Kent Ornithological Society Providing information about birds and birdwatching in Kent

1999

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 15th-28th August.

2000

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 21st January.

Dungeness Observatory, another adult, 29th-30th January.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 25th February.

Dungeness Observatory, another first-winter, 27th February.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 21st December.

2001

Dungeness area, a total of twelve birds recorded.

2002

Dungeness area, a total of nine birds recorded.

2003

Dungeness area, a total of eighteen birds recorded.

2004

Dungeness area, a total of eight birds recorded.

2005

Dungeness area, a total of nineteen birds recorded in November.

Dungeness area, a total of thirty-seven birds recorded in December, with peaks of six birds on RSPB reserve on both 2nd and 16th December.

Scotney, two birds, 4th December.

2006

Dungeness area, a peak of five first-winters, 11th January.

Dungeness Observatory, bird bearing a Polish colour ring, first ringed at Wloclawek on 18th May 2004, was present on 3rd February.

Dungeness Reserve, adult, 21st March.

ARC Pits, first-winter, 13th April.

Dungeness area, returning birds of various ages were recorded from 17th August.

ARC Pits, a peak of three first-winters, 26th November.

Dungeness Observatory, three second-winters, 11th December.

ARC Pits, first-winter, 13th April.

Littlebrook, five birds of varying ages, seen during December.

2007

Dungeness Observatory, a second-winter on 14th January, a third- winter on 23rd January, a first-winter on 6th March, and a first-winter on 2nd April were the only birds in the first half of the year.

Dungeness Observatory, a juvenile/first-winter on 9th September, a juvenile/first-winter on 10th September, two first-winters on 30th September, a first-winter on 20th October, a first-winter on 22nd October, a first-winter on 6th November, a first- and a second-winter on 18th November, a first-winter on 28th November, a first-winter on 13th December, a fourth-winter on each of 18th and 19th December, and a third-winter on 19th December completed the year.

Dungeness Reserve, a total 65 reports occurred of birds of various ages between 31st January and 20th December. Refer to KOS Bird Report for full details.

North Quarry, Cliffe, an adult bird present, 1st December.

2008

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 6th January.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 13th January.

Dungeness Observatory, two birds, a first-winter and a fourth-winter, 14th February.

Dungeness RSPB, third-winter, 14th February.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 16th February.

Dungeness RSPB, three birds, 21st February.

Dungeness RSPB, third-winter, 3rd March.

Dungeness RSPB, second-winter, 7th March.

Dungeness RSPB, three birds, 8th March.

Dungeness Observatory, four first-winter birds, 9th March.

Pegwell Bay, first-winter, 14th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first-winter, 19th March.

Dungeness Observatory, third-winter bird, 28th March.

Dungeness Observatory, two first-winter birds, 30th March.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 4th April.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 19th May.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 30th September.

Dungeness Observatory, adult and first-winter, 16th October.

Thames, Dartford, adult, 7th November.

Pegwell Bay, three first-winters, 19th November to 14th December.

Dungeness Observatory, first-winter, 20th November.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 21st November.

Dungeness Observatory, third-winter, 22nd November.

Otford, third-winter, 22nd November.

Dungeness RSPB, three adults, 23rd November.

Dungeness RSPB, two adults, 26th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 27th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 5th December.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 14th December.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 20th December.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 20th December.

Pegwell Bay, three adults, 28th-29th December.

2009

Dungeness Observatory, third winter, 1st January.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 3rd January.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 13th January.

Dungeness RSPB, another third winter, 15th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 16th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult and two second winters, 18th January.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 20th January.

Dungeness Observatory, a different second winter, 22nd January.

Dungeness Observatory, another second winter, 26th January.

Dungeness Observatory, two adults, 27th January.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 31st January.

Dungeness Observatory, third winter, 1st February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 2nd February.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 3rd February.

Dungeness RSPB, adult and third or fourth winter, 3rd February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 9th-10th February.

Dartford Marshes, third winter, photographed 15th February. The only record away from the Dungeness area this year.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 17th February.

Dungeness Observatory, fourth winter, 24th February.

Dungeness Observatory, adult, 26th February.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 26th February.

Dungeness RSPB, another first winter, 28th February.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 4th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 6th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first and second winter birds, 7th March.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 9th March.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 12th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 14th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 17th March.

Dungeness RSPB, first and third winter birds, 20th March.

