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KOS News
The Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society
Number 515 July 2018
Bonaparte’s Gull by Peter Maton
● News & Announcements ●
BIRDING IN KENT (Part 2)● Review: Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds●
Bird Sightings May – June 2018 ● ● Fifty Years Ago●
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KOS Contacts – Committee Members
Newsletter Editor: Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 e-mail: [email protected] Membership Sec: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staplehurst TN12 0PY Tel: 01580 891686 e-mail: [email protected] Chairman: Martin Coath, 14A Mount Harry Rd Sevenoaks TN13 3JH Tel: 01732-460710 e-mail: [email protected] Vice Chair.: Brendan Ryan, 18 The Crescent, Canterbury CT2 7AQ Tel: 01227 471121 e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Sec: Brendan Ryan, 18 The Crescent, Canterbury CT2 7AQ Tel: 01227 471121 e-mail: [email protected] Hon. Treasurer: Mike Henty, 12 Chichester Close, Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5PA Tel: 01428-683778 e-mail: [email protected] Conservation & Surveys: Murray Orchard, 1, Gatesbury Way, Puckeridge, Ware, Herts SG11 1TQ Tel: Home 01920 822955 Mobile 07776 238645 e-mail: [email protected] Editorial & Records: Barry Wright, 6 Hatton Close, Northfleet, DA11 8SD Tel: 01474 320918 e-mail: [email protected] Archivist: Robin Mace, 4 Dexter Close, Kennington, Ashford, TN25 4QG Tel: 01233-631509 e-mail: [email protected] Website liaison: vacant
Indoor Meetings organiser: TBA
Outdoor Meetings organiser: Ray O’Reily 44 New Road, Cliffe, Rochester, Kent ME3 7SL Tel: 07831-362502 e-mail:[email protected]
Ordinary Members: Ken Lodge 14 Gallwey Avenue, Birchington, Kent CT7 9PA Tel : 01843 843105 e-mail: [email protected] Keith Privett 6 Tritton Close, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN24 9HN Tel: 01233 335533 e-mail: [email protected]
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Andy Appleton 34 Pennine Walk Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3NW 01892 513542 e-mail: [email protected] Tony Morris, The Hidden House, 28 Kingstown Road, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, Kent CT7 6AZ 01304 851943 e-mail: [email protected]
The first six months of the year have been a bit problematic for me, with a range of family and health issues keeping me away from ‘proper’ birding for almost the whole of that time. However, I am fortunate to have a substantial if somewhat ramshackle garden well situated on a ridge of high ground on the edge of the village with views over open farmland to the southwest. This and the pony paddocks a short walk away have been the focus of most of my ornithological encounters, patch watching at its most basic. Despite the somewhat restricted geographical range it has been most interesting to spend time actually getting to know some of the birds breeding close to the house, as well as those from farther afield passing over. The rather protracted and cold spring meant that many regulars were a bit late in showing up, the first of our Turtle Doves did not start singing until early June, followed by the first singing Lesser Whitethroat in the hedge alongside my vegetable garden. Sadly this year the Lesser whitethroats seem to have chosen a territory farther down the hill and I have not had much chance to get to really know them. In spite of the weather early on it seems to have been a productive spring in this small patch of Kent, with at least two broods of Mistle Thrush and three broods of Song Thrush, these latter the first to breed around the garden for a couple of years. As for transients, we have had several passing Red Kites, much to the annoyance of local Buzzards, as well as odd Ravens and a couple of Peregrines. Hobby seem to be rather fewer this year but they still appear over the garden some evenings, apparently taking insects rather than bothering our dwindling House Martin colony nearby. I am lucky, circumstance has prevented excursions to typical Kent birding venues, but I have been able to spend some time every day watching the birds around my home. My year list is still pretty low, but I have a much better understanding of the effects of changes in our environment on my local birds. Good Birding Norman
Editorial
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2018 Annual KOS Conference - Saturday November 3rd 2018 Our conference this year features a wide range of speakers and topics. We are delighted to welcome, among others, Mark Avery and the Director of the BTO - Andy Clements to address KOS members in Kent for the first time. There is a poster with further details at the end of this newsletter
