Species

Status/Summary

Records

Red-throated Diver

Irregular winter visitor. Has occurred in at least 16 years since 1976 with at least 28 birds

One Westbere, 21st to 29th Feb 76

3 Westbere, 17th Feb 79

2 Stodmarsh, 12th Dec 1981

One Stodmarsh, 28th Dec 1981

3 Westbere, Jan 1982

One Fordwich, Feb 1983

One Fordwich, 30th Mar 1984

One Stodmarsh, 9th Dec 1984

One Stodmarsh, Jan 1985

One Westbere, Jan 1986

One Stodmarsh, 27th -28th Dec 1986

One Stodmarsh, 2nd Jan 1989

One Stodmarsh, 8th -9th Feb 1989

One Stodmarsh, 27th Jan 1990

One Stodmarsh, 2nd Feb 1992

One Westbere 11th Mar 95

One Stodmarsh 22nd Mar 96

One Stodmarsh 5th, 22nd Jan, 5th-9th Feb1997

One Stodmarsh, 11th to 20th April 1997

One Stodmarsh, 7th Jan 2001

One Collard's 25th Jan 2003

Black- throated Diver

Scare winter visitor. Five records all but one at Westbere, but not recorded since 1986

One Westbere, 29th Jan to 5th Feb 72

One Westbere 12th -19th Jan 1982

One Westbere, 5th -18th 1984

One Westbere, 23rd Nov 1985

One Stodmarsh, 23rd Feb 1986

Great Northern Diver

Very rare winter visitor. One record at Westbere in 1975

One Westbere, 1st to 23rd Dec 75

[One reported on River Stour 28th Dec 1996]

Little Grebe

Resident, breeding in small numbers. Can be very inconspicuous.

16 Westbere 16th Nov 1988

Three pairs bred Stodmarsh, 1989

32 in middle Stour Dec 1989

Three pairs bred Grove in 2000

Great Crested Grebe

Resident breeder. Most numerous on Fordwich and Westbere lakes. Nine pairs bred Stodmarsh NNR in 1990.

Five pairs bred Stodmarsh 1989

Red-necked Grebe

Irregular winter visitor. About 22 records involving at least 31 birds. Nine were present at Westbere during very harsh weather in February 1979. Has occurred in 14 of the last 25 years but there has been only one record since since 1999

One Stodmarsh 8th Mar 1956

One Fordwich 27th Dec 1960

One Stodmarsh 1st Nov 1966

One Stodmarsh 29th Oct -25th Nov 1967

One Stodmarsh 24th Oct 1970

One Westbere 21st Nov 1973

One Westbere 29th Dec 1973

Nine Westbere/Fordwich Feb 1979

2 Stodmarsh, Nov 1981

One Stodmarsh, 7th Jan 1984

One Stodmarsh, 11th -26th Dec 1984

One Grove, 17th Jan -2nd Feb 1985

One Stodmarsh, 7th -8th Jan 1987

One Westbere, 9th Aug 1987

Singles Stodmarsh, Jan &  Mar 89

One Stodmarsh, Jan 1990

One Stodmarsh  28th -31st Dec 1992

One Stodmarsh 29th Mar 1994

One Westbere 11th Mar -3rd Apr 1995

One Stodmarsh 9th -10th Mar 1996

One Stodmarsh, 20th Nov 1996

One Stodmarsh. 15th Jan 1999

One Collard's14th/15th Jan 2006

Slavonian Grebe

Scare winter visitor. Has occurred in only six years since 1976, including four at Westbere in Feb 1979

One Westbere Feb/Mar 1977

Four Westbere 1979

One Stodmarsh, 10th Feb 1982

One Stodmarsh, 30th Jan 1987

Singles Stodmarsh, Feb and Mar 1996

One Stodmarsh 14th Jan 2006

Black-necked Grebe

Scare winter visitor and passage migrant.

