@dungenessbirdobs
Dungeness Bird Observatory has been monitoring birds on the Kent coast since 1952, with hostel style accommodation available to all. Follow for info on the obs and sightings from the local area. More info on our website: http://www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
Come stay at the Observatory this spring with the season being well underway with plenty of offshore passage the last couple of days! Theres plenty of availability and for a very reasonable price of £15 per night for friends, and £20 per night for others! Come along and see some migration in action!
Another decent morning of Dark-bellied Brent Geese passage this morning with just under 1200 east, plus a single Pale-bellied amongst them being the first this year.
A superb day of many highlights, the best two however were five Spoonbills and our fifth best ever spring day total of Brent Geese with 6427! Head to the blog to find out more: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
Around 3,000 Brent Geese passed Dungeness by 09.30 with thousands more throughout the rest of the morning….
Had to try and do a short video of a group passing the Point
#KentBirding
Over 2500 Brent Geese east over the sea so far this morning. A couple of Firecrests scattered about on the Point too.
A more productive day on the land produced a White-fronted Goose, 28 Goldcrests, four Firecrests, four Black Redstarts, 42 Stonechats and the first Collared Doves of the year. Go to the blog to see more sightings: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
An increase in migrants across the recording area today with the best being three Woodcocks and four Firecrests plus 700 Starlings heading east out to sea. Read the blog to see more: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
An excellent morning seawatch with over 150 Shoveler and 400 Pintail recorded flying east. Take a look at the blog to read the days highlights: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
An excellent movement of dabblers today so far with 158 Shoveler and 378 Pintail east past the seawatching hide, amongst lesser numbers of other species.
Come stay at the Observatory this spring with the season being well underway already! We have plenty of availability and for a very reasonable price of £15 per night for friends, and £20 per night for others!
Another excellent day with the focus being on the sea with a good early movement of Pintail and Shoveler. Head over to the blog to read more: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
A very spring like day in the recording area with hints of passage on the land with numbers of Thrushes and Stonechats increasing but a much improved offshore movement from late morning. Take a look at the blog to find out more: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
Small Tortoiseshell - Dungeness
As no doubt many will be posting their butterfly sightings today and tomorrow
My first butterfly of the 2026 season was a Small Tortoiseshell along the Pilot Path, Dungeness this afternoon
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
A feel of spring in the air with a small increase in grounded migrants with scattered Thrushes and Stonechats. A few bits moving east on the sea included a brilliant flock of 110 White-fronted Geese at 11:18 and a Spoonbill at 12:00.
Certainly an improvement on both the weather and birds in the recording area today! Passage of Brent Geese, hints of passerine movement and a Slavonian Grebe. Read more about it on the blog: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
A winter-plumaged Slavonian Grebe spent 30mins drifting east on the sea off the seawatching hide between 10:25-10:55hrs.
A few Brent Geese passed east this morning, totalling 236 birds. A couple of Firecrests on the land, and an increase in overhead passage with 42 eastward departing Starlings.
An increase in eastbound wildfowl passage offshore was todays highlight, including over 400 Brent Geese: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
Moderate easterly winds meant the order of the day was seawatching with very little to be seen on the land. The days highlights being a Red-necked Grebe and 6 Velvet Scoters amongst a steady passage: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
A steady morning seawatch but a couple of goodies with six Velvet Scoters heading west in a single group and a Red-necked Grebe that came in and landed close off the seawatching hide before being lost to view @birdguides.bsky.social
A better weather day allowed for a check of the area which revealed a Woodcock, a Snipe and a couple of Firecrests. There was a bit of passage over the sea too, mostly auks. To read more, check out the blog: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
Lovely write-up Steve and thanks for passing on that extra info!
A blustery and wet day made coverage on the land difficult, but a couple of hours seawatching early this morning provided a decent total of birds.
To read the daily sightings, check out the blog: www.dungenessbirdobs.org.uk
A brilliant recovery of a Dungeness ringed Blackcap. It was ringed as a young male on 20th September last year, it has been caught again at Jew's Gate, Gibraltar on the 19th January 2026. Travelling 1720km SSW during its autumn migration, to where it is now presumably wintering.
Recent sightings. Red-throated Divers, a few Brent Geese among the Gulls on the sea. Firecrests, Chiffchaffs in the Trapping Area and Bewick and Whooper Swans, Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings near Midley.
A big Thank you to everyone who has renewed their ‘Friends’ for 2026. A gentle reminder to those who haven’t yet. The cost is just £20.00.
A Happy and Bird filled New Year to all our ‘Friends’ and supporters.
A Very Happy and Peaceful Christmas to all our Friends and Supporters.
It’s easy to support the Observatory by online shopping through Give As You Live.
Amazing sunset over the reserve last night
An improvement today with more birds on the move including 1225 Starlings and 233 Chaffinches arriving in-off the sea and going W/NW between the wintry showers. While a Serin also came in, briefly lingering in the Moat before leaving again. #kentbirding
