My 2nd moth trap foray of the year Actinic in Littlestone garden, SE Kent Windy, rain but mild didn’t drop below 10 4 moths - 3 Common Quakers and A. heracliana (for me) But the good news - I found ‘moth plank’ in a garage reorganisation last week after gone missing for seven months #Teammoth

Pleased I was first to the Dungeness seawatch hide for first light I opened all the viewing flaps ready for the regulars when they turned up Two hours later still on my own 🤦 8 groups of Brent Geese (186), 3 Pintail, 6 Teal, 9 Shelduck, Tufted Duck 6 Fulmar, 63 R-t Divers plus auks #KentBirding

One of the first birds I saw on Greatstone Beach today was a Barnacle Goose on dropping tide. Never seen one here before Dave Scott walked out to get this pic 🕺 At Scotney found the male American Wigeon on the pit btwn Scotney Farm House and Brett’s 3 Whooper Swans behind Sand Pit #KentBirding

Any excuse to have a break from the computer 3 Pink-footed and 4 Tundra Bean Geese appeared at Scotney gravel pit (The Beans are the 1st records for the Dungeness area this year) At the Sussex end of the pit found the male American Wigeon which was last seen on RSPB reserve on Monday #KentBirding

And we are off - 1 moth last night Pale Brindled Beauty

The official 2026 Littlestone garden moth season kicks off this evening Spurred into action when Lorna took down the garden Christmas lights and then started moving things around outside….. So I had to rapidly mark the ‘territory’ with an actinic 🤦 #TeamMoth

Spent 4 hours at Scotney gravel pits this morning - catching up with Fridays male American Wigeon It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound 1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far #KentBirding

Starting to stir at Dungeness with the samey wet/mild weather and the wildfowl are starting to get an itch and move East Small flocks of Pintail totalling 36 (first notable total of 2026) 2 Gadwall, plus Wigeon and Teal (Putting to one side the hundreds of Red-throated Divers and auks) #KentBirding

January across the wider Dungeness recording area came in bang on average with 138sp The two hardcore seawatchers managed to chalk up Black Guillemot and Puffin this month Other notable birds include Purple Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Whooper Swan, Goosander, Scaup and Lesser Whitethroat #KentBirding

January has been a very wet month at Littlestone, Romney Marsh, Kent The monthly total was 158mm Compared to the last two months of 2025 Dec - 91mm Nov - 101mm #kentweather

Red-throated Diver day around on Dungeness A total of 758 all west in the 1hr 45min seawatch from hide first thing A surge of 462 pushed out west by a fishing boat in Lade/Greatstone Bay in a 15min slot at 12.45 Little Gulls, Eider, Fulmars the extras this morning #Kentbirding

Dungeness This morning it was grey, murky and the rain had set in Then the New Lighthouse foghorn started going…. The Holly tree grows in a patch of gorse on the higher shingle near to the Desert behind Sunnyside

The usuals in a quick pit stop at Penclawdd, Burry Inlet, North Gower this lunchtime Pink-footed Goose in with the Greylag flock, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Kingfisher Marsh Harrier and Merlin at Wrenffrwd #BirdingWales

Back in rainy South Wales to see family and then pop down to Castell Ddu, Burry Inlet, Swansea for a 1st winter male Baikal Teal this morning It did the decent thing and flew around with the Wigeon and into Glamorgan airspace to satisfy Border Force Umbrella borrowed from my Dad was optional

An aborted days birding around Dungeness - as I spent 6 hours picking up insulating foam on a 3km stretch of tideline at Dungeness This pollution has come from the multiple shipping containers lost off the Isle of Wight at Christmas/New Year with debris now washing ashore in Sussex and Kent

Due to the amazing still conditions this morning I attempted a Great-crested Grebe count from Romney Sands/Tavern in the Hythe Bay/off Greatstone Beach 2,620…. You have to really get the right weather, tide, time of the day and boat activity - first real attempt this winter by me #KentBirding

A day off work and I spent a couple of hours standing down at the Sand Pit, Scotney (Sussex) watching ringtail Hen Harrier, Merlin and Barn Owl hunting plus the Barn Owl. 1st winter male Scaup still present Little Stint has moved to the Kent end on the flooded sward @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A few hours with Lorna around Folkestone resulted in 37 Great-crested Grebes and 3 Kittiwakes just off the harbour and a Black Redstart. Plus a very large #gull #KentBirding