One Stodmarsh Feb 1976

One Westbere, 27th Jan 1979

One Stodmarsh 17th Jan 89

One Stodmarsh 6th Apr 1991

One Stodmarsh 7th May 94

One Stodmarsh 26th Nov 1994

2 Stodmarsh 11th Nov 97

5 Stodmarsh 14th Mar 99

One Collard's 28th Mar 2005

One Collard's14th Jan- 19th Feb 2006

One Collard's2nd April 2006

Fulmar

Rare visitor with two summer records from Stodmarsh

One Stodmarsh 29th August 1969

One Stodmarsh 1st June 1979

Storm Petrel

Rare visitor, one record

One Stodmarsh. 7th Jan 1967

Gannet

Rare visitor, one record

Juv, Stodmarsh, 2nd Nov 1986

Cormorant

Resident. 5 pairs bred at Stodmarsh in 1947, then bred at Collard's Lake since at least 1990. Breeding numbers have steadily increased with 97 pairs in 2001. Winter roosts at Stodmarsh and Collard's exceed 200 birds.

Shag

Rare visitor, three records

One Westbere 2nd May  1964

Two Westbere, 5th Feb 1984

One Stodmarsh 19th Jan 1992

Bittern

Regular winter resident with occasional summer records. Most records are from Stodmarsh and Grove Ferry but birds are occasionally seen at Westbere and Collard’s, especially in cold weather. Wintering numbers have increased in recent years and between 3 and 7 usually winter. Formerly bred with 10 pairs in 1962. Last confirmed breeding record in 1969 although there have been records of booming males in a number of subsequent years. A feature of recent years has been gatherings of birds at dusk from late February and through March. Peak counts are usually in mid March and have increased from 8 in 2002, 12 in 2003 and a staggering 16 in 2004.

March gatherings, 5 12th Mar 2000,

8 27th Mar 1999

16, Stodmarsh 13th Mar 2004

8, Stodmarsh, 10th Mar 2005

Stodmarsh 7 in Jan 97

Little Bittern

Formerly a scare visitor with nine records up to 1976 but only one record since, in June 1999

Stodmarsh 27th May 1962

Stodmarsh 23 rd July 23rd July 1966

Stodmarsh, 11th June 1969

Westbere. 2nd May 1971

Westbere 6th May 1973 (2)

Stodmarsh, 25th -27th May 1975

Male, Stodmarsh, 1st to 6th June 1999

Night Heron

Rare summer visitor. Three records

One Stodmarsh 18th-19th June 1968

One Stodmarsh 23rd Jul to 23rd Sept 1969

One Stodmarsh/Westbere 18th August 1987

Cattle Egret

Rare visitor. The May 1992 record was the first for Kent record. One Stodmarsh 15th May 1995

One Stodmarsh May 1992

One Stodmarsh 15th May 1995

One Grove Ferry 23rd July 2006, same 30th July -7th Aug & Stodmarsh 6th Aug

Little Egret

Increasingly regular visitor almost resident. First recorded in 9th May 1971. In recent years, regular at Grove with over 20 in late summer. A regular winter roost was beginning to be established at Stodmarsh (27 on 23rd Jan 2002) but in 2003/4 a majority of birds seem to roost at Seaton and only single birds occasionally roost at Stodmarsh

21 Grove Ferry 2nd Aug 2004

Great White Egret

Rare visitor, six records

One Stodmarsh 5th Mar 1977

One Stodmarsh, 23rd Aug to 14th Oct 1990

One Grove Ferry 3rd Jan 2005

One Grove Ferry 20th Oct 2005

One Grove Ferry 9th July 2006

One Grove Ferry 28th Aug 2006

(Others reported in 1994 and 1997)

Grey Heron

Common resident. A small breeding colony exists between Fordwich and Stodmarsh. In 2003 there were around 12 occupied nests

Purple Heron

Irregular visitor mostly in spring. 20 records up until 2001.

