Kent Ornithological Society 
If you are enjoying the Weekly Highlights, why not join the KOS AGM on Wednesday 30 April at 7.30pm, after which I will present the Kent birding highlights of 2024. From interesting breeding records, great sea-watching days to Fan-tailed Warbler, Scops Owl and Yellow Warbler, there is a lot to reflect on. See kentos.org.uk for Zoom-link and AGM agenda.
Red-rumped Swallow – John Carnell
The best bird of the week was a Caspian Tern that circled over Swalecliffe on the 21st . This was only the 9th record since the 1980’s although it has become more regular in recent years. North Foreland had an excellent run of scare birds on the 22nd, with a Red-rumped Swallow, Hooded Crow and White Stork seen on that day. Earlier in the week a Hoopoe had also flown past the regular observers there.
‘Pom season’ at Dungeness started early this year, with the first two Pomarine Skuas past on the 18th, with another seven in subsequent days.
A few were seen further around the coast as well. There was decent Spring migration past Dungeness during the week in any case, with over 400 Arctic Terns on the 20th and good numbers of waders on the 19th (2688 Bar-tailed Godwits, 596 Whimbrel and 142 Grey Plover). A passing Long-tailed Duck (with the female remaining on Burrows as well), Velvet Scoters and a dozen or so Black-throated Divers were also seen during the week past the Sea-watching hide.
Apart from the Hoopoe at North Foreland (which was also seen at Foreness), there were two other reports this week, one flew north-east over Langdon Cliffs and one was briefly near Marden. A pair of Red-crested Pochard was discovered on Kerton Pit, Dungeness on the 21st. A juvenile Purple Heron was seen on three different days at Worth Marsh, while a Black Kite flew west over Abbot’s Cliff. Further highlights included some ten Ring Ouzels around the county, a White Stork at Worth Marshes and over Dungeness, a late White-fronted Goose at Dengemarsh, an Osprey along the Medway and a White-tailed Eagle over Lamberhurst.
Red-crested Pochard – Martin Casemore
As expected, Grasshopper Warbler, Common Swift and Wood Sandpiper joint the Kent year list this week. The number of remaining summer migrants to show up is shrinking, with Whinchat, Wood Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher due soon.
With easterly winds and sunny weather forecast, the last week of April could deliver some good birds. Good luck.
Peter Eerdmans
Pomarine Skua – Martin Casemore
(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)