Dungeness Bird Observatory
@dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social
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
A good diversity on today's seawatching, particularly with wildfowl. Over the morning, plenty of birds arriving with Thrushes, 2300 Starlings, 200 Chaffinches and 40 Bramblings plus an increase in Robins and Wrens. Still plenty of Goldcrests and Firecrests in the bushes too. #kentbirding
November 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
A good diversity on today's seawatching, particularly with wildfowl. Over the morning, plenty of birds arriving with Thrushes, 2300 Starlings, 200 Chaffinches and 40 Bramblings plus an increase in Robins and Wrens. Still plenty of Goldcrests and Firecrests in the bushes too. #kentbirding
Very little to be seen in the bushes today apart from four Firecrests and a Woodcock. The sea was busy again however with over 2400 Razorbills going west as well as a Sooty Shearwater and a Black-throated Diver. The Crossbill movement continues with five over the area. #kentbirding
November 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Very little to be seen in the bushes today apart from four Firecrests and a Woodcock. The sea was busy again however with over 2400 Razorbills going west as well as a Sooty Shearwater and a Black-throated Diver. The Crossbill movement continues with five over the area. #kentbirding
Today was another brilliant all-day seawatch from the Fishing Boats, with the highlights being two White-fronted Geese, a Puffin, a Little Auk, a Great Northern Diver and two Sooty Shearwaters amongst a good variety. Constant flocks of Starlings and some Chaffinches arriving too. #kentbirding
October 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Today was another brilliant all-day seawatch from the Fishing Boats, with the highlights being two White-fronted Geese, a Puffin, a Little Auk, a Great Northern Diver and two Sooty Shearwaters amongst a good variety. Constant flocks of Starlings and some Chaffinches arriving too. #kentbirding
An all day seawatch with birds moving from dawn till dusk with the highlights being a Grey Phalarope, 61 Little Gulls, 3332 Razorbills, three Little Auks, a Leach's Petrel and two Sooty Shearwaters west. 3757 Starlings arrived in-off the sea as well as smaller numbers of Skylarks. #kentbirding
October 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
An all day seawatch with birds moving from dawn till dusk with the highlights being a Grey Phalarope, 61 Little Gulls, 3332 Razorbills, three Little Auks, a Leach's Petrel and two Sooty Shearwaters west. 3757 Starlings arrived in-off the sea as well as smaller numbers of Skylarks. #kentbirding
Seawatching improved today, mostly this afternoon with the totals now on @trektellen.bsky.social. A few bits moving on the land, with 420 Stock Doves the main movers as well as a few finches including more Crossbills. A Yellow-browed Warbler was still at the south end of the Long Pits #kentbirding
October 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Seawatching improved today, mostly this afternoon with the totals now on @trektellen.bsky.social. A few bits moving on the land, with 420 Stock Doves the main movers as well as a few finches including more Crossbills. A Yellow-browed Warbler was still at the south end of the Long Pits #kentbirding
A superb all day seawatch with twelve hours of coverage at the Fishing Boats. The Sooty Shearwater count is the second highest for the Observatory. #kentbirding
September 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A superb all day seawatch with twelve hours of coverage at the Fishing Boats. The Sooty Shearwater count is the second highest for the Observatory. #kentbirding
We have ringed hundreds of Sand Martins this autumn and have caught four with rings on from elsewhere. Three of our birds were caught at Icklesham the night after their capture at Dungeness.
Each coloured line shows a Sand Martin, and the details of the controls are as follows:
Each coloured line shows a Sand Martin, and the details of the controls are as follows:
September 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
We have ringed hundreds of Sand Martins this autumn and have caught four with rings on from elsewhere. Three of our birds were caught at Icklesham the night after their capture at Dungeness.
Each coloured line shows a Sand Martin, and the details of the controls are as follows:
Each coloured line shows a Sand Martin, and the details of the controls are as follows:
Some more exciting seawatching today, with plenty more Terns on the move and this brings the month's total of Sandwich Terns to over ten thousand west! #kentbirding
September 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Some more exciting seawatching today, with plenty more Terns on the move and this brings the month's total of Sandwich Terns to over ten thousand west! #kentbirding
Some fantastic seawatching today with all day passage, the highlight being a constant stream of Sandwich Terns heading west with over 6500 recorded but also Curlew Sandpiper, 299 Little Terns, 24 Black Terns, 60+ Arctic Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and 52 Balearic Shearwaters. #kentbirding
September 1, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Some fantastic seawatching today with all day passage, the highlight being a constant stream of Sandwich Terns heading west with over 6500 recorded but also Curlew Sandpiper, 299 Little Terns, 24 Black Terns, 60+ Arctic Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and 52 Balearic Shearwaters. #kentbirding
This morning's seawatch is now on @trektellen.bsky.social. There was a very good passage of Terns, Arctic Skuas and Balearic Shearwaters as well as the highest count of Bar-tailed Godwit for the autumn so far.
