wooden plank

Red Sword-grass not a rare moth nationally, but very rare on the Dungeness peninsular, 1 in2021 was the first since 1963, my one today is I believe the second. No doubt SC will put me right if necessary.
#Kentmoths

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) picking seed off a Camellia leaf

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) under a seed feeder

Another fog bound day on the Dungeness peninsula. The lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri)? has been getting more elusive lately, but a brief spell of sunshine early afternoon encouraged it out. #UKBirding

😂

Birchett Bob

Someone has to look after the old boys.

Yes.