| 2023 |
The increased frequency of Bee-eaters – and the difficulty of knowing how many of this mobile species occurred – continues. The year’s records started with a flock of 10 in Courtstairs Park, Ramsgate, on May 5th. At least one heard over Sandwich Bay, two or more over Betteshanger Park, and 10 flying W at Langdon Cliffs the same day are assumed to have been the same. Four flew NE at Langdon Cliffs and one flew over Dungeness at the point on May 22nd. One was feeding over Worth Marshes on May 24th, while on the 28th, one was heard flying W over North Foreland and two flew NE at Bockhill, probably different birds from the timings. Three were at Sandwich Bay on June 2nd-3rd and probably roosted there, and one was seen near Dungeness BO on the 6th. One was heard at Sandwich Bay on June 16th and one was heard at Seaton GP on the 25th. Autumn records began with one or more heard over Westgate-on-Sea on Aug 11th, then one at West Hougham on Aug 14th; those possibly were the same bird. One was heard at Bockhill on Aug 21st. |
| 2022 |
It was another good spring for this species. The first was one at South Foreland on May 16th, there were two inland at Hartley (Longfield) on the 19th, one N at Bockhill on the 20th, eight at South Foreland, Bockhill and Walmer on the 22nd, when birds were also heard calling at Worth Marshes and Dungeness, eight again at Bockhill on the 25th and two at Worth Marshes on the 30th. Further singles were reported at Bockhill on June 4th and 23rd, at Dungeness BO on July 9th and Kingsdown on the 10th. Lastly, there was one at Worth Marshes on Sept 3rd and the 4th. |
| 2021 |
A typical set of late spring records, but including a number of relatively large groups, giving a total of 40 birds, the second highest total for Kent. The first was one heard as it flew N at Walmer on May 25th. One was heard calling several times at Samphire Hoe and another was heard over Lydd on May 31st. One flew NE at South Foreland on June 2nd, and there were also singles at Dungeness that day and on the 5th. On June 8th, at least two were heard at Samphire Hoe and a little later a flock of ten was seen perched in hawthorns on the outskirts of Dover, before flying off; those two groups are assumed to have been the same. Nine flew in off the sea at Folkestone Warren on the 9th and were also heard but not seen at South Foreland. Also on June 9th, at least one was heard at Church Hougham and four moved N over Worth Marshes; based on timings these were different from the Folkestone nine. Finally, another flock of nine flew N at Sandwich Bay on July 1st. |
| 2020 |
A typical clutch of spring records, predominately from south coastal locations. There were singles at Dungeness BO on May 4th, Lade Pits on the 5th and Dungeness BO on the 7th, one at Southfleet on the 15th, two at Bockhill on the 23rd, one at South Foreland on both the 25th and the 27th, one over Greatstone on May 28th, then singles at Dungeness BO and flying NE at South Foreland on June 2nd and Sandwich Bay on the 13th. There was one autumn record, of one at Bockhill on Sept 7th. Treating those of May 4th-7th, and of May 23rd-27th as the same would give a year’s total of nine birds, but it is not possible to be sure. |
| 2019 |
Muswell Manor, Leysdown, single bird, 1st September.
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Dungeness, two birds at old lighthouse before heading north, 24th June.
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Rye Street, single bird, 21st June.
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Bockhill, single bird, 26th May. |
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 23rd May.
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Lade Pits, single bird, 21st May.
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| 2018 |
Dungeness BO, single bird, 7th June. |
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West Hougham, flock of six, 6th June.
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Littlestone, flock of five, 4th June.
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Littlestone, single bird, 23rd-24th May. Assumed same as Dungeness 19th-25th.
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Dungeness BO, one, assume same, 19th & 20th and 22nd & 25th May. |
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Sandwich Bay, single bird, 18th May.
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Dungeness BO, two birds, 11th May.
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| 2017 |
Worth Marshes, single bird, 5th July.
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Dengemarsh, single bird, 4th July.
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Broadstairs, single bird, 5th July. |
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Bockhill, single bird, 4th July.
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Stodmarsh, single bird, 22nd June. |
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 17th June.
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Foreness, single bird, 15th June.