10 records up to 1976

One Stodmarsh, 27th April 1968

One Grove Ferry, 4th May 1969

One Stodmarsh 24th -31st May 1970

One Stodmarsh, 25th April-19th May 1971

One Stodmarsh 1st June 1972

One Stodmarsh 29th April 1973

2 Stodmarsh, 19th May 1974

One Stodmarsh, 30th May 1976

One Fordwich, 1st June 1977

One Fordwich, 25th May 1978

One Stodmarsh, 29th -30th June 1978

One Westbere, 19th -20th May 1979, same Stodmarsh 22nd May

Singles Stodmarsh, 18th May, 26th May, 25th Jun, 10th Jul 1980

One Fordwich, 18th -28th April 1981

One Stodmarsh, 30th Oct 1982

One Stodmarsh, 22nd-26th April 1983

One Westbere/Stodmarsh, 31st May-1st June 1986

One Stodmarsh, 20th April 1987

One Westbere, 7th -12th May 1990

One Grove Ferry 21st July 1990

One Stodmarsh 31st May-4th June 1991

One Stodmarsh, 22nd April 1996

One Stodmarsh 15th May 1999

One Grove Ferry, 30th July- 11th Aug 1999

One Grove Ferry 1st Sept 1999

Black Stork

Very rare visitor. One over Grove Ferry 18th Sept 2004. Other unsubstantiated reports in 1995 and 2001

One Grove Ferry, 18th Sept 2004

[one reported Stodmarsh 6th Sept 1995]

White Stork

Scare visitor with some records likely to refer to escaped birds that lingered in East Kent for a time

2 , together May 1960 but other pre 1976 records unclear

Singles in April and June 1976

Singles 1985, 1988, 1996 and 1998

Several sightings of birds in March, June and Oct 2004

One Grove Ferry 28th April 2005

One Grove Fery 22nd May 2005

Glossy Ibis

One from 14th Dec 1975 was joined by another on 28th Oct 1979. One remained until 3rd Feb 1985 and the other till 30th Jan 1993. These birds were most easily seen flying over the Lampen Wall to roost. They ranged quite widely during the summer, spending much time on Sheppey.

One from 14th Dec 1975

One from 28th Oct 1979

till 3rd Feb 1985 and 30th Jan 1993

Spoonbill

Irregular visitor until 1989 but since the restoration of Grove Ferry now a regular visitor with sevreal records most years. Largest Counts have involved flocks of 5 birds in June 1996 and July 2002. At least six individuals occurred in 2004. There is an unsubstantiated report of nine in June 1996

Grove Ferry, 26th Dec1962

Stodmarsh, May/June 1977

3 Stodmarsh, June 1976

Stodmarsh, Dec 1978

One Stodmarsh, 28th May 1980

One Stodmarsh, 30th Sept 1989

2 Stodmarsh 20th July 1991

One Stodmarsh, 11th May 1992

One Stodmarsh, 6th June 1993

One Stodmarsh, 26th Jul 1995

One Stodmarsh, 10th Mar 1996

One Stodmarsh 27th April 1996

5 Stodmarsh 15th June 1996

4 Stodmarsh, 24th July 1996

One Stodmarsh, 12th Mar 1997

One Stodmarsh, 1st Jul 1997

1-2 Grove Ferry, 5th June to 29th July 1999, 3, 23rd to 29th July 1999

Up to 3 Grove Ferry, 22nd June to 12th Jul 2000

One Grove Ferry April 2001

5 Grove Ferry 23rd Jul 2002

One Grove Ferry 28th June 2003

Singles Grove Ferry, 19th/20th Mar, 24th April, 19th/20th June, 17th /18th July 2004

2 Grove Ferry 15th Aug 2004

One Grove/Stodmarsh, 16th –20th Mar 2005

Mute Swan

Resident. A large summering flock on Collard's and Hersden lakes numbers up to 430 birds. Small numbers breed throughout the valley

Max 436 Aug July 2002

Bewick's Swan

Irregular winter visitor. During the 1990's used to regularly roost at Stodmarsh. In recent winters a few have roosted at Grove Ferry spending the day on the Ash levels

