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.

Bewick's Swan Nadine route

Other than that, the mix of winter birds stayed relatively stable compared to last week. Tundra Bean Goose remain in the Stodmarsh area, while after an absence of a week the group of 29 was seen again at Worth. Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls, Caspian Gulls, Greater White-fronted Geese, Bewick's and Whooper Swans all continue to be seen in their usual winter places. The number of Snow Buntings at Prince's Beach, Sandwich increased by one to five. The Great Northern Diver was at Burrowes, Dungeness throughout the week, while nearby the probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat continued to frequent the birder's garden. The Greater Scaup remained at Collard's Lake while a Little Stint was at Scotney.

In terms of sea-watching highlights, a Puffin flew past Dungeness on the 14th, a Pink-footed Goose past North Foreland on the 10th, while three drake Greater Scaup flew past North Forland and Foreness on the 11th. A few Velvet Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Eider, Merganser and Little Gull were also recorded.

It looks like the weather will finally improve in the coming week, which should make for some nice winter birding. Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

Greater White-fronted Goose - Nigel Jarman

(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)