Gull-billed Tern - Peter Eerdmans

A very interesting week in Kent birding. Bird of the week was an adult Gull-billed Tern discovered at the ARC, Dungeness, around midday on the 17th. Unfortunately it was only present for a few minutes before flying off to the south-east corner of the ARC, where it could not be refound. The bird was wearing a white colour ring, which indicates it comes from a German ringing scheme. While still a BBRC-submission species, it is getting more regular in recent years, with this being the second for Kent this year. The Gull-billed Tern could have easily been eclipsed by a much rarer bird this week, but a possible Long-legged Buzzard seen for 5 minutes over Worth Marshes on the 19th could not be confirmed. Long wings and shape alerted the observer, but unfortunately no photos were obtained. This would be a new bird for Kent. The Bonaparte's Gull remained at Oare, where a Long-tailed Skua fly over was a nice surprise on the 17th.

Pectoral Sandpiper - Josh Thompsett

Wader migration continued to headline, with a lovely Pectoral Sandpiper at New Downs South pool, Sandwich Bay on the 21st and 22nd. There was a Little Stint at Cliffe, while a few Spotted Redshanks were also seen. Warbler migration also picked up, with a few Willow Warblers, Grasshopper Warblers and Garden Warblers in coastal locations, as well as a Common Redstart and a Nightingale (the latter caught and ringed) at Dungeness and a Wood Warbler (also caught and ringed) at Sandwich. A Dutch-ringed juvenile Caspian Gull was at Walmer, while a group of 31 Cattle Egrets congregated at Worth. There were some other notable 'counts', with an estimated 1500 Mediterranean Gulls at Pegwell and an increase of moulting ducks at Dungeness, including 1067 Pochard and 557 Gadwall across the reserve. On the 22nd some 1200 Sand Martins passed through the Dungeness area, of which 108 were trapped and ringed, a record number for the site.

Seawatching highlights were restricted to a couple of Arctic Skuas (Herne Bay and Dungeness) and Black-throated Diver (Dungeness).

Mid-summer birding has been very good in Kent, what can the last week of July bring? Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

Wood Warbler - Gary Stewart

(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)