Whooper Swan

Scarce winter visitor

23 Stodmarsh Jan 1956

25 Stodmarsh, Jan-mar 1963

One, Stodmarsh 2nd Jan 1970

17 Stodmarsh, 4th Jan 1970

7 grove Ferry, 4th Jan 1970

13 Stodmarsh, 1st Jan 1971

5 Grove Ferry 20th Feb 1971

2 Stodmarsh, 28th Nov 1972

2 Westbere, 6th Jan 1979

9  Grove Ferry, 27th Jan – 3rd Mar 1985 (13 on 3rd Feb)

5 Grove 4th Jan 1986

One Stodmarsh 20th Feb 1986

5 Stodmarsh, 11th Jan 1987

16 Stodmarsh, 18th Jan -7th Feb 1987

2 Stodmarsh, 19th Jan 1991

One Stodmarsh 17th Feb 1991

One 1st Jan 1996

3 Stodmarsh 30th Dec 1998

3 Stodmarsh 12th Dec 2001

2 Grove Ferry 4th Dec 2005 & 2nd Jan 2006

Bean Goose

Scare and irregular visitor

2 Stodmarsh 20th Mar 1977

 Grove, Feb 1979

9 Grove Ferry 4th -10th Feb 1979

2 Grove Ferry 22nd Dec 1979

38 Grove, 26th -28th Dec 1981

One Stodmarsh, Dec 1983 -18th Mar 1984

9 Stodmarsh, 23rd-25th Jan 1986

10 Grove Ferry 29th Jan-Mar 4th 1992

11 Grove, 30th -31st Dec 1992

3 Grove, 31st Dec 1996

One Stodmarsh 7th & 12th April 2002

One Grove Ferry, 10th April 2004

2 Grove Ferry 4th Feb 2006, 3 on 6th Feb

Pink-footed Goose

Scare and irregular visitor.

16 at Grove in Jan 2004 included a neck collared individual. 3 were present in the valley Feb/March 2004

A feral bird was regularly seen during 2001/2

White-fronted Goose

Regular winter visitor. Flocks have winter in the valley in the past but most records in recent years have been of passage birds or occasionally birds mixed in with the resident Greylag flocks

230 Stodmarsh, 28th Jan 1979

128 Stodmarsh, Jan 1994

Greylag Goose

Common resident with up to 600 birds in the vicinity in 2003. Several pairs breed annually at Grove Ferry

Snow Goose

Blue phase, Stodmarsh, 27th Jan to 3rd Feb 1979

Canada Goose

Regular visitor but numbers much smaller that Grey Lags. Seen through out the valley but the water meadows at Westbere are the most regular spot. First bred in valley in 1971

119 Stodmarsh, Sept 2002

Barnacle Goose

Many records of presumed feral or escaped birds including one semi resident with the grey lag flock from 2003 until Jan 2005 at least

45 over Stodmarsh on 29th Jan 1992 may refer to wild birds

Brent Goose

Scare visitor, Most records relate to flocks migrating overland in October and November. This is a well established pattern elsewhere in Kent. One at Grove Ferry in 2004 wintered with the Greylag flock at Seaton

16 Stodmarsh, 28th Dec 1987

90 over Stodmarsh, 8th Oct 1989

45 over Stodmarsh, 4th Nov 1991

30 Stodmarsh, 20th Nov 1991

One Grove Ferry, 5th Dec 2004

Red-breasted Goose

Rare visitor, one record. Westbere, 21st to 23rd Oct 1977. Believed to be same bird seen in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire earlier in month. Originally accepted by BBRC but subsequently review by KOS and determined to be unacceptable.

Westbere, 21st to 23rd Oct 1977

Egyptian Goose

Scarce  visitor

4 Stodmarsh, 2nd Aug 1974

2 Stodmarsh, 26th April 1975

One Westbere, 24th Oct-31st Dec 1978

One Stodmarsh 4th April 1989

One seen on several occasions Grove Ferry Mar/April 2001

One Grove Ferry Intermittently Jan-April 2002

One Stodmarsh 10th April 2004

One Collard’s Lake 29th Jan to 6th Feb 2005, at least

Shelduck

Probable resident and occasional breeder

Mandarin

Rare visitor. Four records.