Birders Against Wildlife Crime BAWC have produced a very useful leaflet which details the key information needed to record and report incidents of wildlife crime. These could affect raptors, badgers, deer or even incidents involving such things as hedge cutting and removal of house Martin nests. There is a scan of the leaflet at the end of this newsletter but copies can be obtained from BAWC at: www.birdersagainst.org Kent Breeding Bird Atlas We still have a modest stock of this useful publication which was well received on its release a couple of years ago. If you do not yet own a copy there will shortly be an opportunity to purchase some of the remainder of the stock at a reduced price. Keep an eye on the KOS web site for further details Editorial and Records sub-committee The KOS Editorial & Records Committee would like to hear from any individuals within the membership that would like to join the county rarity panel. Contact Barry Wright or Alan Fossey, (details above) We like to keep in touch with all our members, so if you change address, email address or phone numbers please remember to inform our membership secretary, Chris Roome. He can be contacted on: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Rd., Staplehurst TN12 0PY
Tel: 01580 891686 e-mail: [email protected]
News and announcements
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BIRDING IN KENT (Part 2)
- A PERSONAL REMINSCIENCE
Marsh Harrier, by Archibald Thorburn (1885)
When I arrived in Kent we were lucky to see a summering Marsh Harrier and then mainly at Stodmarsh, but Hen Harriers were quite common. Lapland and Snow Buntings were more numerous and so were Willow Tits and Hawfinches, as we know all too well. The decline of farmland birds has been well, documented. The greatest success stories of the period are Ring-necked Parakeet and Little Egret. The former has gained respectability as a member of the British List and its success is no doubt due to its adaptability to new food sources and its toleration of man, both good career moves. Why the Little Egret and to some extent Cattle and Great White Egrets have spread so rapidly north in Europe is less easy to assess but is probably due to greater protection and creation of new wetland habitats. Well done the EU! . The sudden rise, sudden fall and steady rising again of Cetti’s Warbler must relate to the severity or otherwise of the winters. There is plenty of available habitat for them, but their poorly developed migratory instincts must limit their expansion.
Articles
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I cannot call myself a meteorologist, but my interest in weather predates my interest in birds. When we moved into Kent weather became an even greater preoccupation. Kent is the only county in Britain with 3 coasts, all needing different weather conditions for them to be at their birding best. Sea watching on the north coast in autumn not surprisingly needs north in the wind and preferably a run of northerlies down the North Sea, but is it best to huddle in the shelter of Reculver Towers, behind the sea wall at Shellness or in a bus shelter at Tankerton? Or why not go out on a limb at Foreness! It all depends on where you live, where if anywhere you propose to go if the expected movement does not happen, and the precise direction of the wind; that is if you can read the runes. There is no problem in the spring; Dunge is the place, but ideally winds should be between north-east and south. Autumn seems to be more enigmatic. Careful listening to the land and the shipping forecasts is required before the pre-dawn departure, but all too often the expectant drive down is followed by the sight of a group of disconsolate birders huddled together on a cold shore, wondering why they too got it wrong, but hoping it will come right. The worst scenario is the lunchtime return home after a fruitless morning, only to learn later that it all happened in the afternoon. The greatest sea watch in living memory took place on 8
th April 1979. The
weather was cloudy and the wind SSE force 4. 27,000 Common Scoters, 335 Mergansers and 1265 Sandwich Terns were impressive, but there was extra quality in the shape of 7 Slavonian Grebes, 6 Goosander and a variety of other ducks and skuas. For many the connoisseurs’ sea bird is Pomarine Skua, which peaks at Dungeness in the first half of May; they are admired for their grace, their powerful and direct flight and their fine tails. The most unexpected and extraordinary event was the passage of 10,215 Black Terns flying south-west in steady rain in September 1992.
