Please join in during the Big Kent Bird Migration Day this Sunday, 27 September

See below for details

Grey Phalarope - Terry Laws

The first Yellow-browed Warblers of the autumn arrived on the 21st, always a lovely milestone. One was at Dungeness, one at Bockhill and one in King George IV Park. A Glossy Ibis, a scarce bird so far this year in Kent, was at Dengemarsh on the 23rd and 24th. A possible Western Bonnelli's Warbler was reported from Seasalter on the 23rd, but unfortunately was quite elusive. A 1st-winter Grey Phalarope at Snodland was a lot more cooperative showing well on the 19th and 20th. A Red-necked Phalarope, probably a different bird than earlier in the autumn, made a one day appearance on the south side of the ARC, Dungeness on the 20th, while the White-winged Tern was still seen at Dungeness on the 19th. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper found on the 18th at Bough Beech was a good inland record. It stayed for three days, with another at Dungeness from the 20th. A Red-backed Shrike was at Lydd army camp on the 22nd.

Pectoral Sandpiper - Martin Casemore

Several Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and Spotted Redshank were reported from the usual locations. An Osprey was seen hunting at Riverside CP on the 19th and at South Swale on the 24th, while two and a Honey Buzzard flew over Dungeness during the week. A couple of Garganey remained at Stodmarsh, where the juvenile Purple Heron was also seen again. A few Common Redstart, Grasshopper Warbler and Pied Flycatcher were seen (eg at Dungeness, South Foreland and Bockhill).

Sea-watching was less eventful than the previous two weeks, but Dungeness still recorded some 75 Balearic Shearwaters plus a couple of Sooty Shearwater. A Long-tailed Skua flew past Seasalter on the 21st, while a Pomarine Skua was seen at North Foreland on the 22nd.

Long-tailed Skua - Mark Chidwick

Hopefully with many birders out birding during the Big Kent Bird Migration Day this Sunday, lots will be found. Enjoy!

Peter Eerdmans

Grasshopper Warbler - Brendan Ryan

(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)