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Field trip reports - September and October 2024

For two Sundays running I have led a Kent Ornithological Outdoor Meeting and a big thank you to all who have attended.

On the 29th September we visited the Dungeness area once again and yesterday we visited Reculver, Margate Cemetery and Pegwell Bay.

Highlights from Dungeness included fine views of Balearic Shearwater, Little Gull and Arctic Skua with a Black-necked Grebe on the ARC however there were very few passerine (songbirds) migrants seen that day and this was also the case yesterday.

A few Gannets were drifting by Reculver Towers but very few other seabirds were noted excepting the odd Brent Goose.

We walked along the coastline to Coldharbour Lagoon enjoying Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Redshank, Ringed Plover and some Great Crested Grebes on the sea.

From here we headed inland to the main London to Ramsgate railway line and walked parallel to it before heading towards the sea again down Green Wall. A Redwing was the first this autumn for most folk.

On arriving back at the Oyster beds there were several Barn Swallows and a couple of Sand Martins hawking over the pools. A lovely Northern Wheatear perched on the rocks for us.

Although the walk around Margate Cemetery was very peaceful and pleasant with a myriad of hues on the leaves of the trees some of which were gently falling to Earth. The day had clouded over leaving very few visible insects available for food for warblers and crests.

Our final location was Pegwell Bay Country Park where we had great views of a red-eyed Black-necked Grebe on the Garage Pool and caught the high tide roost perfectly seeing Sandwich Terns, Mediterranean Gulls, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Red Knot etc..

All too soon it was home time and we said our goodbyes.

Ray

Big Kent Bird Migration Watch - September 28th - REPORT

A new venture - the first ‘KOS Big Kent Bird Migration Watch’ - 28th September 2023

 Kent Ornithological Society - KOS - organised and co-ordinated a one day event in Kent on Saturday 28th September - ‘The Big Kent Bird Migration Watch’  to draw public attention to the annual migration of thousands of birds over the County, some leaving our Winter for warmer climes, and some arriving to spend a relatively milder winter in the UK than that which they would experience in their breeding grounds.

Our county - being the bit of the UK that is closest to Europe  - is of course a key territory for many bird species arriving in the country or passing through it to breeding grounds further North in Spring and Autumn.

Importantly, migration watches are one of the ways in which changes in bird populations are noted and tracked.  The aim of this particular day was to widen public awareness of bird migration and to raise the profile of KOS as an influential voice in conservation issues within our attractive County.

Big Kent Bird Migration Watch - A Big Success!

Evidence from accross the County indicate that our first KOS Bird Migration Watch was a success, with many observers participating during the day.  Blessed with a sunny day,  there were also encouraging numbers of visitors and particpants especially at SBBO, Samphire Hoe, Dungeness RSPB and the Observatory. Members sent in good numbers of records from across the County and the drama of wildlife migration was celebrated and recorded.  A more detailed review of the species and highlights will appear in due course but THANKS to all our members (and non member observers) who partcipated in this first "Big Kent Bird Migration Watch' and thanks too for the hard work of the KOS volunteers and others from partner organisations who thought up the idea and put it into practice.  We shall be doing it again in 2025!

Kent Listers page updated

After several additions to the Kent list in the last year, Geoff Burton has updated the Kent listers page and updated his history of Kent Listing 

NB Only available to members once logged in. 

Proposed revision of the Society's rules

Following a review by the Executive Committee a revision of the Society’s rules is proposed to reflect changing working practices and communications in a digital age.  For example like many organisations, we switched to on-line meetings via zoom during the pandemic but this is not reflected in the rules. The Committee would like to invite comments and observations from members before the new rules are proposed for adoption at the next AGM.

Comments should be made to the The Hon. Secretary Peter Eerdmans   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  by 30th September.

The revised and existing rules are attached

 

Proposed_rule_revsion_and_update_July_2024.pdf

 

KOS_constitution_Dec_2004-compressed_1.pdf

 

KOS Field Trip Dates - Second Half of 2024

Dates for KOS Field Trips for the rest of 2024 are :-  

BTO Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) 2024-5

BTO Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) 2024-25

CALLING KENT LAROPHILES!

Some key sites still not allocated or need more volunteers for this winter’s count – target date January 21st. 

The Key Sites concerned are: -

*Inner Thames (Gravesend-Dartford)

*Stour Valley

*Deal-Walmer

*Folkestone-Hythe

 Please read on for for further information…

KOS November 19th Field Trip to Dungeness

November 19th 2023 - KOS Field Trip to Dungeness 

 Ray O' Reilly, KOS Field Trip Organiser, writes:- "Yesterday, 19th November 2023, we carried out our monthly KOS Field Outing once again to Dungeness and it proved to be a fruitful venue.

New addition to the KOS merchandise store

For those cooler days that will soon be here - beanie hats are now available from the online store.  

Merchandise Beanie

Society merchandise now available

KOS is delighted to announce that members can now show their support for the society by purchasing and wearing a range of quality clothing displaying our KOS logo. Whether it is cool or warm there will be something suitable from our new partnership with Kent based and family run company ‘Logo That Polo’ for any birder wishing to show they are a member and KOS supporter.

There is a choice of garments and a range of colours, all with our iconic KOS Sandwich Tern logo designed by the well-known Kent bird artist – and a long time KOS member - Stephen Message. Using a sustainable sales model, every garment is sourced and branded to order so there will be no unsold clothing sitting wasted on shelving. All order processing is carried out by ‘Logo that Polo’ and a percentage of the income from sales is passed to KOS.

KOS Chair Andre Farrar: “I’m so grateful to our growing membership for all the support you give to KOS. I’ve often been asked if we could show off our logo on some merchandise – and now we can! As well as making KOS more visible across the county, each purchase helps to raise funds for the Society. “

To view the store please visit https://logothatpolo.co.uk/store/kosoc/ or follow the link from the website menu.

Please remember that as every item is produced to order it is essential to use the sizing guides available on the store website for each item.

KOSEmbroidery

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The Kent Ornithological Society was founded in 1952

Our aims are to record and monitor the county’s bird life providing both an accurate historical record of Kent’s birds but equally importantly providing data that can be used to help protect valuable habitats from development and other threats.

In doing this, we seek increase knowledge and understanding of birds and their habitats in the county and encourage and support people seeking to take up birdwatching as a hobby.

Membership of the society is open to all and costs £15 a year. Members receive a free copy of the annual Kent Bird Report and regular electronic newsletters. See details

The Society runs regular online talks and an outdoor programme of field meetings. They are opportunities for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers to meet others in the county and to develop their knowledge and skills.

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