Stodmarsh 3rd June and 22nd October 1978

One Stodmarsh, 31st July 1990

Drake Westbere Dec 1991

Drake Stodmarsh May 2004

Wigeon

Common winter visitor with largest numbers at Collard’s Lake where numbers are frequently in excess of 1,000. Single birds or pairs occasionally remain during the summer

American Wigeon

Rare visitor. One record in 1977

One Stodmarsh 23rd May to June 1977

Gadwall

Common resident. First Bred in 1966. Max count 360 Oct 2002

360 Stodmarsh Oct 2002

Teal

Resident with very large numbers in winter. Winter numbers in the valley probably exceed 2,000. Small numbers breed between Stodmarsh and Grove

Green-winged Teal

Rare visitor. Three records. A hybrid Teal/Green-winged Teal was present at Stodmarsh in Jan 2005 and was later seen at Grove Ferry.

One, Stodmarsh, 13th to 30th April 1996

One Grove Ferry, 26th Jan 2002

One, Grove Ferry  13th to 21st Jan 2005

Mallard

Common resident with up to 1,000 wintering in the valley

Pintail

Regular winter visitor with especially at Collard’s Lake and Grove Ferry where up to 50 birds are often present. In 2001 a pair summered and may have bred.

Max counts 98 Jan 1996

83 Jan 1998

Garganey

Once regular summer migrant. Maximum count of 120 in April 1952 with 16 pairs breeding pairs in 1963. Became much scarcer in 1970's and 80's but becoming regular again since 1999 with the restoration of Grove Ferry. Up to five breeding pairs and autumn counts at Grove of up to 40 in recent years. One bird wintered in 1999/2000

Blue-winged Teal

Rare visitor. Three records (4 birds) including one which was seen intermittently between June 1998 and Jan 2001

Drake Stodmarsh, 4th May to 17th May 1978

Drake Grove Ferry 13th June 1998 then intermittently till Jan 2001

2 eclipse drakes Stodmarsh 25th Oct 1998

Shoveler

Resident and winter visitor. An internationally important site for wintering numbers with about 2.2% of the British population. Largest wintering numbers on Stodmarsh Lake and Collard’s Lake

Max count 328 16th Nov 1997

328, 16th Nov 1997

Red-crested Pochard

Scarce but regular visitor. Six together at Collard’s Lake in Jan 2003 occurred during a severe freeze, these plus an additional bird were subsequently seen at Grove Ferry

Drake Stodmarsh 5th Jun 1977,

One Stodmarsh, 25th Oct- 11th Dec 1988

One Stodmarsh, 18th Feb- 10th Mar 1994

One Stodmarsh, 29th Oct 1995

One Westbere,  8th April 1996

One Stodmarsh, 7th June 1997

One Stodmarsh, 11th Oct 1998

Imm, Grove Ferry, 25th-31st Aug 2001

6 Collard's Lake 12th Jan 2003,

7 presumed same 3rd Feb Grove Ferry

One 27th Dec 2003 -25th Jan 2004

Pochard

Resident and winter visitor

Max count 203 in Feb 1996. Breeds regularly at Grove Ferry

Ring-necked Duck

Scare visitor, Four records including first for Kent. Records from 2002 onwards probably refer to the same individual which turned up as a first year bird at nearby Seaton in Jan 1999

One Stodmarsh, 9th April 1972

One Westbere, 2nd Feb 1977

One Collard's 13th -20th Jan 2002

One Collard's 23rd/24th March 2003

Drake Westbere 7th March 2004. Presumed same Collard’s Lake 28th Mar 2004

Ferruginous Duck

Rare visitor, Two records. 

One Stodmarsh 13th Jan 1979

One Stodmarsh 24th Jan 1999

Tufted Duck

Resident, breeding in small numbers

Record counts 167 in March 1997

Scaup

Scarce visitor

One Stodmarsh, April 1976

One Westbere, Jan-Mar 1979

2 Stodmarsh 12th April 1979

2 Stodmarsh 17th/18th Feb 1991

One Stodmarsh 39th Jan -12th Feb 1999

One Stodmarsh 20th Jan-10th Feb 2002

One Stodmarsh 25th-27th Dec 2002

Grove Nov 2003

Collards 1st May 2004

Long-tailed Duck

Rare visitor. Three records including an unusual record in June

Singles Stodmarsh, 3rd to 17th June  1978

One Stodmarsh, 7th Oct 1978

One Stodmarsh, 22nd April 1994

Common Scoter

Rare visitor, two records involving six birds.

