Kent Ornithological Society 
Black-winged Stilt – Martin Casemore
The excellent run of rare and scarce birds showing up in Kent continues. Last week’s Booted Eagle lingered, as hoped, long enough for those assembled at a high vantage point near Cliffsend on Friday morning. It showed twice, before disappearing North around 10.30 am. It was seen later in the week in Norfolk.
A drake Surf Scoter past Dungeness on the 12th was another great sighting, being only the 11th record for Kent. It was first spotted past Beachy Head at 6.51am, which allowed those birding locally at Dungeness to rush over to the coast in time. Right on cue, it was picked out in a group of some 15 Common Scoter an hour later. This was the start of an impressive couple of days for the Dungeness area. A Black-winged Stilt was discovered also on the 12th on Hayfield 1 and lingered for a couple of days. That same day a Goshawk flew over and a Serin was seen twice in the area. A day later, on the 13th, Dungeness joined in on the Hoopoe influx, while a Red-rumped Swallow was discovered at the ARC and spent the remainder of the afternoon at Dengemarsh.
Red-rumped Swallow – Martin Casemore
Elsewhere, a singing Pallas’s Warbler on the morning of the 16th at Cliftonville was an outstanding Spring record (it’s worth checking the video posted on BlueSky). The two Purple Herons at Long Pits Dungeness were still there on the 11th, but seem to have moved on, possibly out of the county to Pett Level where one was seen later in the week. Another Purple Heron flew over Worth Marshes on the 17th. A Wryneck showed briefly on the 11th at Dungeness, while another was at Bishopstone Glen on the 12th and 13th. Black Kites were seen around Sandwich Bay and Worth Marshes on 11 and 12 April and past Abbot’s Cliff on the 17th. Again, many Hoopoes were seen around the county, most only briefly. With 10 new locations this week, we could be up to 19 birds this Spring, but surely some sightings will involve the same individuals.
In terms of Summer migrants, Turtle Dove, Lesser Whitethroat, Black Tern and Pied Flycatcher arrived in the county. Grasshopper Warbler, Common Swift, Wood Sandpiper and Whinchat are to be expected in the coming week.
Further highlights included Ring Ouzels at Cliffe, Minster, Dungeness, Hope Point, Margate and Langdon Cliffs, a White-tailed Eagle in the Dover area and past Oare, Velvet Scoters, a Red-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver past Dungeness, another Serin at Dungeness on the 17th and a Black-necked Grebe at Bough Beech.
The Long-tailed duck and Greater Scaup remained at Dungeness and Collard’s Lake respectively.
Looking ahead, the weather continues to be conducive to spring migration. Enjoy.
Peter Eerdmans
Ring Ouzel – Neil Colgate
(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)