Kent Ornithological Society - Weekly highlights

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 01 January 2026

Ross_Gull_-_Geoffrey_Burton Ross’s Gull- Geoffrey Burton

What a start to the new year! An adult Ross's Gull was seen and photographed well on the beach at Swalecliffe on the 1st. It was only around briefly unfortunately before flying off over the water treatment works. It was seen well by three observers, rewarded for their diligent patch watching on New Year's Day. This is only the second record for Kent, with the first a fly-by at Dungeness in 2014, also in January. Hopefully it can be refound in coming days.

There were plenty of other good sightings this week. A possible Siberian Lesser Whitethroat in a birder's garden at Lydd was intriguing. A Common Crane drifting over Dengemarsh on the 30th was another highlight, while a Dotterel among thousands of Golden Plover at Scotney GPs on the 30th was a good find. The Dusky Warbler at Minster was seen again on the 31st, while elusive it seems to give any year listers a good opportunity in coming days. Two Shore Larks remained on the beach at Conyer, while the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth. The Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe, while another returned(?) to Collard's Lake.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 25 December 2025

Great_Northern_Diver_-_Martin_Casemore Great Northern Diver - Martin Casemore
There was a marked increase in winter geese this week. Taiga Bean Geese were reported from Conningbrook, Northward Hill, Reculver and Worth, with the largest group being 6 birds The number of White-fronted Geese also improved with 210 counted on Sheppey, where there were also upto 6 Pink-footed Geese. Two Shore Lark were seen on the seawall at Conyer on the 19th, while the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth.

The Scaup remained at New Hythe with a new one (a female) discovered at Cliffe Pools. A Little Auk was seen past Foreness on the 23rd with another past North Foreland the next day, where also around 5 Great Skua flew past during the week. Once again a few Velvet Scoter and Black-throated Diver flew past several sea-watching spots, while a juvenile Great Northern Diver took residence at Dungeness RSPB.

Good numbers of Caspian Gulls continued to be seen, with upto 17 at Dungeness, five Hen Harriers (of which three males) continued to come into roost at Grove Ferry, while four Snow Buntings were seen at Reculver this week. A Black-necked Grebe was at the ARC pit at Dungeness. The 10 Bewick's and two Whooper Swans remained at Walland Marsh.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

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)

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 18 December 2025

Swift sp - John Carnell

The Dusky Wabler at Minster Pumping station was confirmed this week and although it remained elusive, it showed well on a couple of occasions. The seventh of the year no less, it was accompanied by a Siberian Chiffchaff. A Swift sp over North Foreland on the 17th was intriguing, from pictures it looked like a possible Pallid Swift, yet another one in this area of Kent. After a couple of weeks of absence, two Shore Lark were seen again at Elmley on the 13th. The number of winter swan on Walland Marsh increased to 10 Bewick's Swans and two Whooper Swans.

Other than that there was little change this week. the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth, good numbers of Caspian Gulls continued to be seen, with upto 19 at Dungeness, five Hen Harriers (of which two males) continued to come into roost at Grove Ferry, the Snow buntings remained at Minnis Bay and Sandwich Bay, while the Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe GPs. Five Pink-footed Geese were at Elmley, while six White-fronted Geese were at Scotney, where the Black-necked Grebes also at times popped into the Kent side of the pits. The Starling murmeration at ARC continued to be on show with at times upto 15 Cattle Egret coming to roost, athough a count of 60 Cattle Egret at Staple was even more impressive and quite possibly the biggest group ever in the county.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 14 December 2025

gulls Yellow-legged Gull (1w, top left) and Caspian Gull (1w, centre & adult right hand side) - Martin Casemore

Despite occasional wet conditions, it was a week of nice winter birding. Best bird of the week was a Black Guillemot that was on the sea briefly at North Foreland on the 7th. A possible Dusky Warbler at Minster could not be confirmed unfortunately. The Hume's Warbler was still at Sandwich, but was only reported on the 11th.

There was a small uptick in winter visitors. Seven White-fronted Geese were seen at Dungeness, while four Bewick's Swans and a Whooper Swan were at Walland Marsh. The number of Caspian Gulls around the county continues to increase as well, with 18 seen together at Dungeness on the 11th, while there were also 5 Yellow-legged Gulls present. Four Snow Buntings were seen again at Sandwich, while three frequented the shingles at Minnis Bay. A Lapland Bunting flew over at Sandwich. The Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe, while a Long-tailed Duck was again seen on the north coast, this time at Cliftonville. There were upto five Hen Harriers at the roost at Grove Ferry, with smaller numbers elsewhere. The Glossy Ibis remained at Worth, while two were seen at Stoke Marshes on the 5th. Eight Spoonbill were on the saltings on Isle of Sheppey. A very unseasonal House Martin was reported from Woodchurch.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 04 December 2025

Dusky Warbler2 Dusky Warbler - Andrew Lypczynski

The fifth Dusky Warbler of the autumn was found, this one was at the 'Little Gully' at Sandwich Bay from the 28th till the 30th. A sixth, even, was reported nearby at Seaton GPs on the 30th. There has been only one year with more records, in 2020 there were no less than 10 records accepted, although two of those were not found till mid December, so there is still time. The Hume's Warbler remained at Sandwich this week and was accompanied by a Siberian Chiffchaff. Nearby three Snow Buntings were still on show on Prince's Beach, although the Shore Lark could not be found this week.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 27 November 2025

Humes warbler Hume's Warbler - Greg Lee

The third Hume's Warbler of the autumn was finally more cooperative and showed on and off throughout the week in the trapping area at Sandwich Bay. It was first discovered on the 21st. The elusive Hume's Warbler at Kingston was seen again albeit briefly on the 23rd. A Dusky Warbler was reported heard-only from Elmley also on the 23rd. After several brief sightings, including three at Elmley on the 23rd, a Shore Lark finally lingered on Prince's Beach at Sandwich Bay from the 24th, where there were also four Snow Bunting present. Further Snow Buntings were seen at Conyer, Swalecliffe, Reculver and Minnis Bay.

