Squacco Heron - Russ Blackman

An excellent week with several good records. Bird of the week was a lovely first summer Squacco Heron at Dungeness on the 16th. It was flushed from Long Pits early morning, where it was refound midday before it relocated to ARC where it showed well for the rest of the day. This is the 11th record for Kent (the majority having been at Dungeness, with the previous record in 2017). There were further good birds seen. Another Zitting Cisticola (or perhaps it was the bird from last week relocating north?) was seen and heard early morning at Foreness on the 12th, in the exact same spot as last year's bird. Unfortunately it moved on quickly. Another good record was a distant Cory's Shearwater past North Foreland on the 12th. It was identified based on jizz and flight pattern. If accepted, it will be the 9th record this century for this species. A Black-crowned Night-heron was seen at Westbere Marshes in the evening of the 13th, it was seen in the half-dark and heard calling before flying off towards Collard's Lake.

Zitting Cisticola - Kenton Evans

Further highlights included a Hoopoe that was seen flying over the M2 on the 17th, an eclipse male Red-crested Pochard at ARC on the 15th (which later in the week relocated to Lade pits), an Osprey over Seasalter, a Hen Harrier over Bockhill and an (early returning?) Wood Sandpiper also at ARC on the 15th. The good year for Quail continues with two birds continuing their presence at Bockhill and other reports from Marden, Elmley and Dungeness.

Red-crested Pochard - Peter Eerdmans

Apart from the Cory's, sea-watching was quiet, although there were still some decent numbers of Manx Shearwater on the 15th past North Foreland and Dungeness. 

Hopefully the good run of rare and scarce birds continues. Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

Wood Sandpiper - Michael Linklater

(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)