The last 2 days I have spent around Scotney gravel pits, nr Dungeness - zig zagging the Kent/Sussex border A Spoonbill on the main pit late morning today with Little Stint on Flat Pit and 1st winter Scaup still on Sand pit Singing Corn Bunting out while checking Tree Sparrow boxes #KentBirding

Had a stroll from Littlestone down the back of the Sound Mirrors and out onto Greatstone beach in a frozen landscape Most ditches frozen - but not much cold weather bird movement across Dungeness last few days Merlin and 22 Yellowhammers Littlestone 2 Black-tailed Godwits on beach #KentBirding

A Starling flock at a quarter speed. A small part of c.10,000 Starlings assembling to roost last night at the ARC pit area of Dungeness @rspb.bsky.social #starlings

The Littlestone, Romney Marsh, Kent rainfall total for Dec 2025 was 91mm Compared to Nov total of 101mm The 2025 rainfall total was 867mm Compared to previous years - 2024 - 1161mm 2023 - 1130mm 2022 - 885mm 2021 - 854mm @metjam.co.uk @metoffice.gov.uk

Not many waders on Greatstone Beach late this afternoon as I left Dungeness - except a 4x4 Jeep beautifully stuck in the mud which the tide has already rinsed 🤦😬

A good mix of catching up with a few birds and working at a busy Dungeness Bewick Swans, Bittern and Great-northern Diver - RSPB 2 Goosander, 4 Black-necked Grebes and the Scaup - Scotney 2 Velvet Scoters and a Bonxie on seawatch Firecrest, Black Redstart and Dartford Warbler on Point #KentBirding

The wider Dungeness recording area had 240 bird sp in 2025 Plenty of scarcities/rarities but declining number of migrant birds and breeding species No Sabines Gull, Snow Bunting or Glaucous Gull during the year Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler and Zitting Cisticola the new Dungeness birds #KentBirding

The Nanjizal 2025 summary is now online. The year had the second highest annual ringing total since ringing started 30 years ago @kesteraw.bsky.social nanjizalbirds.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/2...

A review of the more interesting avian happenings on Beachy Head in 2025, a decent year. Thanks to all the birders who've put the time in and shared news this year. #RareBirdsUK beachybirder.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/a...

A seawatch for an hour on Dungeness produced 112 Red-throated Divers and 680 auks East Then the rest of the morning on the Romney Marsh lanes looking through gaps in hedgerows at Bean and White-fronted Geese. Plus Bewick and Whooper Swans 4 Black-necked Grebes and Scaup on Scotney #KentBirding

The two hour Dungeness seawatch with Martin produced 2 Velvet Scoters, 1 Pintail, 3 Shelduck, 222 Red-throated Divers, 2,000 auks with Gannets and Kittiwakes etc all heading East In other news the main Dungeness buoy has drifted a couple of hundred metres west after the NE gales… #KentBirding

2025 summary of my local Striped Shieldbug population: adults seen 25 April-10 Nov, max of 86; nymphs seen 21 July-27 Oct, max 37. Numbers much reduced at Fishers Green, but several good populations now in Waltham Abbey, especially Abbey Gardens and Ninefields. #EssexWildlife #UKBugs

A couple of hours on Boxing Day at a very fresh Dungeness… One 1st winter Caspian Gull, Merlin and Dartford Warbler on Point 2 Bewick Swans at Cockles Bridge 7 White-fronted Geese at Lydd and 3 White-fronted Geese over Scotney plus 2 Black-necked Grebes en route back to office #KentBirding

A mild December day on Dungeness Over 500 Brent Geese heading East through the morning and nearly 500 Red-throated Divers East up to 09.30. Thanks to Martin for clicking Several Firecrests and Chiffchaffs in Trapping Area Dartford Warbler, Merlin and 2 Caspian Gulls on Point #KentBirding

Ringing details back incredibly quickly of the 1st winter Caspian Gull (P;J2D) at Dungeness Ringed as a chick on 31/05/25 at Wojdal Zwrownia Pakosc, Poland Seen once at Ijmuiden, North Holland on 13/11/25 Then Dungeness…. Thanks to John for processing it

