Iberian Chiffchaff - Peter Eerdmans

As to be expected in early May, it was a busy week in terms of scarce birds! The best bird of the week was an Iberian Chiffchaff found singing in the trapping area at Dungeness in the early morning of the 4th. It settled at the top of Long Pits where it sang all day and showed well occasionally. This is only the 7th record for Kent. Another very good find was a Gull-billed Tern, seen and photographed by a single observer past North Foreland on the 30th. Several Red-footed Falcon were seen during the week, a 1st summer female was on show at Stodmarsh on the 1st, one flew over North foreland on the 2nd, while a female was at Worth from the 3rd. Temminck's Stints were at Dungeness (on the 2nd and 3rd) and at Worth Marshes on the 2nd. An European Bee-eater flew over Pegwell Bay on the 2nd, while a Black-crowned Night Heron was sound recorded during the middle of the night over Bishopstone Glen. A Hoopoe spent a couple of days in an, unfortunately, undisclosed site near Rochester. A single Glossy Ibis was at Dungeness on the 2nd, while seven flew over the ARC on the 7th.

Gull-billed Tern - Jamie Fisk

Sea-watching past Dungeness on the 1st was excellent, with the highlight being a superb adult Long-tailed Skua (very good Spring record). That same day a Puffin, 25 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Great Skuas and 9 Black-throated Diver were also seen. A Great Northern Diver flew past North Foreland on the 1st, while four Scaup flew past there on the 6th. On the 7th at least 11 Black-throated Diver flew past Dungeness.

Further highlights included a Black-winged Stilt at Higham, Marshes on the 7th, a late Whooper Swan at Worth Marshes, a few Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank in the usual locations, Ospreys over Bough Beech and Worth, and two Common Crane over Elmley (while the single Common Crane remained at Seasalter).

Glossy Ibis - Martin Casemore

In terms of Summer migrants, a Common Quail was heard near Ickham. We are still awaiting the first Spotted Flycatcher, Honey Buzzard and Nightjar. Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

Red-footed Falcon - Ross Newham

(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)