4 Stodmarsh, 18th April 1964

2 Westbere, Feb 1979

Goldeneye

Winter visitor, most frequently seen on Collard's Lake.

16 Collard’s 4th Feb 1990

Smew

Regular but scare winter visitor. Most recent records from Collard's Lake although occasionally seen on lake at Stodmarsh. A drake at Fordwich on 17th May 1956 was unusual as was a redhead on the River Stour at Stodmarsh 5th -27th June 1993

30 Stodmarsh, 21st Feb 1954

Red-breasted Merganser

Irregular and scarce winter visitor with 5 records since 1976. Most records from Westbere including 12 in the exceptional cold spell in Feb 1979

One Stodmarsh 24th Mar 1963

One Stodmarsh 21st Dec 1973

Stodmarsh 11th to 15th Jan 1976

Westbere 8th Feb and 28th Mar 1976

2 Westbere, 5th March 1978

12 Westbere, 23 Feb 1979

One Westbere, 14th Feb 1998

Goosander

Irregular winter visitor

Ruddy Duck

Up to 3 pairs breed at Grove Ferry. Scare in winter when occasionally recorded at Collard's.

Honey Buzzard

Irregular spring migrant. Records have become more regular in recent years in line with a general increase in sightings in Kent. 13 records up to 2003

One Stodmarsh 5th June 1974

One Stodmarsh 22nd May 1981

One Westbere, 2nd Aug 1981

One Westbere 2nd  June 1984

One Grove, 26th June 1984

One Stodmarsh, 28th May 1992

One Westbere 29th May 1997

2 Stodmarsh 26th May1999

One Grove Ferry, 5th June 1999

One Grove Ferry, 8th May 2001

One Stodmarsh, 9th May 2001

One Grove Ferry, 1st Sept 2001

One Grove Ferry, 18th May 2003

Black Kite

Rare visitor, Three records, all in May.  

One Stodmarsh 4th May 1984

One Collard's 24th May 1992, same Stodmarsh 25th May 1992

One Stodmarsh, 8th May 2000

Red Kite

Scare but increasingly regular visitor. The 1953 record was the first county record in the 20th century.

One Grove Ferry 27th May 1953

One Stodmarsh, 9th Nov 1972

One Stodmarsh, 31st Mar 1981

One Stodmarsh 10th April 1988

One Stodmarsh 18th Oct 1992

One Stodmarsh 5th June 1994

One Stodmarsh29th Mar 1997

One Stodmarsh 31st Mar 1999

One Stodmarsh, 4th April 1999

One Grove Ferry 1st May 1999

One Stodmarsh 17th May 2000

One Grove Ferry 1st Sept 2001

Two Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh 31st May 2004

Marsh Harrier

Resident throughout the year. Increasingly regular since 1980's. Up to 12 have roosted at Stodmarsh in recent winters.

Hen Harrier

Winter visitor with regular roost at Stodmarsh since 1977. Roost numbers peak at around 10 birds most winters although numbers in the last few years have been slightly down on this.

Montagu's Harrier

Occasionally seen on spring passage. Pairs occasionally summered in the 1950's and 1960's

One Stodmarsh 13th May 1976

One Stodmarsh 24th May 1991

One Grove Ferry, 23rd April 2002

One Grove Ferry 12th May 2002

Goshawk

Rare visitor. Four records

One Stodmarsh, 4th April 1979

One Stodmarsh, 4th April 1991

One Stodmarsh, 17th Sept 1992

One Grove Ferry, 16th April 1999

Sparrowhawk

Resident, probably breeds

Common Buzzard

Infrequent but increasingly regular visitor. Seen throughout the year

Rough-legged Buzzard

Rare visitor. Birds have wintered in the area during influx years

2 Stodmarsh, 14th Dec 1966 to 2nd Jan 1967

One Stodmarsh, 18th Oct to Nov 1973

One Westbere, 13th Nov 1973

One Stodmarsh, 28th Feb -23rd April 1974

One Stodmarsh, 27th Oct 1974

One Stodmarsh, 2nd Jan 1982

One Stodmarsh, Jan/Mar 1987

Other birds reported in 1996 and 1998 and 2003

Osprey

Regular but scarce passage migrant. Occasionally birds will remain in area for several days

Kestrel

Resident

Red-footed Falcon

Rare visitor. There was a remarkable influx in May/June 1992 involving at least 10 individuals and a maximum count of 6.

