Kent Ornithological Society Providing information about birds and birdwatching in Kent

1977

Stodmarsh, 5th may; later same day at St. Margaret's Bay.

1988

Dungeness, 3rd August.

1990

Dungeness, 8th August; presumed same, Stodmarsh 23rd August to mid-October, also in Sussex.

1995

Dungeness, 13th August.

1996

Bough Beech Reservoir, 5th-14th January; same as East Sussex, West Sussex, and Hampshire.

1998

Dungeness, 8th-14th July.

1999

Elmley, 6th August.

2000

Bough Beech Reservoir, 2nd September; possibly same as East Sussex, 30th July.

Dungeness, 22nd October; presumed same, Walland Marsh, 25th-28th.

Newenden, 13th-16th December.

2002

Nr. Cliffe, 8th-9th July.

Elmley, 11th-26th August.

Capel Fleet, 20th October.

2003

Scotney GP, colour-ringed bird, 12th-17th July, and again Dungeness RSPB, 21st July.

Pegwell Bay, 22nd August, flew off North-East.

2004

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.

Cliffe Pools, 1st September, also colour-ringed. It was later seen at Rye Harbour on 26th September.

2005

Seaton, single birds reported on 15th January, 13th February, and 12th March, probably same individual.

Elmley, 3 birds, 17th October.

Dungeness, same 3 birds flew SE out to sea, 18th October.

2006

Harty Marshes, single bird, 8th-10th February.

Grove Ferry, single bird, 9th July.

Seasalter, single bird, 11th September.

2007

Dungeness, one flew in off sea, 15th August.

Sandwich Bay, one flew south, 27th November.

2008

Stodmarsh/Westbere, single bird, 6th June.

Dengemarsh, possibly same bird as previous record, 10th June.

Grain/Stoke Lagoon, single bird, 13th and 15th October.

2009

Sandwich Bay, one flew NW, 3rd April.

Stoke Lagoon/Yantlet Marsh, single bird, 10th-13th April.

Oare Marshes, single bird, 23rd May.

Reculver, single bird, flew NW, 29th June.

Elmley, single bird flew south, 29th September.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, 15th August, remained in Dengemarsh area until 14th December.

2010

West Hythe, single bird, 10th January, and lingered on until the end of February.

Dungeness RSPB, single bird, possibly that from West Hythe, 2nd March, being recorded almost daily until 2nd October at least.

Wouldham, single bird, 10th October.

Eastwell Lake, two birds in trees, 20th October.

2011

Reculver, single bird, 2nd October.

Reculver, two individuals, 6th October.

Bilting, nr. Godmersham, single bird, 1st November.

Herne Common, single bird, 25th November.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 11^th May, at Grain on 9th October and at Darenth on 29th November.

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.

2018

Great White Egret were recorded throughout the year, with most birds seen in the southern region around Dungeness. Throughout the first winter period there were up to five birds at Dungeness, there were three birds at Shellness on Feb 19^th, and single birds at Bough Beech, Appledore, Wye, Conningbrook, Godmersham, Stodmarsh and Pegwell Sandwich. In spring there were four at Bough Beech on Apr 7^th, up to three at Dungeness, two at both Worth and Finberry and single birds in the Stour valley, South Foreland, Oare Marshes, and Bough Beech. In the summer there were single birds at Dungeness, Oare Marshes, Stour Valley and Sandwich Bay. In June and July there were up to four birds at Dungeness, four at East Farleigh on 15^th, one at Cliffe on 15^th and in Stour Valley. In August there were up to seven at Dungeness, singles at Capel Fleet 8^th – 30^th, Bough Beech 16^th-25^th, North Foreland on 21^st, Cliffe Sevenoaks on 8^th. In September thirteen birds arrived at Dungeness on 7^th increasing to 18 by Oct 5^th, with singles at Bough Beech, and Sheppey. In October there were seven at Pegwell Bay on 17^th, two at Oare Marshes on the 8th, two at North Foreland on the 19^th and singles in the Stour Valley, Bough Beech, Cliffe on 13^th and Elmley. In November the peak at Dungeness was 15 on 4^th, singles at Swale, Sandwich, Stodmarsh, Halstow, Oare Marshes and Bough Beech. In December the peak count at Dungeness was seven, with single birds in the Stour valley and at Cliffe.

2019

During the first winter there were up to 14 recorded at Dungeness with up to 11 presumably the same birds on Walland Marsh, two at Pegwell Bay in February and Wittersham in March, and widely spread singles. Numbers declined in spring so there were maxima of four at Dungeness in April and two at Stodmarsh, with scattered singles elsewhere. In summer the highest count was eight at Dungeness in July and one or two birds were recorded on the Swale, Stodmarsh, Pegwell and Bough Beech. In the autumn and second winter period there were up to eight at Dungeness and one or two were regularly recorded at Cliffe, the Swale, Stodmarsh and Bough Beech. Records of five at Bough Beech on Sept 21^st and two at Aldington on Dec 23^rd are notable.

During the first winter, there were maxima of 12 at Dungeness, two in the Stour valley and two at Swalecliffe/eastern Swale, with a few sightings of singles elsewhere. In spring and summer, most records were of single birds in north Kent, the Stour valley, Sandwich Bay and Dungeness. Numbers increased in late summer with high counts of four at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Aug 3^rd and six at Capel Fleet on Aug 8^th. Numbers continued to rise into autumn in South and East, with peaks of nine at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Sept 20^th and four at Stodmarsh on Oct 17^th, and there was an isolated count of six at Oare Marshes on Nov 7^th. By December, numbers had fallen generally, but there were still up to four at Dungeness and six were seen at Stone Bridge, near Stone-in-Oxney, on Dec 2^nd.

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 5^th, five at New Hythe on Feb 11^th, six on Chislet Marshes on Feb 18^th and seven at Grove Ferry on Feb 27^th. 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 1^st, six at Elmley on Sept 20^th, 12 at Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry on Oct 15^th, and nine going to roost at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on Nov 16^th.