Kent Ornithological Society 
Red-necked Grebe – Oare – photo Mark Chidwick
Easterly winds persisted throughout the week, with temperatures staying low, below freezing on some nights. It didn’t lead to a big movement of winter birds, say from the continent into Kent, but two new Red-necked Grebes were nice and stuck around longer than those seen in January. One was at Oare for three days on the Swale as well as into the mouth of Faversham Creek, while the other was with Great-crested Grebes offshore at Hythe.
A female (red-head) Smew was discovered at Dengemarsh, the first for Dungeness since January 2022. Interestingly, one of the old guard at Dungeness looked back in his records and noted 29 Smew on Burrowes in January 1984..
This female may well be the same bird that was at Seaton GPs as that one wasn’t reported this week despite searching. The Greater Scaup of Collard’s lake also wasn’t reported, but given the viewing distance it may still be around. The Long-tailed Duck remained on New Diggins as did the Black-necked Grebe at Dengemarsh (both Dungeness).
Last week it looked the Reculver Snow Buntings had moved on, but they were reported again this week, probably a sign these birds can be difficult to spot on a shingle beach. With no reports of Tundra Bean Geese and Pink-footed Geese, those do seem to have moved on, while decent numbers of White-fronted Geese remained across the county, as well as the 48 Bewick Swans on Walland Marshes. The usual sea-watching points were relatively quiet, with Velvet Scoters the main sighting of interest, with singles past Dungeness and Minnis Bay.
Caspian Gulls, Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers were seen across the country, for instance at Dungeness, Oare, Sheppey, Stodmarsh and Worth Marshes. Four Cattle Egrets remained in the Boulderwall area, Dungeness, while two Spoonbills remained on Sheppey, often viewable from Oare.
The weather is forecast to improve a bit with some nice sunny days. We could see more birds starting to become more vocal, it could be a good week to check any local woods for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Enjoy.
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. Apologies for any omissions. If anyone has any photos they think may be useful for the weekly, please send to me by Wednesday. All records of rarities are still subject to official confirmation by the relevant rarities committees)
