Bluethroat

Details
Super User
Kent List records

With over 100 records between 1842 and 1976, comprising more than 130 birds, this species would not normally be included in this list. However, as a species which causes great interest amongst birders, it is included here. Selected records pre-1977, and all records since are shown.

Red-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica svecica

Scarce spring and common autumn migrant

1977

Sandwich Bay, immature male, trapped 19th September.
 

Dungeness, one trapped, 25th-26th September, with second bird present on 26th.

1978

Foreness Point, single bird, 2nd October.
1979 Sandwich Bay, male, singing & later trapped, 1st June.
  Elmley, single bird, RSPB Reserve, 5th September.
  Pegwell Bay, single bird, 3rd October.
  Pegwell Bay, single bird, 10th-14th October.

1980

Pegwell Bay, male, 2nd October.

1981

Aycliffe, Dover, male, 16th March.
 

Sandwich Bay, female, 17th May.
 

Sandwich Bay, single bird, 29th August.
 

Dungeness Pits, single bird, 13th September.

1984

Hadlow, male, 13th-14th May.
 

Sandwich Bay, male, 21st May.
 

Leysdown, single bird, 16th September.

1985

Foreness, single bird, 4th April.
 

Sandwich Bay, one trapped, 15th May.
 

Cliffe, single bird, 16th June.
 

Sandwich Bay, one trapped, 21st October.

1986

Sevenoaks Weald , male, 1st June.
 

Foreness, single bird, 18th September.

1987

Foreness, single birds, 22nd and 24th May.
 

Dungeness, single bird, 26th May.
 

Foreness, single bird, 26th August.

1988

Foreness, single bird, 28th April.

1989

Dungeness, first year male, 12th September.

1991

Sandwich Bay, female, 2nd-5th May.

1994

Foreness, single bird, 18th-19th October.

1995

Kingsgate, Foreness, adult male, 22nd September.

1996

Bockhill, St. Margaret's, single bird, 28th March.
 

Sandwich Bay, male, 11th April.
 

Abbotscliffe, female, 13th-14th April.
 

Foreness, male, 19th May.
 

Chambers Wall, Reculver, female, 16th September.

1997

Hoo Peninsula, female, 13th May.

1998

Foreness, two birds, 28th March.
 

Pegwell Bay, single bird, 28th March.
 

Coldharbour, Reculver, first-winter bird, 10th October.

1999

Stodmarsh, male, 29th May.

2001

Tenants Hills, Deal, single bird, 18th March.
 

Swalecliffe, female, 27th March.

2006

Pegwell Bay, adult male, 26th March.

2007

Sandwich Bay, male, 21st October.

2010

Kingsdown, single bird, 4th October.

2011

South Swale LNR, adult male, 17th May.
 

Oare Marshes, single bird, 21st May, presumed same bird as South Swale.

2013

Dungeness, male, 17th May.

2014

Grove Ferry, single bird, 18th April.

2016

Sandown, Deal, juvenile, 25th August.
2021 Bockhill, single bird, 10th October.

White-spotted Bluethroat Luscinia svecica cyanecula

Scarce spring and common autumn migrant

1936

Dungeness, lighthouse garden, adult male, 22nd September.

1942

Hothfield, nr. Ashford, single bird, 2nd February.

1959

West Malling, adult male, 5th May.

1960

Dungeness, adult male, trapped 16th September.
 

Dungeness, juvenile, 19th September.

1961

Sandwich Bay, adult male, trapped 1st April.

1960

Dungeness, adult male, trapped 26th September.
 

Dungeness, adult male, trapped 30th September.

1968

Dungeness, single bird, 15th April.

1972

Shellness, Sheppey, adult male in song, 9th April.

1980

Dungeness, male, trapped 21st September.

1987

Foreness, single bird, 31st March.
 

Minnis Bay, single bird, 4th April.

1988

Dover Docks, male, trapped 23rd March.

1992

Reculver, male, trapped 29th March.
1996 Sandwich Bay, male, 6th April.

2002

Palmarsh, single bird, 17th March.

2008

Dungeness, male photographed, 8th April.

2013

Samphire Hoe, female, 27th March until 6th April.
 

Bockhill, male, 1st-6thApril.

2015

Nagden Marshes, male, 13th April.
 

Grove Ferry, male, 30th May.

2018

Dengemarsh, male, 18th-19th March.
  Dengemarsh, male, 18th-25th March.
2020 Samphire Hoe, male, 24th March.
Super User
Uncategorised

The Kent Ornithological Society was founded in 1952

Our aims are to record and monitor the county’s bird life providing both an accurate historical record of Kent’s birds but equally importantly providing data that can be used to help protect valuable habitats from development and other threats.

In doing this, we seek increase knowledge and understanding of birds and their habitats in the county and encourage and support people seeking to take up birdwatching as a hobby.

Membership of the society is open to all and costs £15 a year. Members receive a free copy of the annual Kent Bird Report and regular electronic newsletters. See details

The Society runs regular online talks and an outdoor programme of field meetings. They are opportunities for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers to meet others in the county and to develop their knowledge and skills.

We are a charity regulated by the Charity Commission registered as charity number 212489.

Membership

Join the Society or renew your membership  

to help record and monitor bird life in Kent

Member benefits include:

  • A free copy of the annual Kent Bird Report
  • Regular newsletters throughout the year
  • Special access to the bird sighting database
  • On line meetings and talks
  • Free guided field trips

Next events

 KOS at Dungeness 

15/02/2026 1000-1600hrs

Winter gulls and wildfowl on the RSPB Reserve. More details

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Online Talk 

18/2/2026 1930hrs

Steffan Walton - 'Behind the scenes' at SBBOT

More details 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

KOS Field Outing 

22/02/2026 TBC

Location TBC. More details

 

KOS Social Media