Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 1hWhile waiting for a student film shoot to get going the last two mornings on Dungeness 🤦 There has been a couple of tidy sunrises….. 060
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 15hI have just got home and our son Arfon has just said - Did you see the big moth on the fence this morning? I walked past it several times today and I took a pic - shall I send you a pic?! Lorna - Oh I saw that big thing when I walked in ! 🤦 Convolvulus Hawk moth Not there now - obvs #TeamMoth 4560
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Taking the opportunity to start working on a few areas of the drawdown zone in the Long Pits, Dungeness for the scarce Lesser-Water Plantain (Baldellia) with some in flower and in seed The water levels are very low at the moment #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social 012710
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Red-Hemp Nettle on Dungeness NNR suffered with the drought conditions this year However a population in a partial shady scrub patch has responded well to management last winter It also has had a 2nd flush after late summer rain #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social 0503
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Another busy weekend for people on Dungeness NNR Gorgeous weather = plenty of rubbish on the beach as a result of mackerel turning up plus the foxes being naughty Usual vehicle stuck - motorhome this time Two unauthorised photo shoots, a drone incident and plenty of idiots around Keep smiling 😬 1330
Reposted by Owen LeyshonAndy Stockhausen @andy-1963.bsky.social · 01/10/2026SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN! Hillwell, Shetland. Enough said . . . #ukbirding 91119
Reposted by Owen LeyshonPaul Harris @paulupwey.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Shaky hands time this morning when I saw this in the trap. I knew instantly what it was as I've caught them in France. Maize Wainscot (Sesamia nonagrioides). Afaik, 5th for UK and first for Dorset. Also, another Euchromius ocellea, No 7 this year. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social 8986
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 01/10/2026September across the wider Dungeness recording area had 10 new species for the year with the obvious highlight the Brown Booby Western Bonelli’s Warbler, American Golden Plover, Pec Sandpiper, Red-backed Shrike, Grey Phalarope etc The 2026 total is on 237 which surpasses any of the last 7 years 1352
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026While the keen youngsters were over the Dungeness boats seawatching (not counting Martin and Richard) 🤦 - I was in the comfort of the hide on my own playing around with the phone/scope… I give you one of c70 Balearic Shearwaters which went west early 😬 #KentBirding 4270
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026Plenty of rain but with an Easterly wind and it was mild last night it was worth a go with two traps in Littlestone garden, SE Kent Two moths not on my radar a fresh Toadflax Brocade (first in months) and a Blair’s Shoulder Knot….(autumn is racing ahead, usually get them in Oct/Nov) #TeamMoth 0300
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Dialectica scalariella (Echium Stilt) has not just started to spread along the south coast from East Kent in recent years It is gone a few miles up the road from Dungeness to the Littlestone garden as well now! #TeamMoth 0320
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 26/09/2026It’s not even 8am on Saturday at Dungeness - BBC Radio 3 are doing a broadcast from the New Lighthouse I’ve dropped Chris’s Death’s-head Hawk Moth at the Bird Obs for the day Rescued a big daddy Swan on the Dungeness road 🤦 #TeamMoth #KentBirding 1260
Reposted by Owen LeyshonRichard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026This paper is based upon the years of citizen-science data collection by Wiltshire Tree Sparrow legend and @btobirds.bsky.social ringer, Matt Prior. 14914
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026In SW Ireland in August and this Sea Spleenwort was my #FavouritePlant of 2026 which I stumbled across on a stone culvert on Bray Head, Valentia Island Not in a sea cave or on a salt sprayed cliff which made it more unexpected and a wow factor @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social 0143
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Me and Lorna did the usual middle aged couple things this Sunday Went to the rubbish tip and then a wander around a garden centre Before strolling into the Dungeness RSPB reserve to catch up with Neil’s Pectoral Sandpiper this afternoon Then a cup of tea back at the car #KentBirding 1221
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026A wonderful spectacle of the thousands of House Martins gathering on wires and on the Power Station at Dungeness early this morning I reckon 8,000+ #KentBirding 715523
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Briefly stopped at Romney Tavern/Greatstone beach on the dropping tide late pm Smart Curlew Sandpiper, with good numbers and variety of waders, hundreds of terns (2 Black Terns) and gulls Disturbed frequently by dog walkers and an Osprey 🤦 which put everything up as it flew south #KentBirding 1200
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Just over 2hours seawatching from the hide, Dungeness from 07.00 c20 Balearic Shearwaters off Point and feeding c25 Arctic Skuas messing around and hassling the terns 3 Black Terns west Rain arrived at 9am so we left #KentBirding 0160
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 16/09/2026The Dungeness Power Station ‘The Wall’ had eight Hummingbird Hawk moths on it first thing this morning Sunny and a cool mornings are the best conditions to check Soon as it warms up they are off Numbers have been pretty consistent throughout the summer months #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 0403
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 16/09/2026My first Marshmallow moth of the year at Littlestone garden (SE Kent) last night Just about annual in the ‘Marshmallows’ garden #TeamMoth 1241
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026The Western Bonelli’s Warbler was caught, ringed and then released back out in the NE corner of the Trapping Area, Dungeness this morning #KentBirding 0302
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Another mild and cloudy night at Littlestone (SE Kent) garden Too many Large Yellow Underwings but had my highest number of Olive-tree Pearls (vitrealis) of the year (7) Three Vestals as well #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 0361
Reposted by Owen LeyshonDungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 14/09/2026The star bird of the day was a Western Bonelli's Warbler that was seen on and off on the edge of the Long Pits and Trapping Area. The land was busy with 46 Willow Warbler, 105 Chiffchaff, a Sedge, a Reed, 40 Blackcap, two Garden, 12 Lesser Whitethroat, 14 Whitethroat... #kentbirding 1485
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Western Bonelli’s Warbler in the SE corner of bottom Long Pits, Dungeness this morning Others have pics of the warbler - so I have decided on an action shot. All very reserved and polite… #KentBirding 2321
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 14/09/2026My highlight in the Littlestone (SE Kent) garden moth traps last night was my 2nd Ni Moth of the year ‘Moth Plank Sub’ was used for the photoshoot Vestal, Scarce Bordered Straw, Silver Y, 3 Small Mottled Willow the padders #teammoth 0310
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Adult American Golden Plover with 42 Golden Plover in the large stubble field 200m south of the Sand Pit track near Jurys Gap, Camber, East Sussex (TQ995185) Must be last years returning bird - sitting in exactly the same bit of field @sussexornitholo.bsky.social 1493
Reposted by Owen LeyshonDungeness Bird Observatory @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social · 12/09/2026A superb afternoon seawatch didn't have a great deal of birds but it did have excellent quality - the star being a first for Dungeness in the form of an adult Brown Booby! Other goodies included a close juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 15 Black Tern and three Little Gull. #kentbirding 211010
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026I don’t know why I did it but filmed myself running in a short burst over the shingle from the truck to the fishing boats, Dungeness to see the brief Brown Booby 🤦 Like a gazelle….🤣 6401
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 12/09/2026I do think about maybe and what if too much Managed to see the Brown Booby off Dungeness this pm Found by @neilburt.bsky.social had a phone call by @ploddingbirder.bsky.social - it was around for just under 30mins over by the fishing boats - abit of a mad dash from top of the Estate #KentBirding 0353
Reposted by Owen LeyshonPloddingbirder @ploddingbirder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Dungeness: Some highly cropped images of the fantastic Brown Booby, that was brilliantly picked out by @neilburt.bsky.social in among a large distant feeding flock of Gannets this afternoon off the fishing boats. Despite woeful phone signal at Dunge most the of the locals connected thanks to radio. 312411
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Just a heads up A Praying Mantis was found clinging to the curtain inside a house (Romney Marsh, SE Kent) yesterday afternoon The homeowner caught it not knowing what it was and it has been passed on to someone to look after it now… @kentgrasshoppers.bsky.social @kentfieldclub.bsky.social 2300
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026A day off and I thought I would do something different and spend half a day on Dungeness 😉🤦 3 White Storks at Hayfields, RSPB reserve early then high off Point Red-necked Phalarope - Burrowes Plus Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 19 Cattle Egrets Black-necked Grebe - SandPit, Scotney #KentBirding 1310
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 08/09/2026One of those moments - halfway through checking the moth trap and you turn over an eggbox Quickly cover up and unplug the trap and bring it into the actual house to safely pot it😬 Lorna will never know… Passenger - new for the Littlestone garden (SE Kent) #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 101025
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Gone to Folkestone Harbour to do some Gulling I think I need a bigger loaf…. 2270
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Abit late to the party but finally a Musotima nitidalis (Marbled Fern) was new for the Littlestone (SE Kent) garden First found in the UK in Dorset in 2009 it has since done a successful job in spreading across southern Britain Widespread in Kent especially in Bracken dominated landscapes #TeamMoth 0261
