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

Iberian Chiffchaff – Dungeness – Martin Casemore

As warmer and colder days alternated and south easterly winds changed to northerly, migration picked up nicely. Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Whitethroat,Tree Pipit and even a Common Redstart (at Swalecliffe) were all added to the year list in the past week, but the best bird was an Iberian Chiffchaff in the famous garden of South View at Dungeness. Remarkably, it was the 23^rd warbler species recorded in this small garden, benefitting from a great position and a birder as the occupant. The bird was on show and calling regularly on the 22^nd.

Another good bird, again in the Dungeness area, was a Hoopoe near the Cemex quarry on Kerton Road. It was found on the 25^th and still there on the 26^th. Furthermore, an Iceland Gull flew past Hope Point, an Osprey was reported flying over Sholden while two Ring Ouzel were at Langdon Hole on the 24^{th as well as the 26th}.

An impressive nocturnal movement of Redwing all over the county on the night of the 25^th was another highlight. It must have involved tens of thousands of birds, with this migration even showing up on radar.

Other good migration counts included over 7000 Brent Geese and 133 Little Gulls past Dungeness on 20 March, and 27 Garganey past the next day.

One Long-tailed Duck remained in the Dungeness area and three Slavonian Grebes were at St Margeret’s at Cliffe. The Snow Bunting remained at Cliftonville.

As we move into April, we can expect more summer migrants to return, without any reports yet for House Martin or Common Tern in Kent surely these will be added in the coming week. Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

Gargahey - Stodmarsh - photo by Gary Howard

(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)