Smew, Seaton GPs – photo Richard Collins
The two star birds from last week lingered into this reporting period, but were tough to connect with. The American Yellow Warbler at New Hythe was last seen the morning of 3 January. Despite extensive searching, it wasn’t seen on subsequent days. While the weather got a little bit colder, it still was a surprise that it would have moved on at this time of year. Perhaps it has perished, or, more hopefully, maybe it will be refound in the area in coming days or weeks. The Eurasian Scops Owl is still around, but only shows briefly and irregularly, frustrating observers, some of whom have already tried three or four times to see it. The bird was only seen on 5 and 6 January this week on its favoured fence at Broadstairs cricket ground.
The best new bird for the week was a female Smew at Seaton GPs. This is a rare bird these days in Kent, with some winters where there are no records at all. This female may be the same individual that was seen earlier in the winter at Worth Marshes. Another good sighting was a juvenile Iceland Gull at Deal Beach on 9 January.
Black-necked Grebes were seen at Cliffe (3) and New Hythe, while a Ruddy Shelduck was at Elmley on 7 January and a Red-necked Grebe was offshore at Dungeness on 3 January. The Long-tailed Duck was seen regularly at Dungeness RSPB, while two Whooper Swans and around 30 Bewick’s Swans remained on Walland Marshes. A Pink-footed Goose was seen near Canterbury on 7 January, while White-fronted Geese remained in several locations (e.g. Dungeness, Sheppey, Reculver and Worth Marshes).
Snow Bunting, Swalecliffe – photo Peter Eerdmans
Three Snow Buntings were present on the beach at Swalecliffe from 4 January, while the group at Plumpudding, Reculver, grew to five, from three last week. Two Great Northern Divers remained at Dungeness while Black-throated Divers flew past North Foreland and Swalecliffe. Purple Sandpipers were reported from Swalecliffe, Foreness and Dover Harbour. Up to 5 Hawfinches were seen at Godmersham, while Short-eared Owls, Hen Harriers and Caspian Gulls were seen regularly around county in the usual spots such as Elmley, Sandwich, Dungeness and Stodmarsh. A Long-eared Owl remained true to its roost near the Elmley car park.
The weather in the coming week is looking more settled and getting slowly a bit warmer. It should make for some lovely birding days. Enjoy!
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. If anyone has any photos they think may be useful for the weekly, please send to me by Wednesday)