Osprey with Raven - Mark Chidwick

Two White-tailed Eagles flew over Bough Beech together on the 30th. After consulting the Roy Dennis Foundation they indicated that one was a female from the Isle of Wight introduction program born in 2021, but that the other was likely a true vragrant from the continent! Another intriguing rapter was a possible Pallid (or Montague's) Harrier high over Dungeness on the 27th. There also were a handful of Osprey crossing the county, with two past Bough Beech this week.

A male Ring Ouzel at Worth Marshes on the 30th was the first of the year. It was followed by another at Dungeness on 1 April. Willow Warblers arrived back, with the first on the 27th. Over 20 Wheatears on the beach at Dungeness was a nice arrival on the 26th, but other than that Spring migrants were quite sparse this week.

A Crane flew over Dungeness on the 26th, as did two Short-eared Owls on the 2nd. A White Stork was seen over Faversham on the 29th. Five Black-necked Grebes were on the ARC, Dungeness, from the 31st. The Red-flanked Bluetail was not reported this week, while the possible Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat that wintered in a garden in Lydd, turned out to be a normal Lesser Whitethroat following DNA analysis. A juvenile White-fronted Goose remained in the Otford area.

Black-necked Grebe - Martin Casemore

Sea-watching was quiet with low numbers passing. A Velvet Scoter past Cliftonville and a Black-throated Diver and three Manx Shearwater past Dungeness the only highlights. The Red-necked Grebe remained at Tankerton.

At the end of March, the unofficial Kent year list stood at 205, one ahead of the total this time last year. It was mostly the to-be-expected Summer migrants that were added in March, but Little Bunting, Smew, Black Kite and Serin were nice records. We should see a big pick up in terms of Summer migrants next week, with the likes of Yellow Wagtail, Common Tern, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Redstart and Hobby all good possibilities. 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)