Kent Ornithological Society Providing information about birds and birdwatching in Kent (Registered charity 21489)

Serin  – Sandwich Bay – photo John Neighbour

Highlight of the week was the discovery of four Serins in a Linnet flock at Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay, on 18 February. Often only recorded as a fly-over, a group of four, comprising two males and two females, was certainly noteworthy and a patch tick even for some of stalwarts of Sandwich Bay.

Sea-watching picked up as the week progressed. Highlights were 450 Kittiwake on the 19^th, Red-Necked Grebes on the 18^th and 20^th and a Sooty Shearwater on the 20^th, all past Dungeness. There were also a couple of Black-throated Divers (St Margeret’s and Dover), two Great Northern Divers (Foreness and Dungeness) and an Eider and early Sandwich Tern also past Dungeness.

The female Smew remained at Dungeness but could be elusive widening its location across different lakes including the ARC. The Greater Scaup of Collard’s lake was reported again this week, while the Long-tailed Duck remained on New Diggins. Black-necked Grebes were seen at Motney Hill and Dengemarsh. Up to three Spoonbills were seen regularly at Oare Marsh. A Tundra Bean Goose and single Bewick’s Swan were at Worth Marshes while the group of Bewick’s remained on Walland Marsh, although it looks to have partly dispersed with only 15 present this week along Coldharbour Lane.

Caspian Gulls, Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers remained in their usual spots, with the Long-eared Owl still roosting near the Elmley car park.

With the wind turning more southerly the temperatures are finally rising. It could even mean the start of some very early Spring arrivals, and as the wind is quite strong passing wildfowl on the south coast could also be of interest. Good luck.

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)