2 Stodmarsh 29th May 1977

One Stodmarsh, 28th June 1979

One Stodmarsh 30th May 1985

One Stodmarsh, 25th April 1987

Up to 6, Collard's Lake 20th May to 10th June 1992

One Stodmarsh 9th -11th May 1994

One Stodmarsh, 5th May 1997

One Stodmarsh, 10th-14th May 2000

Another Stodmarsh 14th May 2000

One Collard’s 11th-14th June 2000 (2 on last date)

Two reported in May 2004

Merlin

Scare but regular winter visitor

Hobby

Regular summer visitor with increasing concentration in may and early June with over 40 birds together in recent years. Probably breeds in the valley

Peregrine

Regular visitor, mostly in winter but increasing sightings at other times of the year.

Red-legged Partridge

Scare resident. Regularly seen on Stodmarsh Road by Collard's Lake in 2004/5

Grey Partridge

Scare resident

Quail

Scare summer visitor. Around seven records

One Westbere May/June 1962

 1965

One Stodmarsh 14th June 1975,

One Stodmarsh, 1st May 1977

Singles Stodmarsh 1st& 31st May, and Aug 1997

Pheasant

Resident

Water Rail

Resident widespread throughout the valley in suitable habitat. Numbers increase in the winter.

Spotted Crake

Formerly an infrequent spring visitor but since 1999 has become regular in autumn at Grove Ferry with up to 8 birds each year. The number of birds seen each autumn is dependent on viewing conditions and the condition of pools visible from the path or hides.

19 records up to 1976 mostly in April and May.

One Stodmarsh 21st April 1977

One singing Stodmarsh,9th -11th May 1998

3 together, Grove Ferry 7th Aug 1999

Baillon's Crake

Rare vagrant. Singing male, Grove Ferry 1999

One Grove Ferry at least 6th June to 20th July 1999

Corncrake

Rare visitor. Two records.

One Westbere, Autumn 1959

One Stodmarsh, 13th May 1977

Moorhen

Common resident

Coot

Common resident. Max count 885 in Sept 1995

American Coot

Rare visitor. One Stodmarsh 16th to 30th April 1996. First British record

One Stodmarsh, 16th to 30th April 1996

Common Crane

Rare visitor. At least five records involving 10 birds

One Stodmarsh 2nd to 5th April 1978

One Stodmarsh 20th/21st May 1978

One Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh 16th April to 5th May 2000

4 Grove Ferry 2nd Mar 2002

3 Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry 29th /30th May 2004.

Oystercatcher

Passage migrant. Regularly seen passing through the valley. Birds occasionally linger at Grove Ferry for several days. Max count 3

Black-winged Stilt

Rare visitor, One record

One Stodmarsh, 12th May 1945

Avocet

Regular visitor to Grove Ferry from March each year. A pair attempted to breed in 2003

Collared Pratincole

Rare visitor, One record

One seen at Stodmarsh and Hersden 11th May, then Grove Ferry 12th/13th May 1998

Little Ringed Plover

Passage migrant and summer visitor. Breeds sporadically at Grove Ferry. Small family groups of up to six birds are regularly present in July and August

Ringed Plover

Regular passage migrant. Birds are often present throughout the summer and may have attempted to have bred. Peak counts tend to be in late May and mid August.