Black Tern, by Archibald Thorburn (1885)
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Passerine migrants are even more difficult to predict, but it is clear that falls of night migrants are not what they were 20 years ago. It is probably because the total number of birds has declined; even the more successful species do not seem to appear in the same numbers at our favourite coastal sites or even inland. We always thought that an autumn anticyclone over Scandinavia and its attendant easterlies was a winner, but the birds can apparently work that one out. The extreme south-east of the county is a law unto itself, as the best conditions for St. Margaret’s and Bockhill Farm in autumn occur on a north-westerly. Big falls of Redstarts, Whinchats, warblers and flycatchers are all too infrequent, but the rarities still visit us. Seabirds, waders and waterfowl still move in numbers past our coastlines and Kent will always be a pre-eminent county for birds because of its proximity to the continent and its wide variety of coastal and inland habitats. Unfortunately, too many of them are poorly covered. There are happily a number of reserves and 2 major observatories, and a band of dedicated local patch watchers. However, if the Dungeness area enjoyed the saturation coverage of the North Norfolk coast I am sure a number of extra birds of interest would be discovered. The habitat creating activities of the RSPB in that area have given us great opportunities, but there are only so many hours in the day and so many likely places to visit. It is a brave pioneer who ignores the usual hotspots and walks across the shingle desert from the power station to Lade. With such a choice of good locations important birds can be found anywhere in the county at any time of the year, although a mild winter can become somewhat static, especially inland. As soon as the spring migration is over the first “autumn” waders are returning; some of best waders are seen in July and August when the passerines are not at their best. Spring offers continental overshoots often in fine plumage, but May can be drear if the winds are adverse. Autumn has potential on any wind somewhere in the county, but it is not easy to forecast where. The winter scene has been enlivened by the astonishing increase in raptor numbers especially on Sheppey where the activities of some of the shooting interests may be positive factors as they provide well fed prey. The gravel industry kindly provides us with new diggings which seem to attract feeding wildfowl within 2 or 3 years. In 1954 I joined the RSPB when it had about 5000 members. Its subsequent success could not have been foreseen, but we can thank it and the various other conservation bodies for moving birds and the environment generally up the political agenda. We can now enjoy well managed reserves and see birds from hides on pools which used to be inaccessible. What better place to enjoy one’s packed lunch than the visitor centre at Dungeness RSPB with its idyllic views over Burrowes Pit. In the immediate post war years birders were a rare and eccentric breed, but gradually broadcasters like James Fisher, on radio, Peter Scott, The Duke of Edinburgh and latterly David Attenborough and Bill Oddie on TV have made
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birding and an interest in all natural history seem almost normal and even respectable. It is now rare to hear people say “I prefer the non-feathered variety” or the more enigmatic “I prefer the 2 legged kind.” Not everyone understands us and I am often asked if I take photographs as if this excuses my bizarre activities, but there is more likely to be an intelligent or perhaps polite interest. Even the popular press sometimes gives quite sympathetic coverage to birding and in particular to a mass twitch. Unfortunately most people regard birding and twitching as synonymous rather than complementary. The mass twitch is one of the products of mass communication. Sometimes behaviour at a twitch has alienated the locals, but pagers and birdlines stress the importance of reasonable parking and on-site behaviour; local birders are often on hand to warden the site. It is clearly in the interests of the birders themselves to behave reasonably especially at a sensitive site if they want to hear about rarities from that and other sensitive sites in future. Sometimes the bird in question turns out not to be as claimed. Mostly it is just a misidentification of a common bird; sometimes it is a difficult and controversial confusion species which unleashes a torrent of electronic chatter. The first signs of a problem with the record are such words as “probable” or “some observers think”. It is interesting that the finder is rarely pilloried for making a genuine mistake especially in a difficult area. The wrath of the twitching community falls upon the head of the suppressor, unless the site is private or the release of the information would produce serious problems. The biggest Kent twitch occurred in 1989 when Paul Doherty discovered a Golden-winged Warbler when he was on his way to the pillar box. On the first Saturday some 3000 birders rampaged round that housing estate. Some were invited into upper rooms for a better view by intrigued residents, who perhaps regarded it as the most exciting thing to happen for a long time. At the same time a long staying Yellowthroat at Murston was suppressed for reasons that are not entirely clear. There have been a number of other famous Kent twitches in the period. What has made them famous is the rarity of the bird nationally or locally, its accessibility and length of stay, the number of birders who got to see it and whether it led to such comments as “ Where were you when you first heard about…?” almost putting such events on a par with the assassination of John F Kennedy. It is said that a rare bird found late on a Sunday is responsible for mass absenteeism the following week and can damage the economy more than a miners’ strike. Twitchers, nerves atwitch , arrive at all times of day and night, some taking leave, others pleading sickness or a funeral. When the press arrive with their cameras at the scene it is clear from the number of raised hoods who is authorised to be absent and who does not want to be seen by their boss on the TV screen. (To be concluded)
