Kent Ornithological Society - Weekly highlights

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 29 January 2026

Glaucous Gull John Carnell Glaucous Gull - John Carnell

Both the Red-flanked Bluetail and the Pallas's Warbler continued to be seen this week in their respective locations of Crockham Hill Common and Faversham sewage works. They could be elusive and the Pallas's wasn't seen after the 26th, although one would expect it is still around. A Black Guillemot past Dungeness on the 23rd was a good record. The locals think there could be around 10,000 auk between Dover and Beachy Head, moving along the coast between feeding areas on a daily basis. A juvenile Glaucous Gull, possibly the same bird as last week near Hythe, was discoverd flying past King George IV Park on the 27th. It was later relocated in Ramsgate Harbour offering close up views.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 22 January 2026

Pallass Warbler Peter Eerdmans Pallas's Warbler - Peter Eerdmans

The highlight of the week was a lovely Pallas's Warbler at the Faversham sewage works. First reported as a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 18th, it was reidentified the next day and showed well among the dozens of Chiffchaffs in the area taking advantage of the abundant insects around the sewage works. Another Glaucous Gull was seen, this time a juvenile spent some time on a field near Hythe on the 18th (in the company of a Pale-bellied Brent). The Red-flanked Bluetail at Crockham Hill continued to show on occasion in its favourite rhododendron bush, but remained elusive. At Worth, a very impressive 17 Water Pipits were counted. Another amazing count was that of 2620 Great Crested Grebes on the sea at Lade Bay.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 15 January 2026

Red flanked Bluetail 2 Barry Wright Red-flanked Bluetail - Barry Wright

Highlight of the week was the discovery of a female-type Red-flanked Bluetail at Crockham Hill Common on the 10th by a local birder who was walking his dog. Once parking was sorted out, the news was broadcast the next day, which allowed many birders to connect with this beautiful little bird over the week. It did require patience and the use of thermal cameras certainly helped, as the bird could hide for long periods of time. This constitutes the 11th record for Kent, but the first in winter and this far inland (it is only 200m from the Surrey border where it would have been a first).

Further highlights included a group of 22 Snow Buntings that came in from the sea at North foreland on the 11th. Also, a satellite-tracked Bewick's Swan, called Nadine, joined the group of around 40 on Walland Marsh. Via a German website, its movements can be tracked in real-time, showing it left Estonia on 22 November, spent some time in Denmark mid December, left The Netherlands on 10 January, arriving in Kent the next day. Interestingly it flew out towards Eastbourne before deciding to come back to Walland. More details on Map of Transmitter Swans - Project Dwarf Swan.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 08 January 2026

Hooded Merganser Terry Laws Hooded Merganser - Terry Laws

Who would have thought that another mega would be found in Kent just two days after last week's Ross's Gull, and then only 5 miles along the coast... But that's what happened as a local birder reported an adult Siberian Thrush on the 3rd at Seasalter. Unfortunately no photos were obtained and subsequent searches were unsuccessful, although a distant dark thrush with possibly a light supercilium in the same area on the 5th was intriguing. If accepted it would be a first record for Kent.

Two Hooded Mergansers that spent an afternoon at Leybourne Lakes on the 4th also caused a bit of a stir. Unringed and in good condition, a female and young male showed up at the right time of year and in a location that has a history of attracting American birds.. Understandably it caused a bit of a twitch, although the fact that they were in the presence of five Fulvous Whistling Ducks ultimately swung consensus towards the birds being of 'suspicious origin'. More straightforward good birds during the week, were a juvenile Glaucous Gull that flew past Foreness Point and Cliftonville on the 5th and a female-type Long-tailed Duck on Prince's Reservoir at Sandwich from the 2nd till the 4th, when the lake froze over.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 01 January 2026

Ross_Gull_-_Geoffrey_Burton Ross’s Gull- Geoffrey Burton

What a start to the new year! An adult Ross's Gull was seen and photographed well on the beach at Swalecliffe on the 1st. It was only around briefly unfortunately before flying off over the water treatment works. It was seen well by three observers, rewarded for their diligent patch watching on New Year's Day. This is only the second record for Kent, with the first a fly-by at Dungeness in 2014, also in January. Hopefully it can be refound in coming days.

There were plenty of other good sightings this week. A possible Siberian Lesser Whitethroat in a birder's garden at Lydd was intriguing. A Common Crane drifting over Dengemarsh on the 30th was another highlight, while a Dotterel among thousands of Golden Plover at Scotney GPs on the 30th was a good find. The Dusky Warbler at Minster was seen again on the 31st, while elusive it seems to give any year listers a good opportunity in coming days. Two Shore Larks remained on the beach at Conyer, while the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth. The Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe, while another returned(?) to Collard's Lake.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 25 December 2025

Great_Northern_Diver_-_Martin_Casemore Great Northern Diver - Martin Casemore
There was a marked increase in winter geese this week. Taiga Bean Geese were reported from Conningbrook, Northward Hill, Reculver and Worth, with the largest group being 6 birds The number of White-fronted Geese also improved with 210 counted on Sheppey, where there were also upto 6 Pink-footed Geese. Two Shore Lark were seen on the seawall at Conyer on the 19th, while the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth.

