American Wigeon - Martin Casemore

Bird of the week was a smart drake American Wigeon found by visiting birders at Scotney. It showed well all day on the 6th, could not be found on the 7th, but reappeared at Scotney on the 8th and then was at ARC, Dungeness RSPB, on the 9th (and back at Scotney on subsequent days). This is the 13th record for Kent and the first twitchable since 2000 as last year's bird at Tenderden, not too far from Scotney by the way, was unfortunately not at an accessible site. For those looking for the Wigeon on the 7th, a Red-necked Grebe at Scotney was a nice consolation, the first for Kent for the year. The Red-flanked Bluetail was only reported on the 7th, 11th and 12th this week, likely a sign of fewer birders looking for it. The Pallas's Watbler also went missing for a few weeks due to presumably a lack of birders visiting, but was seen again on the 12th at Faversham sewage works.  A Common Crane was seen again, this time flying over Minnis Bay on the 10th, while a White-tailed Eagle was seen over Iwade on the 6th flying towards Sheppey.

Red necked Grebe - Martin Casemore

The group of Tundra Bean Goose at Worth was back up to 27, while the four stayed at Walland Marsh with the three Pink-feet and 42 Bewick's Swans. A Slavonian Grebe remained on the sea at Swalecliffe while the Black-necked Grebe and Scaup remained at collards Lake. Five Scaup, of which two males, were again at Alpha Pool, Cliffe. Hen Harriers, Snow Bunting, Purple Sandpiper, Caspian Gulls, Short-eared Owl, Greater White-fronted Geese, Whooper and Bewick's Swans all continue to be seen in their usual winter places.

In terms of sea-watching, a few Little Gull and a Black-throated Diver were reported among decent numbers of Auks and Red-throated Divers.

Not much change in the weather as we inch towards Spring migration. 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)