Pale-bellied Brent - Mark Chidwick

A Shore Lark was at Bockhill on the morning of the 14th, a scarce bird in Kent these days. A Glossy Ibis was seen at South Swale on the mud before flying towards Graveney on the 15th. Further highlights came mostly from sea-watching spots. The 12th was the best day. At Dungeness a Leach's Petrel, Sabine's gull, a Puffin, two Long-tailed Skua, a Great Skua, a Great Northern Diver and five Sooty Shearwater were seen that day. Given the more southernly winds, other spots had to do with less, but two Long-tailed Skuas (past Grain and Seasalter), a Black-throated Diver (past North Foreland), Pomarine Skuas (four past Minnis Bay and one past Sandwich Bay) and a Sabine's Gull (past St Margaret's at Cliffe) were also recorded during the week. Thousands of Brent Geese were seen passing as well as entering the Swale, among them a Pale-belled Brent and a Black Brant on the 13th at Seasalter. 

Glossy Ibis - Mike Gould

A few more Yellow-browed Warblers were found (at Ramsgate, Sandwich Bay, Hope Point, Oare and Kingsdown)), while Ring Ouzels were at Reculver on the 12th and Langdon Hole on the 15th. Woodlarks flew over North Foreland (on the 9th, 13th and 14th), Dungeness (three on the 14th) and Bockhill (on the 14th), while single Lapland Buntings flew over Dengemarsh on the 10th and past Foreness on the 15th. A Little Stint was at Bough Beech on the 9th. Jack Snipes have started to arrive (with one flying in off the sea at North Foreland and one at New Hythe). A Quail was still seen at Bockhill.

Yellow-browed Warbler - Nigel Jarman

With easterly winds forecast in the coming week, maybe October can still deliver some rare birds! Good luck!

Peter Eerdmans

Long-tailed Skua - Martin Casemore

(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)