Dungeness RSPB, three first winter birds and an adult, 21st March.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 3rd April.

Dungeness RSPB, juvenile, 12th September.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 4th October.

Dungeness Observatory, first winter, 11th October.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 11th October.

Dungeness Observatory, another first winter, 17th October.

Dungeness Observatory, second winter, 23rd October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 23rd October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter and adult, 27th October.

Dungeness RSPB, fourth winter, 29th October.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 1st November.

Dungeness RSPB, first and third winter birds, 6th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 10th November.

Dungeness RSPB, another adult, 11th-12th November.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 12th November.

Dungeness RSPB, second winter, 14th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 22nd November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 29th November.

Dungeness RSPB, adult, 2nd December.

Dungeness RSPB, another adult, 3rd December.

Dungeness RSPB, first winter, 17th December.

Dungeness RSPB, third winter, 23rd December.

Dungeness Observatory, fourth winter, 23rd December.

2010

The main concentration of records was from the Dungeness area with up to 17 birds recorded at Dungeness BO and a further 18 recorded from the nearby RSPB Reserve during the year.

In January, there was a 3rd winter bird on the Reserve on the 13th, an adult there on the 14th and an adult in the observatory recording area on the 23rd. In February, a 3rd winter was on the Reserve on the 2nd, a 1st winter and a 3rd winter were in the observatory recording area on the 4th, a 3rd winter was on the Reserve on the 5th and a 1st winter was seen there on the 8th with another 1st winter nearby in the observatory recording area on that date. A 2ndwinter bird was on Reserve on the 16th and a 3rd winter there on the 22nd. In March, the Reserve had a 3rd winter on the 22nd and a 1st winter on the 28th.

The following birds were then seen in the observatory recording area during the summer: a 2nd summer on May 2nd, a 1st summer on May 29th and another on May 31st, single juveniles recorded on July 14th and Aug 17th and an adult on Aug 25th. September records were all from the observatory recording area once again with a 2nd winter on the 15th, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter on the 16th, a 3rd winter on the 18th and single adults on the 27th and the 31st. October and November records were all from the Reserve with an adult on Oct 19th, another adult on Oct 23rd, a 1st winter on Nov 28th and an adult on Nov 29th. In December, single adults were on the Reserve on the 5th and on the 22nd, an adult was in the observatory recording area on the 24th, with a first winter there on the 26th and a 3rd winter and two adults there on the 28th. Two adults were on the Reserve on Dec 30th and separate 2nd winters were recorded on the Reserve and in the observatory recording area on the 31st.

Away from Dungeness, there was one at Swanscombe on Jan 1st an adult and a 1st winter were feeding at the Viridor recycling centre in Crayford, Greater London, on the 31st and were both seen to fly into Kent. In February, two first winters were on the Thames foreshore at Dartford on the 25th. In October, a 2nd winter was on the pools on Swanscombe peninsula on the 31st.

2011

Hythe, single bird, 14th December.

2012

Records were once again concentrated at Dungeness with six records from the Dungeness peninsula and 17 from the Dungeness RSPB Reserve. The popular 1st W that had arrived on Dec 8th 2011 lingered until Jan 27th. Also in January, a 2nd W was by the fishing boats on the 5th. Three birds were recorded on the Reserve in February with an adult and a 2nd W there on the 10th and another 2nd W there on the 16th. In March, there was an adult and a 1st W on theReserve on the 5th, a 3rd W and a 2nd W also there on the 6th as was a 2nd W on the 8th. Therewas a 2nd W by the fishing boats on the 15th. On Apr 17th, there was a 1st W on the Reserve. During the second winter period, there was a 1st W on the Point on Sept 25th, an adult on them Reserve on Oct 16th-18th, and an adult on the Reserve on the 26th with it or another by the fishing boats also on that date and a 3rd W on the Point on Nov 20th. The final six birds in December were all on the Reserve with an adult there on the 4th-5th, a 1st W there on the 6th, an adult there on the 12th, two 2nd W birds there on the 16th and an adult there on the 17th.

Away from Dungeness, there were five accepted records. A 1st W came to bread at

Greenhithe on Mar 18th, a 1st S was on Dartford Marshes on Apr 1st with another there on the 9th, a 1st W on the Thames foreshore at Dartford Marshes on Nov 24th and an adult at Folkestone on Nov 27th with the latter bird being identified as the same bird that was present at Dartford from Feb 3rd-Mar 19^th2011.