August 29, 2025 at 12:36 PM
This morning's seawatch is now on @trektellen.bsky.social. There was a very good passage of Terns, Arctic Skuas and Balearic Shearwaters as well as the highest count of Bar-tailed Godwit for the autumn so far.
A bit of changeover in the moths last night included a Convolvulus Hawkmoth trapped at the Observatory and this Dark Crimson Underwing on the Point, making a change from the Light Crimson's, which have totalled 11 since the beginning of the month.
July 10, 2025 at 1:25 PM
A bit of changeover in the moths last night included a Convolvulus Hawkmoth trapped at the Observatory and this Dark Crimson Underwing on the Point, making a change from the Light Crimson's, which have totalled 11 since the beginning of the month.
This pair of Light Crimson Underwings the best out of the Observatory traps last night, amongst a flurry of migrants and over 210sp caught in the recording area. Otherwise, Elegia similella was new for the Obs and Agonopterix kaekeritziana second record and first since the 1960s. #kentmoths
July 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
This pair of Light Crimson Underwings the best out of the Observatory traps last night, amongst a flurry of migrants and over 210sp caught in the recording area. Otherwise, Elegia similella was new for the Obs and Agonopterix kaekeritziana second record and first since the 1960s. #kentmoths
This #moth event is only a week away! We are now catching plenty of Sussex Emeralds plus lots of other local goodies and averaging well over 100 species of moth a night. Some migrant species last night included five Small Mottled Willow, Pearly Underwing, Bright Wave etc. Book your place now!
June 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This #moth event is only a week away! We are now catching plenty of Sussex Emeralds plus lots of other local goodies and averaging well over 100 species of moth a night. Some migrant species last night included five Small Mottled Willow, Pearly Underwing, Bright Wave etc. Book your place now!
We still have space on our #moth event taking place in a little under two weeks time! Why not come along and see some amazing specialities plus hopefully large numbers of moths too?!
June 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
We still have space on our #moth event taking place in a little under two weeks time! Why not come along and see some amazing specialities plus hopefully large numbers of moths too?!
With the good birding continuing into today, why not come stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory this weekend? #kentbirding
June 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
With the good birding continuing into today, why not come stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory this weekend? #kentbirding
A remarkable day in the recording area, started with a Bee-eater flying over the Trapping Area at 10am then a summer plumage Great Northern Diver flew high east overland followed by a gorgeous Rose-coloured Starling between the Moat and Old Lighthouse. #kentbirding
June 11, 2025 at 9:20 PM
A remarkable day in the recording area, started with a Bee-eater flying over the Trapping Area at 10am then a summer plumage Great Northern Diver flew high east overland followed by a gorgeous Rose-coloured Starling between the Moat and Old Lighthouse. #kentbirding
First autumn(!) passerine migrants today with two Crossbills very briefly in the Trapping Area before flying east. The sea produced a bit of movement this evening with eight Manx and a Balearic Shearwater west, while some spring passage still on going with two Arctic Skuas east. #kentbirding
June 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
First autumn(!) passerine migrants today with two Crossbills very briefly in the Trapping Area before flying east. The sea produced a bit of movement this evening with eight Manx and a Balearic Shearwater west, while some spring passage still on going with two Arctic Skuas east. #kentbirding
An increase in offshore passage again today, in strong south-westerly winds plus the odd shower. The best being 27 Manx Shearwaters west and the continued late easterly Arctic Skua movement, with another two east. Full totals attached below, on @trektellen.bsky.social #kentbirding
June 7, 2025 at 8:47 PM
An increase in offshore passage again today, in strong south-westerly winds plus the odd shower. The best being 27 Manx Shearwaters west and the continued late easterly Arctic Skua movement, with another two east. Full totals attached below, on @trektellen.bsky.social #kentbirding
Stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory! We have plenty of space in our dormitory accommodation this June, which can be an exciting month, with plenty of things to admire!
Email on dungenessobs@vfast.co.uk to book. Price is £20 per night but is reduced to £15 for DBO Friends.
Email on dungenessobs@vfast.co.uk to book. Price is £20 per night but is reduced to £15 for DBO Friends.
June 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Stay at Dungeness Bird Observatory! We have plenty of space in our dormitory accommodation this June, which can be an exciting month, with plenty of things to admire!
Email on dungenessobs@vfast.co.uk to book. Price is £20 per night but is reduced to £15 for DBO Friends.
Email on dungenessobs@vfast.co.uk to book. Price is £20 per night but is reduced to £15 for DBO Friends.
This Striped Hawkmoth was definitely the highlight of the moth traps from last night. While during the day, a couple each of Hummingbird Hawkmoths and Red-veined Darters have been seen in the recording area, adding to the migrant insect theme.
June 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This Striped Hawkmoth was definitely the highlight of the moth traps from last night. While during the day, a couple each of Hummingbird Hawkmoths and Red-veined Darters have been seen in the recording area, adding to the migrant insect theme.
Early summer on Dungeness.
June 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Early summer on Dungeness.
Early summer on Dungeness.
June 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Early summer on Dungeness.