15 Grove Ferry 31st May 1999

20 Grove Ferry, 22nd Aug 1999

28 Grove Ferry, 27th May 2004

Kentish Plover

Rare visitor. Two records involving three birds

2 Grove Ferry, 6th July 1961

One Stodmarsh 10th September 1972

American Golden Plover

Rare Visitor, One record. One at Grove Ferry 29th April to 2nd May 1978. Also seen at Westbere on 18th June

One Grove Ferry 29th April to 2nd May 1978, same Westbere 18th June

Golden Plover

Between 50 and 200 birds are regularly seen at Grove Ferry in the winter.

Grey Plover

Scarce but regular visitor. Probably annual since restoration of Grove Ferry

8 Grove Ferry, 27th Jan 1962

One Stodmarsh 13th Mar 1998

4 singles Grove 1999

Single Grove 7th /10th May, 3 11th May 2000

One Grove 6th May 2001

6 Grove, 18th Sept 2001

One Grove Ferry 5th Oct 2001

One Grove Ferry 30th Jan 2002

One Grove Ferry 11th /12th May 2002

Lapwing

Resident. Up to 3,000 birds regularly winter at Grove Ferry. A few pairs breed at Grove and Stodmarsh

Knot

Rare visitor. Four records involving 8 birds

4 Stodmarsh 10th Dec 1967

One Stodmarsh 17th Aug 1999

2000

2 Grove Ferry 30th Aug 2002

One Grove Ferry, 4th Sept 2004

Sanderling

Very rare visitor with possibly only one record

One Grove Ferry 21st May  2000

Little Stint

Rare spring migrant with occasional records in late May and early June. More regular autumn passage from Aug to Oct each year. One/two were present in the winter 2001/2

Temminck's Stint

Has become a regular passage migrant since the restoration of Grove Ferry in 1999. Annual totals since then include 8 in1999, 3 in 2000, 10 in 2001, 4 in 2002 and at least 8 in 2004. Max count 5 in Aug 1999.

One Stodmarsh 13th May 1996

5 Grove 11th Aug 1999

White-rumped Sandpiper

Rare visitor. Singles at Grove Ferry in 2000 and 2002

One Grove Ferry 15th Oct 2000

One Grove Ferry 20th July 2002

Pectoral Sandpiper

Scarce passage migrant, nine records. Almost annual since 1999. One spring record.

One Westbere pre 1976

Singles Grove Ferry 9th Aug 1999, 23rd Aug to 2nd Sept 1999,

17th to 22nd Sept 1999

One Grove Ferry, 16th July 2000

25th Aug to 9th Sept 2000

Grove Ferry, 23rd to 27th May 2002

Grove Ferry, 21st-22nd July 2002

One Grove Ferry, 28th Sept 2003

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Rare visitor. One Record

One Grove Ferry, 30th/ 31st Aug 2001

Curlew Sandpiper

Regular in small numbers in autumn at Grove Ferry. Scarce in spring. A flock of 57 adults occurred after heavy overnight rain on Aug 2004 but departed south late morning

12 Grove Ferry 25th Aug 1999

57 Grove Ferry 10th Aug 2004

Dunlin

Regular at Grove Ferry during passage and in the winter. Formerly used to winter in good numbers at Grove Ferry with 500 in the winters of 1961 and 1972.

48 Grove Ferry 29th Dec 2001

Ruff

Present throughout the year at Grove Ferry. Peak numbers occur in March/April with up to 50 occurring in the winter months

100 Stodmarsh, 20th April 1962

45 Grove Ferry 30th April 1999

51 Grove Ferry March 2000

52 Grove Ferry Jan 2002

Great Snipe

One Westbere, 9th April 1978

One Westbere, 9th April 1978

Jack Snipe

Small numbers winter Grove Ferry and Stodmarsh

Snipe

Resident. 16 pairs bred in 1960 but only 2/3 pairs breeding in recent years

Long-billed Dowitcher

Rare visitor. One record the winter 1999 bird may have been present since Oct 1998 when one was reported from the Marsh hide, Stodmarsh.

A Dowitcher not specifically identified was present at Grove Ferry in 1961

First winter, Grove Ferry 20th Feb to 24th April 1999

Dowitcher sp, Grove Ferry 29th Oct to 26th Nov 1961

Woodcock