A White-tailed Sea-eagle, presumably from the Isle of Wight reintroduction program, toured the county and was seen at Oare Marshes as well as Stodmarsh. A Serin was seen in the Moat at Dungeness on the 21st, while the two Glossy Ibis remained at Worth Marshes.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 20 November 2025

Little Gull4 Little Gull - Martin Casemore

A Hume's Warbler was seen on the morning of the 17th near the golf club at Kingsdown. Unfortunately it could not be refound later. While being the second Hume's for the autumn, this would only be the 22nd record for Kent if accepted. A Pallas's Warbler also at Kingsdown on the 17th was a nice consolation prize for those looking for the Hume's. A few Serin's were heard and seen flying over this week, at Dungeness, Langdon Cliffs and Cliftonville.

In terms of sea-watching, the passage of good numbers of Little Gull and Kittiwake on the 14th was one of the highlights. Foreness had the highest count of Little Gull at 201, while at North Foreland 2016 Kittiwakes were counted that day. Sabine's Gull has been relatively scarce this autumn, so one past Walmer beach on the 16th was a good record, as were a Black Guillemot pas Reculver on the 19th and a Grey Phalarope past Grenham Bay on the 17th. In total five Little Auk were still reported, with a support cast of several Velvet Scoters, Great Nothern Diver, Black Throated Diver, Pomarine Skua, Great Skua and Sooty Shearwater across the usual sea-watching spots. Red-necked Grebe was seen at Tankerton, Reculver and Grenham Bay, while an immature Long-tailed Duck was again in the Swale.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 13 November 2025

Desert Wheatear - Neil Burt

As calmer and more sunny weather arrived, this week proved excellent for finding rare and scarce birds in the county. Best was a beautiful male Desert Wheatear that was found at South Swale NR on the 8th. It showed well till late in the afternoon, but could not be found the next day. A typicaly late autumn vagrant, this is the 16th record for Kent and the first since the Joss Bay bird in 2021.

The Pallid Swift of Foreness/North Foreland remained into this week, and was joined by a second on the 8th, while a third was discovered flying over Dover Harbour that day. On the 7th, two Dusky Warblers were found, one at Foreness Point and one at Margate Cementery. This was only the start of what proved an excellent day for Phylloscopus warblers on the 8th. Another Dusky Warbler was discovered, at Westbrook a little further west along the coast from the Foreness bird which was still present that day. Particularly the Westbrook bird showed extremely well and stayed till the 12th. An amazing five Pallas's Warbler were seen on the 8th, with yet another at King George IV Park, two at Dungeness, of which one was trapped and ringed and lingered for the remainder of the week, one at Langdon Hole and one at Hope Point. This followed a single bird at Sandwich on the 7th. Surely the best week for this species in Kent in a long time. At least a dozen Yellow-browed Warblers were also seen during the week, while a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Bough Beech.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 06 November 2025

Pallid Swift - Kenton Evans

The best bird of the week was a Pallid Swift at Foreness Point on the morning of the 5th. After a couple of swift sp during the week, this one showed well for 30minutes and could be nailed down to species level. It was refound at Joss Bay the next morning and showed in the area at times during the remainder of the day. This is the 22nd for Kent with the Foreness-Joss Bay stretch of coast a bit of a hot spot for them.

With a lot of wind this week, attention turned to sea-watching. The best day was the 31st when the wind was most southerly. Dungeness fared particularly well that day with a Little Auk, a Puffin, two Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Great Nothern Diver, two Great Skua, storm petrel sp and two Velvet Scoter. In total over 5000s auks were counted that day, mostly Razorbill. A couple of Little Auk were reported from other locations this week, with singles past St Margaret's and Walmer. Leach's Storm Petrel were seen at Folkestone (on the 3rd) and Dungeness (on the 5th). A juvenile Long-tailed duck flew past Reculver on the 3rd, with a Greater Scaup past Sandwich Bay. A Pomarine Skua continues to hang around Swalecliffe with another sighting this week. One sorry Gannet was blown inland and ended up at Godmersham, and was subsequently taken into care.

Details: Peter Eerdmans; Weekly highlights; 30 October 2025

Whooper swans3 Whooper Swans – Richard Hanman

The best bird of the week was a Long-billed Dowitcher at Worth Marsh found by one of the locals. Unfortunately it flew off relatively soon towards private land. Hopefully it can be refound in the area in coming days. If accepted this would be the 23rd for Kent and the first since 2018.

As the great run over recent weeks of rare and scarce song birds started to slow, the focus shifted to winter birding. Several more Whooper Swans entered the county, with up to six on Sheppey, two past North Foreland, one at Reculver and two at Walland Marsh. A Bean Goose sp flew past Sandwich on the 28^th, a female-type Long-tailed Duck was on the South Swale on the 27^th, while singles of Goldeneye and Goosander started to arrive. There were several Slavonian Grebes around, with 2-3 on the North Coast/Swale and one at Dungeness RSPB.

Kent Ornithological Society The county’s bird club: Recording, reporting, and educating to protect Kent’s birdlife (Registered charity 21489)

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Weekly highlights