2013

The first bird of the year was a 3rd winter at Kerton Rd, Dungeness, on Jan 6th. A 2nd winter was seen infrequently on Dartford Marshes from Jan 13th-Mar 29th and was also seen coming to bread on Mar 23rd at Greenhithe. A 1st winter was seen on Dartford Marshes on Jan 26th with a 3rd winter there on Jan 31st and again on Feb 22nd. In March, there was one at Dungeness RSPB Reserve on the 3rd, a 3rd winter at Dungeness BO on the 10th and a 1st winter there on the 18th.  The last bird to be recorded in the first half of the year was a 3rd winter at Dungeness BO on Apr 6th-7th.

In August, juveniles were seen from the fishing boats at Dungeness on the 18th and on the 31st and in September, a 2nd winter was seen there on the 15th and again on the 28th. In October, a 1st winter was at Dungeness BO on the 6th. In November, a 1st winter was at Dungeness BO on the 3rd, one was recorded nearby on the RSPB Reserve on the 17th and one was at Dungeness BO on the 30th. A 1st winter was seen in Dartford on Nov 30th and another 1st winter was also there on Dec 1st with both birds being seen on several occasions up to Dec 25th along with another 1st winter there on the 21st. All other December records were from Dungeness with an adult on the Reserve on the 7th, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter at the Observatory on the 8th with the 1st winter remaining until the end of the year. There was one on the Reserve on the 13th. An adult was at the Observatory on the 16th with another adult and a 1st winter there the next day and three new 1st winters there on the 19th. On the 22nd, there were two new 2nd winters at the Observatory with both remaining until the 23rd when they were joined by two more birds. On the 28th, there were a remarkable 11 individuals with 10 of these being seen between the fishing boats and the Lifeboat station (five 1st winters and five 2nd winters) and an adult on ARC and this count was the highest day total for this species in Great Britain to date. The last two of the year were also at the Observatory on the 31st.

2014

There were 100 individual birds recorded from the Dungeness BO recording area with two more recorded on the RSPB Reserve. The following records are from the recording area unless stated otherwise: In January there were 6 birds on the 1st, 4 on each of 7th and 8th, and 5 on the 27th. 1st winter birds were present on the 6th (3 No.), 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 21st (3 No.), 25th and 28th; single 2nd winter birds on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th-9th, 6th, and 12th, with two birds on the 4th; a 3rd winter on the 6th and 18th and an adult, also on the 18th. Then in February there were 1st winter birds on the 8th, 14th, 21st and 22nd; 2nd winters on the 22nd and 23rd; a 3rd winter on the 3rd, whilst there has been an adult on the 1st. Whilst in March there were two 1st winters on the 3rd followed by further singles on the 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 24th.

In April, there were three 1st winter birds, on the 5th, 6th and another on the 9th.

The first juveniles of the autumn were two on Aug 17th, with singles on Aug 24th and 25th. In September, there was one on the Reserve on the 6th, a 1st winter lingered around the fishing boats from 12th-14th and another there on 21st-22nd. Whilst in October, there were 1st winter birds on the 4th, 6th, 16th, 18th and 21st; a 2nd winter on the 5th, a 3rd winter birds on the 12th, alongside an Audouin's Gull, and on the 19th. There was a 1st winter and 2nd winter on Nov 2nd along with two more birds on the Reserve and an adult on the Reserve on Nov 16th. During December, there were three 1st winters on the 10th, four on the 4th, another on the 12th, two on the 13th, one on the 14th, one on the Reserve on the 17th, two on the 21st and one on the 23rd, with another feeding offshore along with a 3rd winter by the fishing boats on the 28th.

