Richard Watkins LRPS

Black Redstart

This morning at Dungeness, and finally my first Black Redstart of the year, a stunning male (wearing bling) on the Power Station Wall.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Great Black Backed Gull J53YY

RSPB Dungeness, Dengemarsh Hide 05.03.26 - Great Black Backed Gull “J53YY” ringed as Pullus on 03.07.25 at Graesholm, Kyst, Hirsholmene, Nordjylland, Denmark.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirds
#ukbirding
#gulls

Red Chestnut

Satellite

Common Quaker

Small Quaker

Lydd on Sea VC15, another chilly night by the sea, which gave 15 of 6sp.

However, there were 4 NFY’s, Red Chestnut, Satellite, Common Quaker & Small Quaker.

#Teammoth
#Mothsmatter

Large Tortoiseshell

Large Tortoiseshell

Large Tortoiseshell

The Wednesday Club & Jacob escaped the fog at Dungeness, with a trip to Orlestone Forest.

The main focus was Large Tortoiseshell, of which at least two were seen.

Also good views of Goshawk & Crossbill were had. Well done to Owen for the cake & Martin for driving.

#butterflies
#kentbutterflies

Great Black Backed Gull “J28HP”

RSPB Dungeness, from Dengemarsh Hide 26.2.26 - Great Black Backed Gull “J28HP” - rung on 27.6.25 as Pullus, at Buroyna, Innarsoyane, Fedje, Hordaland, Norway. The first record since being rung at the nest.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#gulls

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

One of the highlights from today’s Wednesday Away Day from Dungeness, at Rye Harbour, a Dartford Warbler, proving difficult to photograph as it moved around deep in a Bramble Bush.
#birds
#birding
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding

Clouded Drab

Lydd on Sea VC15, a lack of cloud cover last night and slight dip in the temperature, resulted in 10 of 5sp.

This Clouded Drab was the best, also NFY were 4 Common Plume.

#Teammoth
#Mothsmatter
#Moths

Hebrew Character

Lydd on Sea VC15, a slow start to the year, last night was 3 of 2sp.

1 Early Grey & 2 Hebrew Character, here’s one of the HC’s.

#Teammoth
#Mothsmatter
#Moths

Black-headed Gull TJVV

This afternoon at the Fishing Boats at Dungeness, the now regular German rung Black-headed Gull TJVV, which came to the bread as soon as it was thrown.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#gulls

Early Grey

Lydd on Sea VC15, the mildish over night weather continues here by the sea, last night’s only moth was this Early Grey.
#Teammoth
#Mothsmatter

Lesser Black Backed Gull H571

RSPB Dungeness, from Dengemarsh Hide 30.1.26 - Lesser Black Backed Gull H571, rung 01.07.2007 as Pullus at Norddorf auf Amrum, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, last reported in Holland in 2023. Wears its 18 1/2 years well.

#gulls
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

I’m probably silly enough run for the next 4 or 5 nights, after that the temperature looks as if it will drop.

Double-striped Pug

Lydd on Sea VC15, I gave in last night and ran 1 Actinic trap in mild wet & windy conditions - thankfully this Double-Striped Pug was clinging to conservatory wall above the trap.

#Teammoth
#Mothsmatter

Goldcrest

RSPB Dungeness, a Goldcrest, in this morning’s sunshine at Dengemarsh.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

American Wigeon

The American Wigeon at RSPB Dungeness late this morning, after it left Scotney, and was found again by Ray O’Reilly from Hanson Hide, not often a life ticket comes along.

#Birds
#Birding
#Kentbirding
#Ukbirding

Fallow Deer

Orlestone Forest this morning, an off the Marsh excursion, 3 Fallow Deer - also many woodland birds, a highlight being a flock of 12 Crossbills.

Goldeneye

RSPB Dungeness 28.1.26, a Drake Goldeneye, on Burrowes, taken from Firth VP.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Caspian Gull KY3R

RSPB Dungeness 25.1.26, from Dengemarsh Hide, Caspian Gull “KY3R - rung as Pullus on 16.5.25 at the Gatovo Roof Colony, Minsk, Belarus.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#gulls

Kestrel

RSPB Dungeness late this morning, a Kestrel hovering over the path from ARC Carpark to Hanson Hide.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Can remember having this card set when I was a lot younger than now, but instantly knew what it was from.

Grey Seal

From the Fishing Boats at Dungeness this afternoon, one of possibly 8 or 9 Grey Seal just offshore.

#seal
#kentmammals
#ukwildlife
#ukmammals

Oystercatcher’s, Bar-tailed Godwit’s & Knot’s.

Oystercatcher’s

Knot & Grey Plovers

Knot & Grey Plover

The last of the pictures from Tuesdays walk up the beach, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover and Knot.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Sanderling

Another wader from yesterday on Littlestone Beach, this time a Sanderling working its way through the line of shells in front of the rising tide.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Bar Tailed Godwit

From yesterday’s morning walk up the beach to Littlestone on a rising tide, one of a number of Bar Tailed Godwit’s present amongst a decent number of waders.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Pintail

Pintail

RSPB Dungeness this afternoon, this time from Dengemarsh Hide, the Drake Pintail which provided the afternoon’s photographic opportunity.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Jack Snipe

Common Snipe

RSPB Dungeness today, today was a Snipe Day…. First a Jack Snipe at ARC, with Martin & Owen , with the aid their thermal imagers, then 4 Snipe from Dengemarsh Hide.
#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Pochard

RSPB Dungeness from Hanson Hide, this afternoon, a Drake Pochard feeding in front of the hide, thankfully in some decent light today.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Herring Gull “NJH”

RSPB Dungeness, from Dengemarsh Hide on 11.01.26, Herring Gull “NJH” rung as Pullus on 07.08.25 at Pett Level, East Sussex, England.

Part of a scheme to rehabilitate & ring abandoned young gulls around the Uk.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#gulls

Great Black Backed Gull “J31YT”

RSPB Dungeness from Dennis’s Hide on 05.01.26, Great Black Backed Gull “J31YT”, rung as Pullus on 21.06.25, at Graesholm, Svendborg, Syddanmark, Denmark.

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
#gulls

Eurasian Teal

RSPB Dungeness on a chilly windy overcast day, from Hanson Hide, a Drake Teal made a close approach to the hide, resulting in one of the day’s few and far between photographic opportunities….

#birds
#birding
#kentbirding
#ukbirding