Kent Ornithological Society 
Ardea alba
Vagrant, becoming increasingly common, especially during winter months
| 2023 | During the first winter one-two were reported at many sites in East and North, with a maximum of eight at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Mar 19th. A slight increase in flock size was reported in the spring with six at Stodmarsh on May 14th. In the late summer and autumn there was a further increase with 14 at Stodmarsh on Sept 3rd, 15 at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Sept 18th and 11 at Shellness flying out of mist to land on the shingle on Oct 10th. |
| 2022 | During the first six months, one or two birds were recorded at sites throughout the county, with up to five on the Thames marshes and eight at Dungeness RSPB Reserve during WeBS counts. Generally, numbers increased during the second half of summer with 10 or more regularly reported at Dungeness. The peak count at the RSPB Reserve there was 22 on Oct 25th. A flock of 19 landed at Shellness during a foggy morning on Oct 9th before dispersing when the fog lifted. Among other coastal movements were two birds flying SE out to sea at Dungeness on Nov 21st. |
| 2021 |
There were records of between one and three birds at many sites in the county throughout the year with most in the east and the south. In the first winter period groups of five or more were recorded at Dungeness, with seven there on Feb 5th, five at New Hythe on Feb 11th, six on Chislet Marshes on Feb 18th and seven at Grove Ferry on Feb 27th. After lower numbers in spring, numbers rose, with peak counts in the second half of the year including 10 at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on July 1st, six at Elmley on Sept 20th, 12 at Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry on Oct 15th, and nine going to roost at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Nov 16th. A few were seen flying along the coast in places such as Bockhill away from wetland habitat. Single birds were seen to fly in off the sea at Dungeness on Apr 28th, and out to sea at Foreness on May 5th, Dungeness on June 23rd and Copt Point on Oct 30th. |
| 2017 |
The Dungeness peninsula was the most important area for this species with 15 throughout January, one or two birds summering and then an influx of ten birds in September with up to 20 birds in October, numbers then declining to 10 in November and six in December. Elsewhere in the county there were records of single birds in the coastal wetlands of the Thames, Medway, Swale and Pegwell Bay but is unknown how many refer to the same bird. Eight birds were seen in the Stour Valley on Sept 24th and two birds were seen in Pegwell Bay. A colour ringed bird that had been ringed as a nestling in the Somerset Levels earlier in the year and seen at Sandwich on July 17th remained until mid-August giving a clue to the origin of some of these birds. |
| 2016 |
At Dungeness birds were present throughout the year with up to eight in the first winter period but only one or two birds during the spring and early summer. There was an influx of birds later in the year with 12 in July, 11 in September, 16 in October, 17 in November and 13 in December. Elsewhere in the county birds were seen periodically throughout the year at Bough Beech, on the Swale and Sheppey, in the Stour Valley and Pegwell Bay areas. Other records included sightings at Eastwell Park on 10th-15th January, at Conningbrook on 13th January and 14th December, at East Farleigh on 11th May, at Grain on 9th October and at Darenth on 29th November. |
| 2015 |
During the first winter period there were regular counts of between three and five birds at Dungeness RSPB Reserve with reports of presumably the same birds elsewhere on the peninsula. There was a maximum count there of 12 on 7th February. Away from Dungeness, single birds were seen at Conningbrook between 11th-29th, one at Shorne on the 23rd, and at Bockhill on the 30th. Up to four birds were recorded at Dungeness throughout the spring while elsewhere in the county there was one at Pegwell-Sandwich on 8th-28thMarch, two at Chetney on the 8th, with five near Hamstreet on 10th April, one at Reculver on the 18th and one at Bough Beech on 11th-22nd. During the summer the maximum count in the Dungeness area was two on 25th March and four at Scotney on 18th June. Elsewhere there was one at Stodmarsh from 19th- 28th May, one at South Swale on the 23rd. There was one at Bough Beech from June 9th-17th June, one at Sandwich Bay on the 12th, one at Pegwell Bay on 29th-30th July and one at Capel Fleet on 8th -22nd August. Throughout the autumn and winter, birds were recorded at Dungeness with a maximum of 10 birds at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on 10th October. Elsewhere single birds were at Elmley on 23rd-29th September, at Reculver on 5th October and 1st November, two at Samphire Hoe on 18th October, and one at Stodmarsh from 5th November until 27th December with, presumably, the same bird being seen at Seaton on 16th November and 15th December. |
| 2014 |
