A good weekend in the Herne Bay Downs area with 6 year ticks taking the year list to 78 species. They included 3 Little Gull, 8 Kittiwake, 6 Velvet Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver, Rook and 1 Fulmar. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Northern Lights from Reculver Towers, North Kent, UK last night (20th). A superb display to the eye and camera. I think these are some of my favourite shots taken. #northernlights #aurora

What a few hours. A stunning display of the #northernlights from Bishopstone, North Kent UK. Easily viewable to the eye and even overhead. A wow night!

The Herne Bay Downs year list moves on to 60 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com/?m=0. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Northern Lights from last night (10th Jan) at Bishopstone, North Kent. #Aurora #northernlights

@britishdragonflies.bsky.social ##Teamdragonfly @smallshire.bsky.social

Nice to see plenty of Willow Emerald Damselfly gall marks on the trees now the leaves have dropped. A good time of year to get checking likely areas. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

Final session of 2025 and a few birds to be seen on a light NW wind: 347 Brent Geese, 1 Woodcock west at sea, 2 Marsh Harrier west at sea and 303 Red throated Diver east. Wishing you all a Happy New Year. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

A year birding the Herne Bay Downs area. A review @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #UKbirding

@britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

1 of 2 Black Redstart seen today along the Herne Bay Downs patch. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Highlight this morning on the Herne Bay Downs patch were 2 Black Redstart that were on the seawall behind the Neptune car park before flying up together on to the Angling Association building. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Sandwich Tern from today at Herne Bay Downs. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

Male Red veined Darter and male Scarce Chaser from 2025. View some of my favourite shots from the year @ marcheath.blogspot.com. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

An early Christmas present. Northern Lights from Bishopstone, North Kent, England last night @ 19:00. #auroraborealis #Northernlights

Southern Migrant Hawker emerging from a few years ago at night. A few months planning went into these shots and all came together on a calm evening. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

Mature and teneral male Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly and a mating pair from @ Sandwich Bay, Kent this year. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

Highlights this morning in the Herne Bay Downs/Bishopstone area included 2 Firecrest, 2 Raven west and 1 Mistle Thrush briefly singing before flying west (#161 and a patch ✔️). @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A few Southern Emerald Damselfly seen at Cliffe Marshes, North Kent in early July. Nationally scarce and a stunner to study and photograph. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

An Emperor Dragonfly emerging at night back in 2020. Always an amazing experience to witness first hand. A miracle unfolds. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

It was pleasing back in June to catch up with a couple of male Red veined Darters @ Sandwich Bay. Such a smart Dragonfly and a nice contrast in colour against the sand. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

I am leading a course next year on behalf of Kent Wildlife Trust 'An introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies'. See below for further details. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/intro...

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly had a good year @ Sandwich Bay with double figures being seen. Hopefully with the right habitat, they can continue to establish themselves. A single seen in West Kent was intriguing. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

With colder temperatures here now, I expect my season is over. The Dainty Damselfly had another pleasing season and continues to do well at a few sites. A few to look back on in warmer weather. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

Excellent seawatching session off Herne Bay Downs this morning. Highlights included 1 Little Auk, 1196 Brent Geese, 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua, 70 Little Gull, 48 Kittiwake, 5 Eider and 2 Great Northern Diver. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

A few highlights from Herne Bay Downs before thick fog moved in included 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Firecrest, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Razorbill, 1 Arctic Skua, 7 Little Gull 17 Kittiwake and 3 Sandwich Tern. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

2 year ticks this morning on Herne Bay Downs with a Woodcock at dawn and 2 Reed Bunting west (158 species for the year). Also 3 Brambling, 753 Chaffinch west, 19 Grey Partridge, 3 Firecrest and 1 Great Northern Diver offshore. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

The latest BDS Journal is available online, where you can also access previous issues 👉 british-dragonflies.org.uk/bds-journal/

A superb Arctic Tern from Herne Bay Downs this morning. Probably my best ever views of this species. hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Another morning on Herne Bay Downs dominated by sheltering from the heavy rain at times. Highlight being this Arctic Tern which landed on the beach for a while. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Thanks to the early alarm system of @tankertonbirder.bsky.social , I was able to add 4 Velvet Scoter to the year list (#156) off Herne Bay Downs. Also 3 Arctic Tern east. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

When is this available Richard? I must have a Lewington guide with your superb drawings.

A patch ✔️ female SCAUP west this morning past Herne Bay Downs takes the year list to 155 species. Thankfully @tankertonbirder.bsky.social managed a few shots as it flew by Swalecliffe. Also 1 Great Northern Diver and 31 Golden Plover. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Tankerton. Record shots of the female Scaup that flew west also a Great Northern Diver west. Thanks @marcheath.bsky.social for he early warning system for Herne bay downs. @kentishplover.bsky.social #Kentbirding #UKbirding

Arctic Tern from Herne Bay Downs today. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

3 year ticks from a seawatch off Herne Bay Downs today: 1 Knot, 6 Tufted Duck and 3 Red breasted Merganser take the year list to 154 species. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A Wheatear from Herne Bay Downs this morning. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent morning in the Herne Bay Downs area. 4 Brambling heard (150sp for the year) 494 Brent, 1 Pintail, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Ring Ouzel, 6 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Fieldfare. Despite a good search in the Glen, no YBW. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Highlight this morning seawatching off Herne Bay Downs was a quite distant GLOSSY IBIS flying west in with c40 Brent Geese, (149 species for the year). Also, 434 Brent Geese, 3 Pintail, 1 Pom Skua, 1 Bonxie and 74 Wigeon. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

An hour or so watching over Chislet Marshes this evening produced 2 Short eared Owl flying in high from the NE being mobbed, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 1 ring tail Hen Harrier towards Grove, 4 Stonechat and 9 Corn Bunting. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Sandwich Tern, Shag and Wheatear from Herne Bay Downs this morning. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

Herne Bay Downs highlights this morning included 15 Crossbill West, 1 Shag, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Pomarine Skua and 1 Wheatear. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

An excellent couple of mornings in the Herne Bay Downs and Bishopstone area. A patch tick Long eared Owl seen this morning and a Tawny Owl heard. No sight or sound of any Yellow browed Warblers yet in the Glen. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A 2025 highlight. Female form 'aurantiaca' Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. NEW photos and exciting Blog stats @ marcheath.blogspot.com. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

A good weekend seawatching off Herne Bay Downs (3 year ticks) takes the year list to 144 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent seawatching session off Herne Bay Downs this morning. Highlights included 10 Little Gull, 2 Little Tern, 5 Manx Shearwater and 59 Arctic Skua all west. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Had to seawatch from the shelter once the thunder and rain moved in at Herne Bay Downs. Highlights included 22 Little Tern feeding offshore, 1 Arctic Skua, 111 Swallow in off, 1 Hobby in off and 1 Shag west. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

On probably the last hot (25'C), calm & sunny day of the year, 2♂️Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies on territory at Sandwich Bay beating last year's final sighting on 3rd Sept. Amazing how such fragile creatures have survived the recent storms & cool evenings. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #KentNature

Red throated Diver from Herne Bay Downs Saturday. NEW photos @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A perched Short eared Owl at dawn at Bishopstone takes the Herne Bay Downs year list to 141 species. Also, 2 Shag west and 1 Grey Partridge heard. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding