Last updated: 11th May.

11th – 2 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 9 Greylag Geese and 18 Common Scoters flew east at Samphire Hoe, also the Little Grebe there (Mark Kennett). 8 Greylag Geese flew east at Hythe (Ian Roberts).

Yellow-legged Clearwing, Spruce Carpet, Treble-bar and Coleophora albicosta (Gorse Case-bearer) at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Galium Carpet at Hythe (Ian Roberts) were new for the year.

10th – A Black-throated Diver, a Pochard, a Whimbrel, 2 Arctic Skuas and 2 Shoveler flew east past Mill Point (Ian Roberts). A Black Redstart at Folkestone Sunny Sands and a Little Egret in Folkestone Harbour (Steve Wood).

Speckled Yellow and Brown Argus at Folkestone Downs were new for the year (Tony Poole), as were Notocelia trimaculana (Hawthorn Shoot Moth) and Mottled Rustic at Seabrook (Paul Howe).

8th – 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Swallows and 25 House Martins at Samphire Hoe, also 3 Shelduck offshore (Pete Coleman).

6th – A Little Egret at Cheriton (Tony Poole).

Acrocercops brongniardella (Oak Cloud) at Seabrook was new for the year (Paul Howe).

5th – The singing Black Redstart still at Folkestone, at Marine Parade (Steve Wood).

4th – A Cuckoo at Nickolls Quarry and a Red Kite flew over West Hythe (Ian Roberts).

3rd – A Hoopoe between the Abbotscliffe underpass and Great Farthingloe, where a Red Kite flew over (Pete Coleman). 9 Red Kites flew east over Port Lympne (Ian Roberts). A Red Kite flew over Cheriton (Raymond Macavoy). A Whimbrel and 2 Red-throated Divers flew east at Princes Parade (Chris Gillard). A Stone Curlew heard calling over Crete Road this evening (Jonathan Dodds).

A Blossom Underwing and 8 Diamond-back Moths at Seabrook, where Sandy Carpet and Poplar Kitten were new for the year (Paul Howe). Other additions to the moth year list were Cauchas rufimitrella (Meadow Longhorn) at the Aldington Road and Adaina microdactyla (Hemp Agrimony Plume) and Anthophila fabriciana (Nettle-tap) at Donkey Street (Brian Harper) and Paracrania chrysolepidella (Hazel Spring Jewel) at Bargrove Wood (Ian Roberts).

2nd – A Yellow Wagtail and 3 Red Kites flew over Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett). A Red Kite flew over Park Farm (Steve Wood).

Additions to the moth year list included Little Emerald, the Mocha and Green Silver-lines at West Hythe, Light Feathered Rustic at Hythe and Pale-shouldered Cloud at Cheriton (Brian Harper/Ian Roberts).

1st – A singing Wood Warbler at Hougham Court and a Ring Ouzel at Church Hougham (Mark Kennett). A Wheatear and 3 House Martins at Samphire Hoe, where 4 Oystercatchers flew east (Pete Coleman). 5 Swifts over Folkestone (Jenny-Louise Read). A Common Sandpiper at Nickolls Quarry (Ian Roberts).

Additions to the moth year list included the second area record of Pinion-spotted Pug, Tawny-barred Angle, Sallow Kitten, Orange Footman, Lead-coloured Drab and Alder Moth at Seabrook (Paul Howe), Buttoned Snout, Lime Hawk-moth and Cryptic Fern at Cheriton (Brian Harper) and Lobesia reliquana (Wood Marble), Portland Ribbon Wave, May Highflyer and Hoary Footman at Hythe (Ian Roberts).

April

30th – A Red Kite flew over Seabrook (Martin Whybrow/Paul Howe). 2 Red Kites flew over Capel-le-Ferne (Mick Vandoen). A Black-throated Diver, 3 Dunlin, 5 Shelduck and 40 Whimbrel flew east past Samphire Hoe and a Yellow Wagtail arrived in off the sea (Mark Kennett/Ian Roberts).

Additions to the moth year list included Puss Moth at Seabrook (Paul Howe), Treble Lines at Cheriton (Brian Harper) and Grey Pine Carpet at Black Hill, Pedlinge (Ian Roberts).

29th – A Red Kite flew east over Folkestone, also several Swifts there (Dale Gibson). A Red Kite flew over Crete Road West (Ian Roberts). 2 Black Redstarts near the Hotel Burstin in Folkestone (Jenny-Louise Read). 2 Arctic Skuas flew east past Samphire Hoe (Jamie Partridge). A Little Egret flew east at Seabrook (Paul Howe).

Additions to the moth year list included Musotima nitidalis (Marbled Fern), Oak-tree Pug, Peach Blossom, Maiden’s Blush and the Miller at Seabrook (Paul Howe), Dioryctria abietella (Pine Knot-horn) and Lime-speck Pug at Cheriton (Brian Harper), Buff-tip at Hythe and Small Purple-barred at Crete Road West (Ian Roberts).

28th – A Red Kite flew over Crete Road West (Chris Gillard). A Whimbrel and a Siskin flew east at Abbotscliffe and a Yellow Wagtail, a Sand Martin, 2 House Martins and 25 Swallows arrived in off the sea there. A Shelduck and 29 Common Scoter flew east past Samphire Hoe (Mark Kennett). 2 Black Redstarts near the Hotel Burstin in Folkestone (Raymond Macavoy/Steve Wood).

Additions to the moth year list included Red-Green Carpet, Powdered Quaker and Broad-barred White at Cheriton (Brian Harper), Incurvaria masculella (Feathered Cutter), Brown Silver-line and Coxcomb Prominent at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Clay Triple-lines at Folks’ Wood (Ian Roberts).

27th – The first Cuckoo of the year, a Ringed Plover and 3 Tufted Ducks at Nickolls Quarry (Ian Roberts). 3 Swallows arrived in off the sea at Samphire Hoe, where 9 Whimbrel flew east (Martin Collins). The Black Redstart still near the Hotel Burstin in Folkestone (Steve Wood).

The first Adonis Blue of the year at Folkestone Downs (Tony Poole). Maple Prominent, White-point and Dark/Grey Dagger at Seabrook were new for the year (Paul Howe), as was Common Marbled Carpet at Hythe (Ian Roberts).

26th – A Swift at Hythe (Phil Sharp). A Whimbrel and 7 Sandwich Terns flew east at Seabrook (Paul Howe).

Dotted Chestnut and Silver Y at Hythe and Hysterophora maculosana (Small Bluebell Beauty) at Paraker Wood (Ian Roberts) and Peppered Moth at Seabrook (Paul Howe) were new for the year.

25th – A Yellow Wagtail flew over Nickolls Quarry and the singing Black Redstart still at Fisherman’s Beach, Hythe (Ian Roberts). 2 Swifts arrived in off the sea at Copt Point this evening (Dale Gibson).

Iron Prominent at Seabrook (Paul Howe), Poplar Hawk-moth and Acrolepia autumnitella (Speckled Bittersweet Moth) at Hythe and Cydia ulicetana (Common Gorse Moth) at Hythe Ranges (Ian Roberts) were new for the year.

24th – Good numbers of Swallows arrived in off the sea at Hythe (Sean McMinn). 2 Siskins and 4 Swallows flew east at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts).

Turnip Moth at Hythe was new for the year (Ian Roberts).

23rd – 16 Swallows flew east at Seabrook after the rain cleared (Paul Howe). The singing Black Redstart still at Fisherman’s Beach, Hythe (Ian Roberts).

A second Frosted Green of the month at Saltwood (Paul Howe).

22nd – A Ring Ouzel and 2 Wheatears at Samphire Hoe (Phil Smith). A Lesser Whitethroat at West Hythe (Dave Brown).

The first Common Blue of the year at Samphire Hoe (Phil Smith) and the Cinnabar, Tachystola acroxantha (Australian Orange-tip) and Dichrorampha acuminatana (Common Daisy Moth) at Hythe were also new (Ian Roberts).

21st – A singing Black Redstart at Fisherman’s Beach, Hythe (Sean McMinn) and the Black Redstart again by the Hotel Burstin, Folkestone (Steve Wood). A Whimbrel flew east at Seabrook and 2 Swallows arrived in off the sea there (Paul Howe). A Sedge Warbler singing at Abbotscliffe, where 2 Yellow Wagtails arrived in off the sea (Mark Kennett). A Lesser Whitethroat at Lympne Old Airfield (Phil Sharp).

Small White Wave at Lympne Park Wood (Ian Roberts) and Elachista canapennella (Common Grass-miner) and Prays ruficeps (Cryptic Ash Bud Moth) at Seabrook (Paul Howe) were new for the year.

20th – The first two Sedge Warblers of the year at Nickolls Quarry, also a Green Sandpiper and 4 Swallows there. 86 Sandwich Terns flew east at Princes Parade (Ian Roberts). The Black Redstart again by the Hotel Burstin (Steve Wood).

Swallow Prominent at Seabrook (Paul Howe) was new for the year.

19th – 6 Whimbrel flew east at Hythe (Brian Harper / Ian Roberts). The Black Redstart again by the Hotel Burstin (Steve Wood).

Lunar Thorn, Light Brocade and Poplar Grey at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Toadflax Brocade at Cheriton (Brian Harper) were new for the year.

18th – A Black Redstart at Folkestone, by the Hotel Burstin (Steve Wood/Jenny-Louise Read). A Red Kite flew over Cheriton (Brian Harper). A Yellow Wagtail flew over Stanford Lake (Ian Roberts).

Pale Tussock at Cheriton was new for the year (Brian Harper).

17th – A Black Kite flew west at Abbotscliffe, also the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year there (Pete Coleman). 2 Red Kites at Round Hill (Tony Poole). A Black Redstart singing at Hythe Ranges (Ian Roberts). A Whitethroat at Lympne (Phil Sharp). 2 Whitethroats and 2 Swallows at Princes Parade (Martin Whybrow).

The first Small Heaths of the year at Folkestone Downs (Tony Poole) and Walls at Abbotscliffe (Pete Coleman). Cabbage Moth and Psyche casta (Common Bagworm) at Hythe and Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Carnation Tortrix) at Fisherman’s Beach (Ian Roberts) were also new for the year.

16th – A drake Mandarin Duck still on the canal at Hythe (Katharine Roberts).

15th – The first Garden Warbler of the year at Lympne (Phil Sharp). A Willow Warbler and 7 Whitethroats at Samphire Hoe (Pete Coleman). A Black Redstart singing at Fisherman’s Beach, Hythe (Ian Roberts).

Lesser Swallow Prominent and Heart and Dart at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Yellow-barred Brindle, Foxglove Pug, Flame Shoulder and Shuttle-shaped Dart at Hythe (Ian Roberts) were new for the year.

14th – A Wheatear, a Willow Warbler, a Green Woodpecker and 2 Whitethroats at Samphire Hoe (Mark Kennett). The 3 Mandarin Ducks (a duck and 2 drakes) remained on the canal at Hythe, between Stade Street and Twiss Road (Tony Poole).

Pebble Prominent at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Epermenia chaerophyllella (Common Ridge-back) at Cheriton (Brian Harper) were new for the year.

13th – 2 Yellow Wagtails flew in off the sea at Abbotscliffe, also a Willow Warbler, a Corn Bunting and 6 Whitethroats there (Mark Kennett). A Reed Warbler and 2 Whitethroats at Nickolls Quarry and 3 Mandarin Ducks on the canal at Hythe (Ian Roberts). A Whitethroat at Copt Point (Alistair Mackay).

