Whooper Swans – Richard Hanman

The best bird of the week was a Long-billed Dowitcher at Worth Marsh found by one of the locals. Unfortunately it flew off relatively soon towards private land. Hopefully it can be refound in the area in coming days. If accepted this would be the 23rd for Kent and the first since 2018.

As the great run over recent weeks of rare and scarce song birds started to slow, the focus shifted to winter birding. Several more Whooper Swans entered the county, with up to six on Sheppey, two past North Foreland, one at Reculver and two at Walland Marsh. A Bean Goose sp flew past Sandwich on the 28^th, a female-type Long-tailed Duck was on the South Swale on the 27^th, while singles of Goldeneye and Goosander started to arrive. There were several Slavonian Grebes around, with 2-3 on the North Coast/Swale and one at Dungeness RSPB.

Slavonian Grebe – Martin Casemore

The Shore Lark was still seen on the 24^th at Conyer but could not be found subsequently. Another Shore Lark was seen flying past Foreness on the 24^th and then on the 26^th one was briefly at Sandwich. A Lapland Bunting was flushed at North Foreland on the 29^th, while the Snow Bunting was still at Minnis Bay. Several Woodlarks were seen flying over, particularly at Dungeness.

Glossy Ibis was only reported from Worth Marshes this week (two). Much smaller numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers were seen with only a couple around (at Dover, Dungeness, Margate and Ramsgate).

In terms of sea-watching, a Leach’s Storm Petrel flew past Dungeness on the 29^th, with three Little Auk (along 3332 Razorbills), a Sooty Shearwater and a Grey Phalarope past that morning as well. A few Little Auks were also seen along the North coast with in total three past Reculver on the 25^th and 26^th. There was again a Pomarine Skua at Swalecliffe, while a few Great Skuas, Velvet Scoters, Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver were also seen from one or more of the regular sea-watching points.

A leucistic Kestrel at Dungeness was another interesting (and stunning) sighting. It was harassed by the local Peregrines but seemed to have found refuge in a local garden.

Leucistic Kestrel – Martin Casemore

Strong south-westerly winds are forecast for several days this coming week, making sea-watching at Dungeness probably the most interesting choice, although one never knows if the remnants of a hurricane bring a rare American visitor. Good luck.

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)