Ross’s Gull- Geoffrey Burton

What a start to the new year! An adult Ross's Gull was seen and photographed well on the beach at Swalecliffe on the 1st. It was only around briefly unfortunately before flying off over the water treatment works. It was seen well by three observers, rewarded for their diligent patch watching on New Year's Day. This is only the second record for Kent, with the first a fly-by at Dungeness in 2014, also in January. Hopefully it can be refound in coming days. 

There were plenty of other good sightings this week. A possible Siberian Lesser Whitethroat in a birder's garden at Lydd was intriguing. A Common Crane drifting over Dengemarsh on the 30th was another highlight, while a Dotterel among thousands of Golden Plover at Scotney GPs on the 30th was a good find. The Dusky Warbler at Minster was seen again on the 31st, while elusive it seems to give any year listers a good opportunity in coming days. Two Shore Larks remained on the beach at Conyer, while the Glossy Ibis remained at Worth. The Greater Scaup remained at New Hythe, while another returned(?) to Collard's Lake.

 
Lesser Whitethroat spec - Martin Casemore

Numbers of winter waterfowl remain good, with Tundra Bean Geese seen in particular good numbers, with 32 at Walland Marsh and 24 at Worth for instance. White-fronted Geese and Bewick's Swans continue to be seen in good numbers as well. Two Whooper Swans remained in the Walland area while six were seen flying past at Northwardhill this week.

Tundra Bean Goose - Rob Rackliffe

Sea-watching definitely was busier this week with thousand of Guillemots and good numbers of Red-throated Divers seen. Among the highlights were a Little Auk at Sandwich and a Red-necked Grebe past North Foreland. A Great Skua, a few Vellvet Scoter and Great Northern Divers were also reported.

Mid-winter birding certainly can be exciting as demonstrated this week. Good luck.  

Peter Eerdmans

Common Crane - 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)