During the first winter, there were up to eight birds in each of the Swale and the Stour valley, and 10 at Dungeness. In the summer, smaller flocks were at Sheppey and Thames near breeding colonies, but none were seen in South between mid-April and early July. Three pairs are considered to have bred at two sites in North, with one pair fledging three young.

Nesting was confirmed at one site in North, where two young fledged, and suspected at a second site, where birds were present in the summer, but no young seen.

Counts were higher in the second half of the year, perhaps because birds tend to flock up more then but possibly also because of continued influxes from elsewhere. However, peak counts were lower than in 2021.

Counts were usually relatively small in the Thames and Medway areas, but there were 17 at Allhallows Marshes on Sept 11^th and 12 at Riverside CP on Nov 4^th. Peaks on the Swale were 20 flying W in a single flock at Swalecliffe on Aug 22^nd and the October WeBS count of 18. Substantial numbers were in the Stour valley throughout autumn, with maxima of 16 at Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry on July 30^th, and at Seaton GP on Nov 17^th. In the Dungeness area also, numbers remained fairly high through the autumn, with counts of 14 reported from mid-October to early December.

Flocks of three or four birds were reported in North and East in the first winter period but it is not known if these were the same birds. There was a slight increase in spring and summer as birds congregated close to the recently established colonies in the North where eight pairs fledged nine young at two colonies. There was an increase in the autumn with a flock of 35 at Elmley on Sep 20^th. This is more than the known fledged young so probably includes birds bred outside the county. Numbers decreased in the second winter when most birds were seen in the Dungeness area. Numbers there peaked at 19 in November.

During the first quarter four birds were regularly reported in the Dungeness area and there were occasional reports of birds at: Ash on Jan 8^th, Sheppey (three) and Funton Creek on Jan 19^th, Smeeth (four) from Jan 23^rd-Feb 16^th, Lower Halstow on Jan 31^st, Feb 3^rd and Feb 27^th, Faversham on Feb 12^th, and St Mary’s Marsh (four) from Mar 19^th-31^st.

In the spring one-four birds were seen regularly at widespread sites around the county, particularly along the Swale and Thames as well as at Dungeness. Highest counts were five at Allhallows on Apr 8^th, six at Stoke on Apr 19^th, up to eight on either side of the Swale in April and May, and five at Dungeness RSPB Reserve during the same period. Breeding was confirmed for the first time in the county at Northward Hill RSPB Reserve. Two pairs were considered to have bred and at least two juveniles were seen in the heronry (RSPB). Breeding was suspected at a second site in north Kent.

Upper Stoke, single bird, 25th November.

Grain, single bird, 18th November.

Worth Marshes/SBBO/Hackinge, single bird, 11th November until 19th December.

Dartford Marshes, single bird, 30th October.

Ramsgate, flock of 20 birds flew south, 20th October.

Elmley, up to 7 birds, 15th September until 8th December.

Dungeness RSPB, up to 13 birds, 30th August until 31st December.

Cooling Marshes, single bird, 3rd June.

Stodmarsh, single, 7th and again 28th-29th July.

Grove Ferry, single, 6th May.

Swalecliffe, single bird flew south-east, 5th May.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 20th-28th April.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 16th-29th October.

Dungeness RSPB, adult and four juveniles, 31st August until 12th September.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 6th-9th July.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 5th-11th June.

Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh/Collards Lake area, single bird, 10th-24th April.

Wickhambreaux/Stodmarsh area, single bird, 2nd-15th January.

Biddenden, single bird from 2016, remained until 2nd January.

Biddenden, single bird, 16th-28th December.

Preston/Chislet Marshes, single bird, 29th October until 21st December.

Samphire Hoe, single bird, 3rd December.

Sandwich, single bird, 18th-19th August.

Grove Ferry, three birds, 30th July.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 19th June until 9th December.

Biddenden, single bird, 6th February until 17th April.

Preston Marshes, single bird, 12th September.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 9^th September until 4^th October.

Worth Marshes, single bird, 10^th June.

Nr. Ham Street Woods, single bird, possibly one of the Dungeness birds, was recorded from 9th-15th February, 23rd-24th March, and from 2nd-19th May.

Dungeness area, two birds remained from 2014 until at least 26th April with up to five seen going to roost on 14th January.

Dengemarsh, a single bird, 1st October, was joined by a second on 3rd November, and a third on 15th.The three remained until the 19th, with the remaining two present until the year end.

Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, three birds, 2nd June.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 20th-21st May, later relocated at Lade Pits on 24th.

Northward Hill RSPB, full breeding plumage, 18th-22nd May.

North Quarry, Cliffe, adult coming into summer plumage, 14th May. Probably the same bird was later seen at Higham Marshes on 15th and 17^th, and assumed same as Grove Ferry.

Grove Ferry, non-breeding adult, 22nd April until 11th May, and moved to Higham/Shorne Marshes from 14th-18th.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird 18th December.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 30th August.

Elmley RSPB, single bird, 15th-26th August.

Wouldham, single bird, 29th July.

Dartford Marshes, single bird, possibly the Dungeness bird, 26th August, seen to fly across Thames towards Rainham, Essex.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 8th-23rd August.

Lydd-on-Sea, single bird, 11th October, moving to Dungeness RSPB on 12th, and remaining in the area until 17th December.

Elmley, single bird, flew south, 14th August.

Harty Church, adult, 18th November.

Walmer Castle, adult, 19th April.

Grove Ferry, two birds, 19th October.

Grove Ferry, adult and juvenile, 21st-22nd July, with the juvenile remaining until 24th.

Sevenoaks WR, single bird, 31st January.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 18th-20th September.

Elmley RSPB, two birds roosting, 7th September.

Grove Ferry, single bird, 23rd July to 7th August.

Samphire Hoe, single bird, present for five minutes before flying off west, 24th April.

Elmley, adult, 22nd September to 22nd November. Also reported at Oare Marshes, 28th September, and at South Swale LNR, 20th November.

Sandwich Bay, adult, 4th August.

Sandwich Bay, partial summer, 24th May. Possibly same as that at Oare Marshes.

Oare Marshes, partial summer, flew off east, 24th May.

Dungeness Reserve, adult, 30th August.

Oare Marshes, 12th-13th April.

Walland Marsh, three, 28th June to 1st July; presumed one of same, Dungeness Reserve, 2nd July.

Graveney, 16th-22nd January.

Stodmarsh, 15th May.

Dungeness, adult in summer plumage, 1st May; presumed same, Sandwich Bay, 2nd.

Stodmarsh, adult, 7th-8th May.

Wittersham, 22nd July until16th August, probable escape.