Reposted by Owen LeyshonHugh Harrop @hughharrop.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Wow. Watching this EGYPTIAN NIGHTJAR sat outside Roger Riddington’s house at Virkie, Shetland. What a bird! #BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK 115711
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026The rainfall total for August at Littlestone, Romney Marsh, SE Kent was 56mm with the rain falling in the last two weeks of the month This is following on from a desperately dry July with a rainfall total of 1.5mm and multiple heatwaves @metoffice.gov.uk @metjam.co.uk 080
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026A pleasant morning visit to the Long Pits, Dungeness Enjoyed the Wryneck at the top of Long Pits with the Sandwich Bird group on a day out Close views of Grasshopper Warbler, multiple Spotted Flycatchers, Redstart and Pied Fly Short-eared Owl in Desert Wasp Spider and 3 Vestals the extras 1231
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026August across the wider Dungeness recording area had new additions in the form of White-winged Black Tern, Roseate Tern, Wryneck, Osprey, Red-necked Phalarope, Sabines Gull, Sooty Shearwater and Storm Petrel The 2026 total is now on 227 species which is above the 8 year average #KentBirding 0160
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Busy morning on Dungeness across the Point Grasshopper Warbler and two Redstarts, plus 2 Whinchats 50 Whitethroats, 20 Lesser Whitethroats, 30 Willow Warblers and first push of Blackcaps (25) Finished with a Red-backed Shrike just north of the Wigwams (Long Pits) found by Martin #KentBirding 0341
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 31/08/2026A quick lunchtime dash from work - over to what we call the Sand Pit which is part of the Scotney gravel pit complex, East Sussex To enjoy a smart Red-necked Phalarope found by Martin This is the first of the year which is just about annual across Dungeness @sussexornitholo.bsky.social 0311
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 31/08/2026A night of beefy showers rattling through on a brisk wind at Littlestone (SE Kent) Had my first two Vestals of the year in the garden although they have been regular across Dungeness in recent weeks Pearly Underwing, 4 Silver Y’s, 2 noctuella and 3 ferruaglis #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 0381
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 30/08/2026In an image I am trying to encapsulate how dry and parched Dungeness has been this summer and then framing the delight of Autumn Lady’s-tresses shining through At the moment numbers are going to be low - but maybe a late burst in Sep #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social 2494
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026The Littlestone (SE Kent) garden moth traps have been reasonably quiet the last few days in what has been promising conditions Owen’s choice is this Plumed Fanfoot which was on the side of the trap The species has been scarce this summer even though it breeds locally for the last decade #TeamMoth 1320
Reposted by Owen LeyshonHarry Witts @hwitts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Peter Sutton uses the English name Slender Blue-winged Grasshopper. Separation from the “classic” Blue-winged Grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens is by lack of black band on wing, much lower keel on thorax and strongly constricted pronotum, just behind the head. Illustrated perfectly by Joss’s photos 0172
Reposted by Owen LeyshonHarry Witts @hwitts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026The species has expanded in Europe following railway embankments (and hitching a lift on trains?). A similar hot, dry habitat of sand and shingle ridges at Colne Point. There was a railway during wartime, but I think unlikely to have followed a train here! 162
Reposted by Owen LeyshonHarry Witts @hwitts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Thank you also to Peter Sutton for confirming ID. The previous record was just outside Folkestone in 2024 www.inaturalist.org/observations... , right next to the Eurostar tracks. More records could potentially be found in photos taken of “blue winged grasshoppers” in Folkestone last year?inaturalist.orgBlue-winged Sand Grasshopper (Sphingonotus caerulans)Blue-winged Sand Grasshopper from Kent, UK on August 14, 2024 at 11:23 AM by jestodactylus 162
Reposted by Owen LeyshonHarry Witts @hwitts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Very exciting to kick this up at Colne Point, Essex on Saturday, just moments after remarking how I didn’t think I’d recognise a grasshopper new to Britain. Sphingonotus caerulans, the second British, and likely first natural record. Found with @graemelyons.bsky.social and @josscarr.bsky.social 38813
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026I was keeping an eye out for bits and pieces along the tideline while in SW Ireland last week Found two seeds (very light in weight) about 20m apart on storm tideline at Barley Cove, Mizen Head Kept both for reference Any pointers/help or possibilities?! @legolostatsea.bsky.social 140
Owen Leyshon @dungenessowen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Butterfly transects on Dungeness in August in a parched shingle landscape are returning low numbers Small Coppers are looking tatty and worn now with their numbers dwindling This is in comparison to last summer/early autumn when weather was more unsettled and the numbers were high and protracted 0150