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Pegwell Bay, single bird, 13th June.
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Dengemarsh, single bird, 9th June.
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Dungeness BO and RSPB, single bird, 2nd June.
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 27th May.
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Willop Basin, Hythe, flock of six, 26th May.
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Margate, single bird, 23rd May. |
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Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 23rd May.
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St. Margaret’s, single bird, 15th May.
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 15th May.
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Hythe, single bird, 14th May.
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| 2016 |
Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 23rd July.
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Stodmarsh, single bird, 19th June. |
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Margate, single bird, 4th June.
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Pegwell Bay, single bird, 19th May.
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Worth Marshes, two birds, 24th and 28th May.
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 9th May.
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| 2015 |
Deal, four birds, 5th August.
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Bockhill, three birds, 3rd August.
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Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 29th July.
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Bockhill, four birds, 10th July.
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Sandwich Bay, three birds, 10th July.
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Pegwell Bay, five birds, 8th July.
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Kingsdown and later Hawkinge, flock of seven, presumed same, 27th June.
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Dungeness RSPB, flock of ten birds, 25th June.
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Pegwell Bay, single bird, 19th May.
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Kingsdown, single bird, 16th May.
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Dover, five birds, 19th April.
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| 2014 |
Margate, single bird, 31st July.
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Dungeness RSPB, two birds, 1st June.
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Bockhill,group of three birds, 23rd May.
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Dungeness BO/RSPB, group of four birds, possibly same, 25th May.
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St. Mary-in-the-Marsh, group of four birds, possibly same, 24th May.
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Water Tower Pits, Dungeness, group of four birds, 24th May.
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New Romney, group of four birds, 23rd May.
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Dungeness/RSPB, single birds, on many dates between 17th-26th May.
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| 2013 |
Stonelees, single bird, 8th-10th June.
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Bockhill, single bird, 29th May.
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Grain, single bird, 25th May.
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Nicholls Quarry, and Hythe, single bird, 24th May.
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Dungeness Point, single bird, 24th May.
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Saltwood, Folkestone, a flock of ten, 14thMay.
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| 2012 |
Kingsgate, single bird, 10th June.
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Shellness, four birds, 27th May.
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Fowlmead CP, three birds, 24th May.
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Foreness, six birds present, 21st May.
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Dungeness, single birds present, 17th, 19th, and 22nd May.
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| 2011 |
Margate cemetery, one flew over, 19th May. |
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Dunkirk, one flew WNW, 14th May. |
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Dungeness RSPB, one, 12th May. |
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Stonelees, one, 11th May. |
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Fairfield, one, 29th-30th April. |
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Dungeness RSPB, one, 22nd April. |
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Broadstairs, Bleak Hose, five flew out to sea, 22nd April. |
| 2010 |
Samphire Hoe, two birds flew west, 8th June.
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Dungeness BO, single bird, 24th May.
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| 2009 |
Dungeness RSPB, single bird present, 24th July.
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Clay Hill, Dargate, single bird flew west, 29th May.
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Bough Beech, three birds, 25th May.
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| 2008 |
Worth Marshes, 3 birds flew over, 13th June.
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Dungeness, single bird, 6th June.
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Samphire Hoe, single bird, 3rd June.
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Sandwich Bay, single bird, 14th May.
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Church Hougham, single bird, 14th May.
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Whitstable, single bird heard calling, 13th May.
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Dungeness RSPB, single bird present, 12th May.
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| 2007 |
Dungeness, single bird, 27th May.
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Reculver, single bird flew north-west, 23rd May.
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| 2006 |
Dungeness, single bird, 30th-31st May.
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| 2005 |
Dungeness BO, single bird heard, 16th July.
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Kingsgate, three birds west, 28th May.
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Kingsgate, two birds, 19th May.
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Whiteness, Foreness, single bird, 18th May.
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| 2004 |
Foreness, 3 birds flew over, 9th June.
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Seasalter, 10 birds flew west, 6th June.
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Pegwell Bay, single bird, 24th May.
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Stonar, two birds, 22nd May.
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Abbotscliffe, single bird, 18th May.