Looks like a week of windy and wet weather for Dungeness 🤦 An hour Seawatch produced 1st winter Little Gull, 860 auks, 646 Kittiwakes, 192 Gannets west Then 8 Caspian Gulls amongst gulls on Point while throwing my sarnie out - one of seven 1st winters was yellow colour ringed P.J2D #KentBirding

After many years looking - I found my first live Columbus Crab (Planes minutus) hiding in a pile of Goose Barnacles attached to float/rope washed up at Whitford Point, Gower, South Wales Popped it in a rock pool which will be a shock after drifting across the Atlantic @legolostatsea.bsky.social

A very pleasant days birding in North Gower Penclawdd - 2 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper Whitford Point - 8 (Eight) Great-northern Divers - 5 in front of hide 61 Eider and a single Slavonian Grebe (from hide) Finished at Llanrhidian - Pallid Harrier and 3 Hen Harriers (1male) #BirdingWales

📉 Our new paper shows Bewick’s Swan numbers in NW/NE Europe have fallen to ~12,900 birds - a 56.7% decline since 1995, with further losses predicted by 2026 unless survival or breeding success improves. Flyway-wide conservation is urgent. 🦢 Download paper > tidsskrift.dk/Wildfowl/art... #Ornithology

Visited two of my old birding patches in South Wales from the 1980’s/1990’s The glorious Ogmore Estuary Wintering Common Sandpiper, 7 Goosander, 12 Goldeneye and a Crossbill at Watermill Found a Great-northern Diver on Kenfig Pool this afternoon #WalesBirding

Couldn't resist another viewing of the Swansea Scops Owl this evening. One day I look forward to seeing the park in daylight. @dungenessowen.bsky.social @deanbolt.bsky.social

After dipping 5 times on the Kent Scops Owl last Christmas Pleased to connect with this showy Scops Owl in Swansea this evening - I choose my stunning thermal pic 40 birders present - all well behaved Helps our youngest son’s digs is just down the road and various family dotted around South Wales

How extraordinary it was to see a Eurasian Scops Owl tonight, locally here in Gower, and in December of all months! A fabulous little bird that was hunting in a suburban park. #GowerBirds #ScopsOwl @gowerbirds.bsky.social

Seawatching at Dungeness consisted of an early flurry of hundreds of Kittiwakes, Gannets and auks going west A small number of Red-throated Divers and Fulmars Red-breasted Merganser and the 1st winter Little Gull off Point Plus 3 Black Redstarts - power station and Merlin over boats #KentBirding

The Dungeness wider recording area 2025 total stays on 239 species by the end of the month No new birds for the year were found in November which is unusual for any month - but November ! However, it remains a record breaking year for species recorded across Dungeness #KentBirding

The November rainfall total for Littlestone, Romney Marsh, SE Kent was 101mm A wet (ish) month I guess For comparison October - 79mm September - 134mm

Last day of growing a moustache I did try and I reckon I could have hid a skulking Dusky Warbler in there during the month Every moustache starts a conversation that can save a life Raising awareness about men’s health from mental health and suicide prevention to prostate and testicular cancer

I spent all day around Scotney gravel pit complex on Kent/East Sussex border A 1st winter fem Scaup (with help of Stephen’s scope) on the Sand Pit Four adult Bewick swans behind Pigwell Farm Black-necked Grebe and a colour ringed adult Caspian Gull (which Martin appeared on his bike to sort out)

‘Wednesday Birder Club’ had another day out to change the scenery - and we went to Sandwich, East Kent Weather perfect for a long walk on Princes Beach to see the Shore Lark Then Humes Warbler at The Haven Mixed in with Lizard Orchid rosettes, Grey Partridges and moist Madeira Cake #KentBirding

A fresh morning walk around Dungeness Point Really feels like last knockings of the autumn Sprinkle of Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, 3 Redpoll, 2 Siskin and a Brambling in Trapping Area Hint of some thrushes moving inland Fieldfare, Firecrest, 3 Dartford Warblers and 2 Merlins on Point #KentBirding

The Tuesday Birder Club (Richard, Martin and Colin plus occasional Honorary members) started the winter season with a trip over to Rye Harbour Spotted Redshank - Salts Pool Three Grey Partridge - Parkes Hide Spoonbill - Saltmarsh opp VC Finished with a soft Madeira Cake (kind on our teeth) and tea

Moth trap packed away… 🤦😂