Pallid Swift - Kenton Evans

The best bird of the week was a Pallid Swift at Foreness Point on the morning of the 5th. After a couple of swift sp during the week, this one showed well for 30minutes and could be nailed down to species level. It was refound at Joss Bay the next morning and showed in the area at times during the remainder of the day. This is the 22nd for Kent with the Foreness-Joss Bay stretch of coast a bit of a hot spot for them. 

With a lot of wind this week, attention turned to sea-watching. The best day was the 31st when the wind was most southerly. Dungeness fared particularly well that day with a Little Auk, a Puffin, two Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Great Nothern Diver, two Great Skua, storm petrel sp and two Velvet Scoter. In total over 5000s auks were counted that day, mostly Razorbill. A couple of Little Auk were reported from other locations this week, with singles past St Margaret's and Walmer. Leach's Storm Petrel were seen at Folkestone (on the 3rd) and Dungeness (on the 5th). A juvenile Long-tailed duck flew past Reculver on the 3rd, with a Greater Scaup past Sandwich Bay. A Pomarine Skua continues to hang around Swalecliffe with another sighting this week. One sorry Gannet was blown inland and ended up at Godmersham, and was subsequently taken into care.

 
Little Auk - John Young

A Pallas's Warbler was discovered on Dengemarsh road on the 1st, not far from where one was a couple of weeks ago. It showed off and on for a couple of days. Another was briefly at Foreness on the 6th. On the 31st there was still one Yellow-browed Wabrler present at Margate cementery with another at Pegwell on the 4th, one at Worth on the 6th and one trapped and ringed at Dungeness also on the 6th. The Snow Bunting remained at Minnis Bay, while two were discovered on Prince's Beach at Sandwich Bay

Pallas's Warbler - Martin Casemore

In terms of winter visitors, the number of Water Pipits around the county increased this week. Crossbills also continue to increase, it is starting to feel like a mini disruption. A couple of Whooper Swans were seen along the north coast, while Slavonian Grebes remained in the Swale (two) and Dungeness. Two White-fronted Geese flew past Dungeness. Two Glossy Ibis remained at Worth.

At the end of October the unofficial Kent year list stood at 285. A total of 9 species were added in October: Red-flanked Bluetail, Radde's Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Auk, Pallid Harrier, Great Grey Shrike, Shore Lark and Lapland Bunting. What can we add in November (apart from the Pallid Swift), Dusky Warbler and perhaps a Parrot Crossbill seem possible candidates? Good luck.

 Peter Eerdmans

Northern Gannet - Andre Farrar

(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)