Hooded Merganser - Terry Laws

Who would have thought that another mega would be found in Kent just two days after last week's Ross's Gull, and then only 5 miles along the coast... But that's what happened as a local birder reported an adult Siberian Thrush on the 3rd at Seasalter. Unfortunately no photos were obtained and subsequent searches were unsuccessful, although a distant dark thrush with possibly a light supercilium in the same area on the 5th was intriguing. If accepted it would be a first record for Kent.

Two Hooded Mergansers that spent an afternoon at Leybourne Lakes on the 4th also caused a bit of a stir. Unringed and in good condition, a female and young male showed up at the right time of year and in a location that has a history of attracting American birds.. Understandably it caused a bit of a twitch, although the fact that they were in the presence of five Fulvous Whistling Ducks ultimately swung consensus towards the birds being of 'suspicious origin'. More straightforward good birds during the week, were a juvenile Glaucous Gull that flew past Foreness Point and Cliftonville on the 5th and a female-type Long-tailed Duck on Prince's Reservoir at Sandwich from the 2nd till the 4th, when the lake froze over.

Long-tailed Duck - Nigel Jarman

Other than that, the mix of winter birds stayed relatively stable compared to last week. Bewick's and Whooper Swans continue to be seen on Walland Marsh and Capel Fleet, Tundra Bean Goose remain at Worth Marsh and in the Stodmarsh area, while the number of White-fronted Geese seems to have increased, with over 230 at Worth Marshes. Four Snow Buntings remain on Prince's Beach, Sandwich. The Great Northern Diver was at Burrowes, Dungeness most of the week, while nearby the probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat continued to frequent the birder's garden. Greater Scaup were at Collard's Lake, Cliffe Pools and New Hythe but did move about as ice appeared. Seven Spoonbills were at Oare. Up to six Hen Harriers came into roost at Grove Ferry (as well as up to 23 Marsh Harriers), while the number of Short-eared Owls seems on the low side this year, with only four reported this week.

In terms of sea-watching (outside of the Glaucous Gull), a Little Auk was seen flying past North Foreland, sightings seem more regular than usual this winter for this species. A Slavonian Grebe was off Tankerton on the 8th, five Great Northen Divers were seen at Foreness on the 2nd, while two Black-throated Divers flew past North Foreland this week.

More rain is forecast in the coming week, which may make for tough birding, but hopefully more good birds will show up. Good luck.

Peter Eerdmans

(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)