The following records were seen away from Dungeness: On Dartford Marshes, a 1st winter first seen in December 2013 continued to be seen intermittently until Mar 23rd.  A returning colour-ringed adult that had been seen on Dartford Marshes in 2010 & 2012 was seen on Jan 23rd. Up to six birds, including two adults, were seen in Pegwell Bay during January and on Jan 26th a colour ringed 1st winter was seen on Dartford Marshes. A 1st winter was seen on the Thames off Dartford Marshes on Jan 26th. In February, there were three records from Dartford Marshes with a 1st winter on the 2nd and adults on the 5th and on the 11th. In March, there was a 1st winter on Dartford Marshes on the 30th. In the latter half of the year, a 1st winter was on the Thames foreshore, Dartford Marshes, on Oct 18th. Two 1st winters and two adults were in Pegwell Bay on Nov 29th-30th, one 1st winter and two adults lingering through December, and a 1st winter was in Folkestone Harbour on Dec 1st. A 3rd winter was on Dartford Marshes on Dec 14th. A 1st winter was at Ramsgate on Dec 19th. On Dartford Marshes, there was a 1st winter on Dec 21st, a 1st winter and a 2nd winter on the 29th with both those birds remaining there until the next day when they were joined by another 2nd winter.

2015

At Dungeness an estimated 78 individual birds were seen during the year, 29 during the first four months and 49 in the last four. In January there were nine 2nd year birds, in February two 2nd year, two 3rd and one 4th year, in March 10 2nd year and two 4th year and in April two 2nd year and one 3rd. In September there were one 1st year and one 2nd, in October eight 1st year and three 2nd, in November 14 1st year, two 2nd, two 3rd year and four adults, in December six 1st year, three 2nd , one 3rd year and four adults. On the Reserve there was a 1st winter on Jan 17th, one on Feb 14th and a 1st winter on Mar 28th. In the last months of the year there was a 2nd winter and two 1st winter on Oct 25th and an adult on the 29th, an adult and two 1st winter at Scotney on Nov 23rd while, in December, there were up to three birds on 13 days and also an adult at Lade on the 20th.

Away from Dungeness there was a single at Pegwell Bay on Jan 1st-2nd, one at Harty on the 1st that lingered in the area until at least Mar 3rd, two adults and a 1st winter at Dartford Marshes on Jan 3rd and two at Pegwell Bay on the 15th (PM). In February there was a 1st winter at Dartford on the 7th and in March a 3rd year at Greenhithe on the 7th and 15th, a 1st winter at Cliftonville on the 16th and a 1st summer at Dartford Marsh on May 31st. In the latter part of the year there was a 1st winter at Reculver on Sept 21st, one at Pegwell Bay from Dec 2nd-9th and two at Dartford Marshes on the 3rd.  

2016

In the first five months of the year birds were seen at Dungeness with the latest being reported on 31st May. The peak day count was of three birds on 29th January. At Sandwich Bay/Pegwell birds were also present on a variety of dates in January and February with a peak of three birds on 8th February. In the same months at Dartford Marshes there were birds present on many dates with a peak count of 14 on 10th January. At the same site 2 birds were recorded on 27th February and a first-winter bird on 20th March.

Away from these strongholds records were submitted of two first-winter birds at Stodmarsh on 31st January, a first-winter bird at Herne Bay on 1st February, a first-winter bird at New Hythe GP on 23rd February.

In the second five months of the year birds were seen at Dungeness during every month from 8th August rising to day peaks of six birds on 17th November and seven birds on 21st December. At Sandwich/Pegwell Bay records commenced with a second-winter bird at New Downs on 21st August, and November sightings peaked with six on the 11th. December records included a first-winter bird at Pegwell Bay on the 10th and peaked at 10 on 12th December.

Away from the main sites a second-winter bird was recorded at Hythe Beach on 26th November, with a first-winter recorded at Folkestone Harbour on 19th December.  

2017

At Dungeness, the stronghold for this species, birds mainly 1st and 2nd years were recorded at the Point from 21st January to 11th April with a peak of five on 30th January and a total of 88 bird/days. At the RSPB Reserve there were four individuals in January, seven in February and six in March. At Sandwich/Pegwell in January a first winter was seen on the 5th, an adult on the 16th and 26th. Possibly the same bird was present in February from the 1st-3rd. At least five singles were seen until Apr 20th.

Away from the two main sites there was a first winter at Ramsgate Harbour on 1st January

At Dungeness Point in the last four months from 10th September until the year end there was a total of 49 bird/days. On the RSPB Reserve there were circa 73 individuals from 10th November until 31st December with eight on 22nd November and 10 on 6th December. At Pegwell in November there were several singles with a peak of four between the 20th and 23rd.

Elsewhere in December there was an adult at Folkstone Harbour on the 2nd, at Lade a first winter on the 5th and an adult on the 18th and at Dartford another adult on the 28th.    

