NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

The morning of May 20th was warm, bright and sunny at Dungeness. At approximately 09.00hrs a dark band of cloud appeared on the south-western horizon and slowly, but surely, crept towards us. The light quickly faded, and the arriving cloud was dramatic enough to stop a few of us in our tracks to stare skyward. It was not just a case of the threatening nature of what we were observing, neither the accompanying thunder and lightening, but the strange cloud formation. This formation is called mammatus (after mammary, or breast). It is suggested that the circular shapes are caused by pockets of cold air puffing downwards. They are associated with thunderstorms, as we could easily confirm. It was a magical 15 minutes as the clouds passed overhead, a visitation from another world. At times I looked across at some nearby birders, who took not a blind bit of notice - you see, what was above them didn't have feathers... their loss. A couple of evenings later we were treated t...

This Death's-head Hawk-moth was found at rest on the outside wall of one of the beach dwellings at Dungeness. It was the second that I have seen there. It posed perfectly for photographers, and was released unharmed to carry on its nocturnal foraging - a shame that all such moths do not get to do so... I was more than chuffed when Bob Arnfield appeared one morning to show us this Purple Cloud, trapped at the Dungeness Long Pits. Only the c30th for the UK and a species that I have long dreamed of seeing. Rest Harrow has only recently been found to breed at Dungeness. Known up the coast at Kingsdown and Sandwich Bay (where I have previously seen them), this species does, on the rare occasion, turn up elsewhere.

It would be false of me to suggest that a visit to Dungeness is not about rare and scarce birds. Although they are not a prerequisite in delivering a successful stay, they do help! Thankfully the rare and scarce birds did come, and I was lucky enough to see them all. Two Bee-eaters (including one circling just feet above Mark H and me), a Serin, a Black Kite, a Honey-buzzard, an adult male Rose-coloured Starling and two Black-winged Stilts -  a tidy return for 14 day's worth of birding in the same place, and on top of that other highlights included Sooty Shearwater, Great White Egret (2), Garganey, Velvet Scoter, Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Peregrine, Avocet, Curlew Sandpiper, Mediterranean Gull, Iceland Gull, Turtle Dove, Barn Owl, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Raven and Corn Bunting. 120 species were recorded, without the need to break into a sweat. Black-winged Stilt, most probably a male, at the Midrips Black-winged Stilt, a likely fema...

A fortnight at Dungeness will inevitably throw up a number of highlights and provide plenty of photographic opportunity, even for those of us with a modest bridge camera. So please excuse me as I milk my 'Dunge time' to produce a number of posts - some will be of rarity, others not so much - but each one will hopefully illustrate what a wonderful place Dungeness is, and the wealth of wildlife that can be seen there. First up is the Mediterranean Gull. Most days would produce them, usually the first sign being their distinctive call as they floated by overhead. The Firth hide on the RSPB reserve was a good place to observe them at close quarters, although they would stay for a just brief period, time for a quick wash and preen before heading off. Is there a finer sight than an adult Mediterranean Gull? Yes - two of them! They would often come down to bathe with Black-headed Gulls just outside the hide This second-summer (or third calendar year bird if you prefe...

Just a quick post - back home now after yet another day of quality, with a further Bee-eater and two Black-winged Stilts. I also had a very lucky escape.... After I have sorted through several hundred images I'll write more about my tremendous fortnight at Dungeness. Never a dull moment, fantastic people and more treasured memories. I'll be back there soon.

Two consecutive days, two notable birds. It has become a Dungeness mantra that, this late in the spring, each birding day will be about that one solitary highlight - and so it has been. Yesterday it was Martin C's Honey-buzzard that took the plaudits. Today, with due respects to that raptor, it fell to a far more exotic bird to take centre stage - an exquisite adult male Rose-coloured Starling, all pale salmon pinks, shaggy crest and pink-tipped bill. After giving us the run-a-round for most of the afternoon it decided to show well this evening, near Hooker's Pit on the RSPB reserve. A truly stunning individual. And there was another rarity at Dungeness today - a genuinely hot and sunny day without a breath of wind... scorchio!!

The weather for the next three days here at Dungeness looks very promising indeed for the appearance of an overshoot - whether that be a bird or a moth - I may have to stay until Friday evening! The observatory MV has been switched on each night, but the number of migrants recorded has been low. The instances of 'nearby' successes has been frustrating, but they are also fuel for optimism. This morning the trap was once again disappointing, but when south-London lepidopterist Bod Arnfield dropped in with a Purple Cloud, all that was forgotten. He had been trapping at the northern end of the recording area. Photos will follow in a few days time. My past two May DBO visits have coincided with a Dusky Hook-tip and Ni Moth, so this continues a most satisfying run. So, a final push before I return home (most probably on Friday). If I were being greedy I'd like a Red-footed Falcon or an Alpine Swift please. Either would do... or both. I'm not fussy.