Mediterranean Gull - Bob Knight

Given the time of year and the hot weather, birding always was going to be tougher. A few scarce birds remained or resurfaced. The Red-footed Falcon was once again seen at Worth Marshes on the 22nd and 25th. It seems to have been in the area for weeks now, but is seen only very occasionally. There is a similar pattern for the female Serin at North Foreland which was reported again this week, but only on the 20th. Further highlights were a Ruddy Shelduck at Motley Hill on the 23rd, two Spotted Redshank at Otter Creek and a Honey Buzzard over Walmer. This week three Quails were heard at Bockhill, two near Canterbury and one flushed at North Foreland.

The June Medway Gull and Tern survey was encouraging recording 40 Sandwich Terns, 20 Little Terns and 420 Meditarannean Gulls in active colonies. Still below the numbers from a few years ago, but much better than last year.

Tufted Duck x Pochard - Peter Eerdmans

At Bough Beech there was a Tufted Duck x Pochard hybrid on show, which has been seen in the area on-and-off for a couple of years now. Two White Storks were filmed flying over near Canterbury.

Sea-watching was very quiet.

We are getting close to the typically arrival date for the Bonaparte's Gull at Oare, will it be back for a 15th Summer? 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)