After a series of five years with breeding attempts in the county, between 2014 and 2018, with successful fledging of young in the last two years, there were no breeding attempts this year. Hopes were raised when a pair arrived at Higham Marshes RSPB Reserve on Apr 18th, but the birds only remained until the 21st. Another two birds appeared at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Apr 20th which remained until the 24th and an adult male was seen at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve on May 22nd.

Oare Marshes, two adults and two juveniles, presumably those from Sheppey, 5th-19th May.

Sheppey, two adults, successfully bred rearing two young, May to June.

Sandwich Bay, female, 17th-18th June.

Oare Marshes, single bird, 4th June.

Cliffe Pools, male, probably from Stodmarsh, 22nd April, joined by female + a 2CY on 23rd, pair left after 24th April, immature stayed to 1st May.

Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry, male, 12th-14th April.

For the fourth year in succession birds made breeding attempts in Kent, this year successfully. The first record was of an adult male at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve on 31st March, the earliest recorded date for the county and first March record. A pair was present the next day which was joined by a further adult male from 6th April. After several local movements of these birds including a pair moving briefly to Vange Marshes RSPB Reserve in Essex, where a nesting pair was present which failed at the egg stage on 7th May; two pairs settled back at Cliffe from 9th, including the failed Essex pair. Nesting of both pairs commenced from 17th-18th May and eventually four young hatched from each nest during 11th-13th June. One of the adult males disappeared in the last week of June but the female successfully fledged all four young. The other pair lost one chick but successfully fledged the remaining three young. Thus, two pairs bred successfully and fledged a total of seven young. Ten birds remained at Cliffe until 1st August at least, after which a gradual dispersal took place with the pair and three juveniles departing to leave the female and four juveniles. The female was last seen on 10th August leaving the four juveniles of which two remained until 25th August, the last date that this species was observed in the county.

Away from Cliffe there were two at Elmley on 10th and 29th April, three at Northward Hill RSPB on 14th May, and three at Riverside Country Park on 23rd August. It is likely that the Elmley and Northward Hill records involved the Cliffe birds, wandering before settling to breed, whilst the birds at Riverside Country Park were three juveniles dispersing from Cliffe.

For the third year in succession birds made breeding attempts at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve and Higham Marshes RSPB Reserve, and accounted for all reports this year. The first record was of a female on13th April which was followed by the arrival of a pair on the 17th and a fourth bird the next day. Although two birds soon departed, a remaining pair was joined by another four birds on the 22nd which included a male and three females. Photographs revealed that the two males were returning birds from 2015. Subsequently three pairs made breeding attempts. On 10th May seven birds were present, the three breeding pairs and an unpaired, probably immature female. Of the three nests at Cliffe, two were in a protected area but one failed due to the removal of eggs from the nest by a male Stilt. The third nest was outside the protected area and failed due to egg predation, probably by a Red Fox. The two eggs from the remaining nest successfully hatched but the two chicks died during separate periods of torrential rain.

Remarkably, one of the earlier failed pairs re-nested nearby at Higham Marshes RSPB Reserve, but the eggs were predated by a group of Carrion Crows just 2-3 days before the eggs were expected to hatch. The last record was of two birds at Higham on 17th July.

Sevenoaks WR, two birds, 30th May.

Cliffe Pools RSPB, two birds, presumed same as Northward Hill, increasing to four, 16th April to 18th June.

Dungeness RSPB, two birds, 17th April.

Northward Hill RSPB, four birds, 16th April.

Higham Marshes, two to eight second-year birds, 14th-19th April.

Elmley NNR, two adults, 16th May.

Cliffe Pools, four birds, 15th May. Two remained and it was confirmed on 22nd May that they had a nest and eggs. The first confirmed breeding in Kent. The first chick was seen on 13th June, with four eventually hatching. Unfortunately all were predated, and the adults soon moved on, the last being seen on 17th June.

Scotney GP, male and female, 14th May.

Sandwich Bay, adult male, 1st May.

Dungeness RSPB, a flock of 10 birds arrived on the 10th April, but only one was present on 25th, two on 26th-27th, with one lingering on from 28th until 14th May.

Elmley RSPB, four birds, 5th May, with two remaining from 6th until 11th.

Harty Marshes, Sheppey, male, 7th April.

Dungeness, adult, 28th-29th May.

Elmley & Oare Marshes, male and female, 3rd-4th May.

Elmley, 3rd-4th May.

Another, Dungeness, 22nd-23rd June.

Dungeness, 4th May.

Dungeness, 9th-10th May.

Swale, 21st-25th May.

Northward Hill, two, 20th May.

Oare Marshes, mating pair of same (see Elmley), 27th -31st May, returning intermittently to Elmley.

Elmley, male, female and female or first-summer, 26th May.

Northward Hill, 9th-10th May.

West Hythe, first-winter, 7th September; presumed same as Essex bird.

Cliffe Pools, 10th-13th May; presumed same, 25th May (same as Eastborough Farm); also in Essex.

Eastborough Farm, two, 9th May.

Dungeness, 2nd May.

Dungeness, 11th July.

Dungeness, 8th June, later in Suffolk.

Cliffe Pools, 18th May.

Cliffe Pools, 30th-31st May.

Yantlet, 18th September.

Elmley and Oare Marshes, 10th-11th May.

Capel Fleet, male, 21st June to at least 22nd August, same bird as Essex individual.

Dungeness, 10th, 16th-17th and 24th June, and 6th July; same as West Sussex.

Stoke Lagoon, 29th May.

Hythe, Palmarsh, 23rd May.

Shellness, Sheppey, two, 29th September.

Lower Halstow Creek, adult, 26th September.

Shellness, Sheppey, immature, 15th September.

Stodmarsh, two, 12th May.

Cooling Marshes, two, 9th May.

The Wicks, May.

Brookland, adult, 16th May.

Near Faversham, shot, no date.