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St. Margaret's, single bird, 18th May.
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Dungeness, party of five adults flew over, 16th May. Later tracked via St. Margaret's, Bockhill, and Kingsdown to Sandwich Bay.
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| 2003 |
Kingsdown, one south, 22nd July.
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Shuart Farm, St. Nicholas-at-Wade, single bird, 13th July.
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Dungeness RSPB, single bird present, 6th July.
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| 2002 |
Kingsdown, single bird, 4th September.
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Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 15th July.
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Rye Street, single bird, 28th June.
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St. Margaret's, single bird, 20th June, and again later at Bockhill.
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Bockhill, single bird, heard only, 31st May.
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Dungeness, single bird, 9th May.
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| 2001 |
St. Margaret's, single bird west, 31st May.
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Capel-le-Ferne, one present, 25th May.
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| 1999 |
Dungeness, single bird, 2nd July.
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Deal, single bird, 12th June.
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Capel-le-Ferne, one present, 16th May.
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West Stourmouth, four birds present, 10th May.
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| 1998 |
Pegwell Bay, single bird, 10th June.
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Dungeness, single bird present, 23rd May.
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| 1997 |
Dungeness, single bird, 8th September.
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Bockhill, single bird, 12th August.
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St. Margaret's, single bird, 29th-30th May.
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Dungeness, single bird, 25th May.
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Birchington, six birds frequented Quex Park, 15th-16th May.
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St. Margaret’s, one flew past, 9th May.
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| 1995 |
Whitstable, one east, 13th September.
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| 1993 |
Dungeness, one flew north-west, 5th June.
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St. Margaret's, one north, 2nd June.
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Foreness, one flew west, 19th May.
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| 1992 |
Foreness, one flew south, 20th May.
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Sandwich Bay, one present, 11th May.
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| 1991 |
Walderslade, four flew over, 24th August.
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Dungeness, five present on 27th July, with another on 1st August.
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Sandwich Bay, one flew west, 21st July.
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Cliffe, five birds, 21st July. |
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Coney Hill, Dover, four flew east, 14th July.
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Littlestone, single bird, 3rd July.
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Kingsdown, two birds flew north, 29th June.
Probably same two birds flew west, Reculver, an hour and a half later.
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Dungeness, 4-6 birds present, 31st May.
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| 1990 |
Foreness, one flew west, 16th May.
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| 1989 |
St. Margaret's, a party of five birds flew up-channel, 28th May, and presumed same, four flew south at Sandwich Bay on 29th.
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Foreness, single bird, 24th May.
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| 1988 |
Dungeness, one seen on 13th June, with another on 6th September.
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| 1987 |
Foreness, one flew west, 5th July.
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Walmer, party of six birds, watched for two hours, 20th June.
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| 1986 |
Dungeness, one flew north-west, 7th June.
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Dungeness, one in off sea, and stayed for 15 minutes before flying off to S, 16th May.
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| 1981 |
Kingsgate, single bird, 16th June.
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Westcliffe, Ramsgate, one present, 13th June.
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| 1979 |
Iwade, single bird, 3rd July.
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St. Margaret’s, one flew south-east out to sea, 19th May.
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| 1978 |
Dungeness, one flew over, 21st May.
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| 1974 |
Dungeness, singles on 19th May and 7th August.
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| 1971 |
Dungeness, one flew south-east over Channel, 8th June.
|
| 1969 |
Sandwich Bay, one hawking insects, 25th May.
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| 1958 |
Betteshanger, single bird, 11th July.
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| 1955 |
St. Mary's Bay, Dymchurch, flock of ca.12, 25th-26th September. These birds are believed to originate from the East Sussex breeding colony, where 13 birds were seen to fly east from the previous day, and were not to return.
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Sandwich Bay Estate, one present, 6th June.
|
| 1953 |
Sevenoaks, seen in flight, 15th May.
|
| 1882 |
Mereworth, near Wrotham, adult, 24th June.
|
| pre-1884 |
Lydd, adult, shot. Exact date unknown. Bird was in Dover Museum.
|
| 1827 |
Kingsgate, Thanet, one shot, May.
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Kent Ornithological Society 
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