Kent Ornithological Society 
KOS Field Trips - 29th and 30th April 2024.
Ray O’Reilly writes:-
“It is most unusual for me to lead two KOS Field Outings in three days, but this week was an exception as an additional meeting was held for folk that are working or studying full time.
We started off at Worth Marshes which is in prime condition at present. Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Ring-necked Parakeets were some of the first birds the group saw. The area was full of bird song including various Warblers, Eurasian Skylarks and Common Cuckoos. It was good to see that a few species had young such as Northern Lapwing, Little Grebes and Common Coot.
The area was perfect for waterbirds especially waders/shorebirds, and se spotted a good number including Pied Oystercatchers and Avocets, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Dunlin, Ruff, Common and Little Ringed Plovers, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel and Bar and Black-tailed Godwits. We were puzzled by an odd looking Grey Plover that caused Neil Davies and myself some consternation before finally revealing a white-rump - proving it to be an odd Grey Plover. Such is birding!
We managed 99 species over the period that included a smart Garganey. Three Common Swifts were mine and many of the group’s first of the year.
Our afternoon visit to Pegwell Bay Country Park on a rising tide gave us many of the same waders, a small flock of Sandwich Terns and a late Dark-bellied Brent Goose.
Today's visit was to Dungeness and we started and finished with a seawatch helped by some other regular birders. Our highlights included many Northern Gannets and Black-legged Kittiwakes, five Arctic Skuas, four Black-throated Divers and several flocks of Common Scoter.
A Peregrine Falcon was perched high on the power station and a walk around the perimeter fence, steam railway station and the bird observatory produced a scattering of Northern Wheatears, Common Stonechats and a flyover Yellow Wagtail.
The reserve's water level was extremely high and not conducive to diversity of species, but a European Hobby and a handful of Bearded Tits were the best of the bunch. Six Common Terns were year ticks for us all. So two great days spent with our members watching wildlife. Dates for the second half of the year will appear here soon and are open for all members.”
Best wishes
Ray