The Scaup remained at New Hythe with a new one (a female) discovered at Cliffe Pools. A Little Auk was seen past Foreness on the 23rd with another past North Foreland the next day, where also around 5 Great Skua flew past during the week. Once again a few Velvet Scoter and Black-throated Diver flew past several sea-watching spots, while a juvenile Great Northern Diver took residence at Dungeness RSPB.

Good numbers of Caspian Gulls continued to be seen, with upto 17 at Dungeness, five Hen Harriers (of which three males) continued to come into roost at Grove Ferry, while four Snow Buntings were seen at Reculver this week. A Black-necked Grebe was at the ARC pit at Dungeness. The 10 Bewick's and two Whooper Swans remained at Walland Marsh.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Peter Eerdmans

(Thanks to all the observers who posted their records on the KOS Sightings website, BirdGuides, eBird and/or the main Kent Birding WhatsApp groups, Thursday-to-Thursday. Apologies for any omissions. If anyone has any photos they think may be useful for the weekly, please send to me by Wednesday. All records of rarities are still subject to official confirmation by the relevant rarities committees)

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 18 December 2025

Swift sp - John Carnell

The Dusky Wabler at Minster Pumping station was confirmed this week and although it remained elusive, it showed well on a couple of occasions. The seventh of the year no less, it was accompanied by a Siberian Chiffchaff. A Swift sp over North Foreland on the 17th was intriguing, from pictures it looked like a possible Pallid Swift, yet another one in this area of Kent. After a couple of weeks of absence, two Shore Lark were seen again at Elmley on the 13th. The number of winter swan on Walland Marsh increased to 10 Bewick's Swans and two Whooper Swans.

Other than that there was little change this week. the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth, good numbers of Caspian Gulls continued to be seen, with upto 19 at Dungeness, five Hen Harriers (of which two males) continued to come into roost at Grove Ferry, the Snow buntings remained at Minnis Bay and Sandwich Bay, while the Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe GPs. Five Pink-footed Geese were at Elmley, while six White-fronted Geese were at Scotney, where the Black-necked Grebes also at times popped into the Kent side of the pits. The Starling murmeration at ARC continued to be on show with at times upto 15 Cattle Egret coming to roost, athough a count of 60 Cattle Egret at Staple was even more impressive and quite possibly the biggest group ever in the county.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 14 December 2025

gulls Yellow-legged Gull (1w, top left) and Caspian Gull (1w, centre & adult right hand side) - Martin Casemore

Despite occasional wet conditions, it was a week of nice winter birding. Best bird of the week was a Black Guillemot that was on the sea briefly at North Foreland on the 7th. A possible Dusky Warbler at Minster could not be confirmed unfortunately. The Hume's Warbler was still at Sandwich, but was only reported on the 11th.

There was a small uptick in winter visitors. Seven White-fronted Geese were seen at Dungeness, while four Bewick's Swans and a Whooper Swan were at Walland Marsh. The number of Caspian Gulls around the county continues to increase as well, with 18 seen together at Dungeness on the 11th, while there were also 5 Yellow-legged Gulls present. Four Snow Buntings were seen again at Sandwich, while three frequented the shingles at Minnis Bay. A Lapland Bunting flew over at Sandwich. The Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe, while a Long-tailed Duck was again seen on the north coast, this time at Cliftonville. There were upto five Hen Harriers at the roost at Grove Ferry, with smaller numbers elsewhere. The Glossy Ibis remained at Worth, while two were seen at Stoke Marshes on the 5th. Eight Spoonbill were on the saltings on Isle of Sheppey. A very unseasonal House Martin was reported from Woodchurch.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 04 December 2025

Dusky Warbler2 Dusky Warbler - Andrew Lypczynski

The fifth Dusky Warbler of the autumn was found, this one was at the 'Little Gully' at Sandwich Bay from the 28th till the 30th. A sixth, even, was reported nearby at Seaton GPs on the 30th. There has been only one year with more records, in 2020 there were no less than 10 records accepted, although two of those were not found till mid December, so there is still time. The Hume's Warbler remained at Sandwich this week and was accompanied by a Siberian Chiffchaff. Nearby three Snow Buntings were still on show on Prince's Beach, although the Shore Lark could not be found this week.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 27 November 2025

Humes warbler Hume's Warbler - Greg Lee

The third Hume's Warbler of the autumn was finally more cooperative and showed on and off throughout the week in the trapping area at Sandwich Bay. It was first discovered on the 21st. The elusive Hume's Warbler at Kingston was seen again albeit briefly on the 23rd. A Dusky Warbler was reported heard-only from Elmley also on the 23rd. After several brief sightings, including three at Elmley on the 23rd, a Shore Lark finally lingered on Prince's Beach at Sandwich Bay from the 24th, where there were also four Snow Bunting present. Further Snow Buntings were seen at Conyer, Swalecliffe, Reculver and Minnis Bay.

A White-tailed Sea-eagle, presumably from the Isle of Wight reintroduction program, toured the county and was seen at Oare Marshes as well as Stodmarsh. A Serin was seen in the Moat at Dungeness on the 21st, while the two Glossy Ibis remained at Worth Marshes.

Kent Ornithological Society The county’s bird club: Recording, reporting, and educating to protect Kent’s birdlife (Registered charity 21489)

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Weekly highlights