Kent Ornithological Society 
Long-tailed Duck, Dungeness - photo Peter Maton
In a week that remained very cold, the birds around Kent stayed relatively stable. The Eurasian Scops Owl at Broadstairs continued to be very elusive with the only sighting on 9 January. Last week's Iceland Gull stayed on till the next morning, showing just south of Deal Pier also on 9 January.
The winter ducks proved more cooperative with the Smew on show all week at Seaton GPs (although it could at times hide near the banks of the lake). The Long-tailed Duck remained on New Diggins at Dungeness while the male Scaup was seen again on Collard's lake on most days. A nice group of 22 Goosanders graced Bough Beech.
After quite a few weeks of no reports, a Glossy Ibis was again at ARC, Dungeness on 10 January. Black-necked Grebes remained at Cliffe, while a Slavonian Greve was at Oare on 13 January, as was the Spoonbill. The three Snow Buntings remained at Swalecliffe.
Seawatching remained quiet but an Iceland Gull and Black-throated Diver flew past North Foreland and two Velvet Scoters flew past Dungeness. A good number of Purple Sandpipers (13) were at Broadstairs. The usual nice support cast of species such as Short-eared Owls, Hen Harriers, Bewick and Whooper Swans and Cattle Egrets remained on show in their recent spots (like Sheppey, Sandwich, Stodmarsh, Dungeness). Hawfinches entertained at Godmersham and Eastling, while two flew over Sellindge.
The weather forecast looks ok, most days may start misty but should see sunshine later on and temperatures rising. If this week's discovery of an amazing male Spectacled Eider in the Netherlands is anything to go by, we should keep our eyes turned towards the sea. Good luck.
Peter Eerdmans
(Thanks to all the observers who posted their records on the KOS Sightings website, BirdGuides, eBird and/or the main Kent Birding WhatsApp groups, Thursday-to-Thursday. If anyone has any photos they think may be useful for the weekly, please send to me by Wednesday)
