Kent Ornithological Society 
Haliaeetus albicilla
Rare migrant, with increasing sightings of captive bred birds from reintroductions in both the UK and Europe
| 2023 |
It is very likely that all records in 2023 related to translocated birds. A female released on the Isle of Wight in the summer of 2021 (G452) and therefore a third calendar-year bird that still looked very juvenile-like, was responsible for many of the sightings in Kent. In March she was seen in the Dungeness area on the 26th but had moved to Elmley NNR by the 28th and remained in that general area until Apr 5th, being seen most days. During that period, a bird reported from Horsmonden on Apr 1st seems unlikely to be that same individual. On May 6th an immature bird was reported over Port Lympne Zoo Park, and on June 21st one flew high over North Foreland. The only other record was of an adult at Bough Beech Reservoir on Sept 25th which flew N over the causeway. |
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| 2022 |
In March there were reports on five days; on the 13th over Chatham, on the 15th over Sandwich BO, on the 20th at White Horse Wood near Detling, on the 23rd over Port Lympne and Worth Marshes, and on the 24th again over Worth Marshes and nearby Kingsdown. In April G463 was over Aycliffe, near Dover, on the morning of the 3rd and possibly the same bird circled over Northward Hill RSPB Reserve later that same day. On May 23rd an immature bird was reported flying N over the Sandwich Bay Estate and the last record of the year came from Eastry on Oct 24th. All 2022 records are likely to relate to translocated birds. |
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| 2021 | Worth Marshes, adult, presumed naturally occurring wild bird, 5th-7th January. | |
| 2020 | Reculver, untagged immature, was later seen in the Manston and Monkton areas on October 17th. | |
| Dungeness, untagged immature, moved north, via. Greatstone and Hythe on March 30th. | ||
| Re-introduction schemes, notably that on the Isle of Wight that began in autumn 2019, are beginning to make it hard to decide whether birds seen in Kent are from natural populations or not. | ||
| 2019 |
Bockhill, adult, or near adult, 24th March. |
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| 2012 |
Walland Marsh, same second winter, 16th February. |
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Botolph’s Bridge, second winter, 14th February. |
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| 1998 |
Graveney Marshes, juvenile, 7th-8th October. |
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| 1990 |
St. Margaret's, immature north, 22nd October. |
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| 1989 |
Elmley, Sheppey, and North Downs area. Present from 1988 until 15th January. |
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| 1988 |
Elmley, Sheppey, 16th November to year end. |
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| 1932 |
Whitfield, Dover, female shot, 8th March. Now at Maidstone Museum. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1920 |
Surrenden Dering, 29th October. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1906 |
Ruckinge, 21st March. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1897 |
Penshurst Place, shot, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1895 |
One shot at Whitehill, Ramsgate, on 6th December. |
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Eastwell Park, nr. Ashford, immature shot, 22nd December. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1889 |
Weatherlees Hill, Richborough, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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Chilham, three immatures shot, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1888 |
Lower Stour Marshes, shot, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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Eastwell Park, nr. Ashford, immature male, killed, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1885 |
Minster Marshes, Thanet, immature female, shot, 12th November, now at Canterbury Museum. (Harrison, 1953). |
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Eastwell Park, nr. Ashford, immature shot, date unknown. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1880 |
See previous record. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1879 |
Two birds, High Halstow. One bird shot 8th November, with second bird remaining until 1st February 1880. |
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| 1874 |
Eastwell Park, nr. Ashford, killed, date unknown. Now at Maidstone Museum. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1870 |
Chilham Castle, shot, 11th March. Now at Maidstone Museum. |
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Chilham Park, killed, February/March. Now at Maidstone Museum. |
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| 1869 |
Godmersham Park, nr. Wye, male, shot, 11th January. Now at Maidstone Museum. |
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| 1850 |
Near the south coast, early January. (Harrison, 1953). |
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| 1849 |
Deal, 24th February. |
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| 1848 |
Cliffsend, Pegwell, shot, 3rd February. |
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| 1845 |
Canterbury, obtained prior to 1845. |
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| 1844 |
Romney Marsh, obtained prior to 1844. |
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| 1827 |
One, immature, was caught near Dover in winter. |
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| 1815 |
Cliffe, adult male, shot, 27th December. |
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