Kent Ornithological Society 
When we decided to start a ‘Kent birding – Highlights of the Week’ from January onwards on the KOS website, we could not envisage it would start with two mega rarities. What had so far been a modest year for rare birds in Kent, ended with a bang. On 24 December, an American Yellow Warbler, was discovered at the sewage works at New Hythe GPs. The first ever for Kent and an amazing record also for British and European standards. Extraordinarily, the location was not far from the famous Golden-winged Warbler, also a warbler from America, that was seen in the winter of 1989 near New Hythe. If that wasn’t enough, news of the third Scops Owl for Kent, and the first since 1971, broke on 28 December. It had been present for a few days in trees along a cricket field at Broadstairs. Both birds were seen by many observers, although they could be elusive, and were not seen on some days at all. Particularly with calm, sunny weather, the Yellow Warbler showed well. Both birds were still present in the New Year.
These two birds gave everyone wanting to start the New Year with a nice list a great opportunity, but there were also a decent amount of lingering winter birds around. Probably the best place to go was Dungeness, with Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver and several Caspian Gulls seen on the RSPB reserve on most days. Nearby, Cattle Egrets could be found, and on Walland Marsh, 32 Bewick Swans and two Whooper Swans were seen.
Winter geese were not very numerous, but a Pink-footed Geese was seen at Sandwich Bay, with a few Whitefronts here (and at Scotney and St Margeret’s at Cliffe) as well. The Lesser White-fronted Goose of questionable origin was seen again on the Isle of Sheppey on 2 January, with 20 White-fronted Geese there as well. Three Snow Buntings were present on the beach at Plumpudding, Reculver throughout the week. A White-tailed Eagle flew over the causeway at Bough Beech on 31 December, while Siberian Chiffchaffs were present in the spot of the Yellow Warbler on 26 December and in the car park of Pegwell Bay on 2 January.
Other records over the week worth mentioning include Black-necked Grebes at Cliffe and Lade, a Spoonbill at Oare Marshes, a Greater Scaup at Collard’s Lake, Hawfinches in churchyards in Edenbridge and Godmersham and Velvet Scoters at Tankerton and past Dungeness and North Foreland. Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls were seen in the usual spots, like Grove Ferry, Sandwich Bay and Elmley, while the latter also hosted two Long-eared Owls.
Looking ahead, the weather continues to be variable and relatively cold. As the past week showed, anything can turn up, although the focus is likely to be on winter grebes, ducks, divers and geese. Happy birding!
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)
Yellow Warbler twitch