A Painted Lady at Cheriton (Tony Poole). Additions to the moth year list included Caloptilia hemidactylella (Scarce Maple Stilt) at Cheriton (Edward Piper), Purple Thorn at Cheriton (Brian Harper), the Herald and Tawny Shears at Hythe (Ian Roberts) and Chocolate-tip and White Ermine at Seabrook (Paul Howe).

12th – An Egyptian Goose flew over Lympne (Phil Sharp). Whitethroat at Botolph’s Bridge and Reed Warbler at the Willop Sewage Works were new for the year (Brian Harper). 52 Sandwich Terns flew east past Mill Point (Ian Roberts).

Rusty-dot Pearl and Esperia sulphurella (Sulphur Bark Moth) at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Eucosma aspidiscana (Goldenrod Tortrix) at Abbotscliffe (Ian Roberts) were new for the year.

11th – A Hoopoe at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt). An escaped Plum-headed Parakeet in a garden in Folkestone (Stephen McCarthy).

Pale Prominent at Seabrook was new for the year (Paul Howe).

10th – 2 Swallows, 2 Black Redstarts and 3 White Wagtails at Abbotscliffe (Mark Kennett).

Burnet Companion at Folkestone Downs (Tony Poole/Ewan Hamilton) and Least Black Arches and Endrosis sarcitrella (White-shouldered House Moth) at Seabrook (Paul Howe) were new for the year.

9th – A Black Redstart in a garden in Cheriton (Jon Marshall). A Shag, 2 Greylag Geese, 11 Canada Geese, 13 Common Scoter, 16 Mediterranean Gulls, 35 Brent Geese and 231 Sandwich Terns flew east at Samphire Hoe (Mark Kennett).

8th – A Willow Warbler at Seabrook (Paul Howe). 8 Mediterranean Gulls flew east at Samphire Hoe (Pete Coleman).

Frosted Green at Seabrook (Paul Howe) and Green Hairstreak at Samphire Hoe (Phil Smith) were new for the year.

7th – 2 Stone Curlews between Shearins Farm and Paddlesworth at 11:30 before they flew off (Iain Buchanan). A Dunlin, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, 52 Common Scoter, 57 Brent Geese and 114 Sandwich Terns flew east past Samphire Hoe (Mark Kennett).

Dingy Skipper at Folkestone Downs and a Holly Blue at Cheriton were new for the year (Tony Poole).

6th – A Swallow and a Tufted Duck at Nickolls Quarry and a pair of Mandarin Ducks on the canal at Hythe (Ian Roberts). 10 Brent Geese flew east at Seabrook (Paul Howe).

4th – A male Wheatear at Abbotscliffe, where a Swallow flew east and 5 House Martins arrived in off the sea (Mark Kennett), also 8 Siskins flew over (Steve Wood).

3 Blossom Underwings at Seabrook, where Chinese Character and Buff Ermine were also new for the year (Paul Howe).

3rd – The female Pintail, 2 Teal, 5 Tufted Ducks, 9 Canada Geese and 31 Greylag Geese at Cock Ash Lake (Derek Smith). 2 Tawny Owls at the Lower Leas (Jenny-Louise Read). A pair of Mandarin Ducks on the canal at Hythe (Bruce Findlay).

2nd – A female Pintail and 15 Tufted Ducks at Cock Ash Lake, where 6 Swallows flew north-east, and 6 Tufted Ducks at Horton Priory (Derek Smith).

1st – 3 Mandarin Ducks on the canal at Hythe (Peter Holliday).

January to March 2025 sightings have been archived – click on the links for the reviews of bird and lepidoptera sightings in 2025 to date.

For the reviews of sightings in 2024 and earlier years visit the “Annual Reports” section.

This website is maintained by Ian Roberts. For enquiries or to report sightings please contact me at ian_rober@yahoo.co.uk.