2018

At Dungeness, estimated totals of 59 individuals occurred at the Point and 102 individuals on the RSPB Reserve during the year. Contrasting these totals with the table indicates how much turnover takes place, many birds remaining for only one or two days, though one first-winter bird was present at the Point from 14th December 2017 to 2nd February. Maximum day-counts at the Point were four on both 7th January and 23rd December while the Reserve peak was 17 on 11th November. About 75% of individuals at the Point were first or second calendar year birds. More detail on the monthly totals and a full breakdown of age classes can be found in the Dungeness Bird Observatory report. In the Dungeness hinterland, there were two at Lade Pits on 2nd December, an adult there on 5th December and also there were two at Scotney Court GP on 19th December.

At Pegwell Bay, there were sightings on eleven days up to the last on 19th March. All were of singles apart from two on 10th January, but at least three age-classes were involved (second and third calendar year and adult). Elsewhere, there were a third-winter bird at Foreness on 3rd March, a first-winter bird also at Foreness on the 6th, and two adults at Bough Beech on 13^th March. An unusual summer record involved a second calendar year bird seen in Pegwell Bay on four dates during 16th July and 7th August. There was also an early autumn sighting of a juvenile at Shorne Marshes on 21st August. At Pegwell Bay, regular presence began on 7th November, and a build-up of roosting birds in December peaked at seven on the 21st Elsewhere, one was at Deal on 3rd November, a first-winter bird at Ramsgate on 11th November, one inland at Sevenoaks WR during 2nd-3rd December and on 14th December, a first-winter bird at Dartford Marshes on 3rd December, two adults at Nickoll’s GP on 15th December with one adult there on the 28th, a first-winter bird at Chatham Docks on 26th December, and an adult at Dover on the 31st.

2019

Caspian Gull is clearly not as rare as was thought a few years ago, but remains scarce and not straightforward to identify. Unfortunately, a number of reports had no indication of the number of birds involved, their ages and/or the name of the observer, and these have been excluded. Given that this is a scarce species, it seems odd not even to say how many you saw when submitting a record. To maintain the integrity of the KBR, a number of such reports have been excluded, but we encourage observers to provide more information.

The majority of sightings were at Dungeness. The peak counts are shown in the table, but there is much turnover with many birds present for only a day or two. An estimated total of 85 individuals was seen at the point during the year, and 99 individuals plus one hybrid on the RSPB Reserve. Peak months were January with eight on the reserve and 27 at the point, and December with 44 on the reserve and 28 at the point. All age classes were seen but more first-years than anything else.

Acceptable records from Dartford Marshes were a first-winter bird on Jan 1st and two (second- and third-winter) on Feb 2nd. A probable fourth-summer bird was at Seasalter on Mar 31st, and a second-summer bird at Cliffe Pools RSPB Reserve on June 26th. Most records at Pegwell Bay in January-February were of singles but there were two on Jan 28th and Feb 27th, and a second calendar year bird was there on May 27th. In the Folkestone area, two adults at Palmarsh remained from December 2018 until Jan 3rd, with one of them seen on Hythe Ranges on the last date. Another adult was at Folkestone Harbour on Jan 7th. Inland, at Sevenoaks WR, there were a first-winter bird on Jan 26th-30th, a fourth-winter on Feb 16th, and a first-winter during Feb 28th-Mar 13th.

At Dartford Marshes in North, there was one (no age given) on July 5th, a second winter on 22nd November and an adult on 1st-2nd December. At Restharrow Scrape, Sandwich Bay, there were records on at least 11 dates between Oct 29^th and the end of the year, thought to relate to at least six individuals. There were two together there on 7^{th November} and 21st December. Elsewhere in East, adults (perhaps the same) were at Foreness on Nov 24th and Dover Harbour on Nov 25th, and a first calendar year bird was at Walmer on 26th-28th December.

At Dungeness Bird Observatory, a total of 79 individuals was estimated to have been seen during the year. Many are present for just a day or two, and the peak counts do not reflect the numbers occurring in the area. The majority as usual were young birds up to one year old but all age classes were represented, including three adults. The following table shows the numbers of individuals considered to have occurred.

At Sandwich/Pegwell Bays, around 18 individuals were seen during the year, including adults in February, April and December (two on the 19th). On the Dartford Marshes, only single birds were seen on any one date but, again, two or more individuals were seen in some months.