Like recent years there were many records throughout 2014, and as usual the majority was from South during winter. This year there was a probable minimum of 40 individuals over the period, with a possible total as high as 50. |
| 2013 |
There were many records throughout the year, but as is becoming the norm, the majority was from South during winter. Overall, there was a probable minimum of 50 individuals during the year, with a possible total as high as 70. |
| 2012 |
There was a minimum of four birds touring the county during January, with eight birds reported during February. In March there were possibly five birds. Only one bird was reported during April, that from Dungeness RSPB, with only two during May. These three reports, for April and May, were probably new migrants. There was only one record during July, with five birds reported during August. During September there was up to five birds present in the Stour Valley, with two more in the Dungeness area. Dungeness produced up to five birds towards the end of October, with seven birds reported from elsewhere, including that of three birds at Rodmersham. November produced reports of up to nine birds, with up to four on Dungeness RSPB reserve on several dates to the 23rd. Five birds were found on the Dungeness RSPB during December, with two other records from elsewhere. Overall, an estimated minimum of 15 individuals were present in the County during the year, with a possible total of 20 birds. |
| 2011 |
The bird which appeared on Worth Marshes at the end of 2010 remained until at least 6th March. Reports elsewhere in the early part of the year came from the Burmarsh area between 9th-24th January, Westbere on 16th February, Dungeness RSPB Reserve on 28th March, and Oare Marshes On 15th April. One re-appeared on Dungeness RSPB Reserve on 1st June and stayed until the end of the year, being joined by a second bird on 7th November and then a third individual on 28th December. Two flew E past Samphire Hoe on 5th July. In October there was one at Reculver on 2nd, with two there on 6th, when there was also one at Oare Marshes, while on 31st, one flew out of Faversham Creek and was seen later that day on the Swale NNR and then at Swalecliffe the following day. One at Bilting on 1st November was possibly the bird seen at Chartham on 4th and at Conningbrook on 13th while one-two birds frequented various locations on Sheppey and along the Swale throughout November-December. Two were in the Appledore area from 17th Nov until at least 6th December. On 4th December, one appeared, or re-appeared, on Worth Marshes and seemed prepared to overwinter. |
| 2010 | Eastwell Lake, two birds in trees, 20th October. |
| Wouldham, single bird, 10th October. | |
| Dungeness RSPB, single bird, probably that from West Hythe, 2nd March, being recorded almost daily until 2nd October at least. | |
| West Hythe, single bird, 10th January, and lingered on until the end of February. | |
| 2009 | Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 15th August, remained in Dengemarsh area until 14th December. |
| Elmley, single bird flew south, 29th September. | |
| Reculver, single bird, flew NW, 29th June. | |
| Oare Marshes, single bird, 23rd May. | |
| Stoke Lagoon/Yantlet Marsh, single bird, 10th-13th April. | |
| Sandwich Bay, one flew NW, 3rd April. | |
| 2008 | Grain/Stoke Lagoon, single bird, 13th and 15th October. |
| Dengemarsh, probably same bird as Stodmarsh/Westbere, 10th June. | |
| Stodmarsh/Westbere, single bird, 6th June. | |
| 2007 | Sandwich Bay, one flew south, 27th November. |
| Dungeness, one flew in off sea, 15th August. | |
| 2006 | Seasalter, single bird, 11th September. |
| Grove Ferry, single bird, 9th July. | |
| Harty Marshes, single bird, 8th-10th February. | |
| 2005 | Dungeness, same 3 birds flew SE out to sea, 18th October. |
| Elmley, 3 birds, 17th October. | |
| Seaton, single birds reported on 15th January, 13th February, and 12th March, probably same individual. | |
| 2004 | Cliffe Pools, 1st September, also colour-ringed. It was later seen at Rye Harbour on 26th September. |
| Bough Beech, 31st August to 1st September, had been colour-ringed as nestling at Lac du Grand-Lieu in western France on 15th May 2004. It was later seen in South Yorkshire on 2nd-22nd September. | |
| 2003 | Pegwell Bay, 22nd August, flew off North-East. |
| Scotney Court GP, colour-ringed bird, 12th-17th July, and again Dungeness RSPB, 21st July. | |
| 2002 | Capel Fleet, 20th October. |
| Elmley, 10th-26th August. | |
| Nr. Cliffe, 8th-9th July. | |
| 2000 | Newenden, 13th-16th December. |
| Dungeness, 22nd October; presumed same, Walland Marsh, 25th-28th. | |
| Bough Beech Reservoir, 2nd September; possibly same as East Sussex, 30th July. | |
| 1999 | Elmley, 6th August. |
| 1998 | Dungeness, 8th-14th July. |
| 1996 | Bough Beech Reservoir, 5th-14th January; same as East Sussex, West Sussex, and Hampshire. |
| 1995 | Dungeness, 13th August. |
| 1990 | Dungeness, 8th August; presumed same, Stodmarsh 23rd August to mid-October, also in Sussex. |
| 1988 | Dungeness, 3rd August. |
| 1977 | Stodmarsh, 5th may; later same day at St. Margaret's Bay. |
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