Isabelline Wheatear - Martin Casemore

Bird of the week was a Crag Martin at Worth on the 12th. After it was discovered by one of the locals it was seen a further three times but only briefly and distantly. There is a bit of an influx of Crag Martins in England and northern Europe at the moment, so hopefully it, or another, will be found again. If accepted it will be the second record for Kent. After avoiding detection for three days, the Isabelline Wheatear was seen again on the 7th and often showed well at the bottom of Dengemarsh Gully till at least the 12th, providing relief for those who didn't see it last week, and offering a nice opportunity for better views for those that did. Another good bird in the Dungeness area was a Rough-legged Buzzard that flew over the Point on the 8th. While it used to be a regular winter visitor it is now rare in the county, with this being the first sighting since 2023. Another new bird for the Kent year list was a Waxwing which was on show in Deal on the 6th and 7th, with another at Cliffsend on the 12th. Hopefully more will show up this winter.

Rough-legged Buzzard - James Dee

Further highlights included the Ring-necked Duck that remained at Scotney and a ringtail Pallid Harrier that flew past North Foreland on the 6th. Several Tundra Bean Geese were seen during the week with 8 at Reculver and 5 at Monkton, along larger groups of White-fronted Geese. Five Bewick's Swans have returned to Walland Marsh, while a Whooper Swan was at Reculver on the 11th. Greater Scaups were at New Hythe (1), Scotney (2) and Seasalter (2).  The male Long-tailed Duck seems to have moved on from the North Foreland area, but a female was seen there from the 8th. Fifteen Snow Buntings remained at Sandwhich with others seen at Seasalter, Dungeness, Graveney, Hoo, Pegwell and Ramsgate. A Lapland Bunting flew over Ramsgate on the 12th. The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at Bockhill while several Siberian Chiffchaffs were seen.

There were some surprising late summer visitors still seen with a Whitethroat at Monkwall on the 8th and a European Turtle Dove at Oare on the 7th (the latter might deserve further scrutiny given the chance of an Oriental Turtle Dove this time of year..).

Waxwing - Nigel Jarman

Sea-watching was quiet, with just a couple of Velvet Scoter the highlight.

We are getting into late autumn, will we see even more good birds? Good luck!

Peter Eerdmans

Ring-necked Duck - 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)