Martin Coath
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Review: Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds by H.Shirihai and L.Svensson Helm, London ISBN: 978-0-7136-4571-2
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As the world gets smaller, bird books, it seems are getting bigger. These two volumes, contained in a substantial slipcase are very substantial, being produced at A4 size, containing over 1200 pages and weighing almost twelve and a half pounds!! The history of this mammoth undertaking is significant, for it has taken over 18 years to arrive on our bookshelves and these two books only cover the Passerines. One hopes we do not have to wait almost two more decades for the Non-Passerines. So what do we get? A very detailed account of each of the passerine species recorded in the West Palearctic, including vagrants. For each, a useful and very clear distribution map indicates the ranges of the various sub-species both in breeding and winter seasons and a detailed text dealing with all aspects of identification even down to sub specific level. There is also a comprehensive, though not entirely complete, catalogue of high quality photographs which are brilliantly captioned with age and sex, month, locality and comments on particular features shown in each image. Naturally the number of images varies with the extent of sub-speciation, but my old friend the Great Grey shrike manages 50 images of eleven races, even though the book includes both Iberian Grey Shrike and Northern Shrike as separate species. These photographs are exceptional in quality; many people know me as a bird artist and like others of my kind I have always been less than impressed by ‘photographic guides’ as aids to identification. In most cases that derives from a poor selection of images, often of birds not adequately lit or in weird postures, such that I have maintained in my own mind the supremacy if the ‘summary illustration’. This book provides an excellent source of good images which do facilitate and inform the identification process. though it is by no means a ‘field guide’ Criticism seems a bit churlish, but given the excellent range of images I did find myself disappointed by the lack of some races of interesting species (Atlas Coal Tit, for one). I also found one or two odd descriptions of colour in texts, notably the reference to “a greenish-yellow tone in the crown and hind neck” of the Atlas race of Horned Lark. The photo shows clearly the warm and rufous pink nape and hind neck so apparent in the field. Given the size of the book and the limited time for perusal, one hopes there are not too many more of these. A rather personal niggle is the onwards march of taxonomy in the modern age; it is a little galling to be informed that subspecies known and loved for generations (gengleri and hortensis Chaffinches) are now subsumed into a greater Fringilla coelebs; I still find notably different looking male Chaffinches in my garden each winter, happily noted as ‘British’ or Continental’ in my notebooks on the basis of subtle plumage differences. However, Lars Svensson has probably looked at more study skins in museums than any man alive and given my devotion to his epic Ringers
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guides and am prepared to defer to his monumental experience. I might still note the Chaffinches as different in my notebooks, though!” Shirihai and Svensson have done a magnificent job on these volumes and I sincerely hope that we do not have to wait too long for the Non-Passerine volumes. Do we need it? It is unequivocally a book about identification and as such is no substitute for the venerable ‘BWP’ but given that today most birders seem content to put names to the photos they take and not delve deeper into the mysteries of ecology, behaviour and evolution of birds, I am sure it will be a valuable resource for some years to come.
Norman McCanch
BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR MAY AND JUNE 2018 - Chris Hindle Where necessary the acceptance of records within this report is subject to ratification by the “British Birds” Rarities Committee (species in capital letters) or the KOS Rarities Committee. The results of these deliberations are regularly published on the KOS Website. WEATHER_____________________________________________________ At the start of May the UK was in an unsettled westerly regime but after a frontal system had brought rain south-eastwards on the 1st and 2nd it soon turned much warmer and sunnier giving the warmest May Bank Holiday since the holiday was introduced in 1978. The second week was cooler but still with a fair amount of dry sunny weather. The second half of the month was generally warm with high pressure dominating but easterly winds often brought cooler and cloudier conditions to Kent. During the last week there were thunderstorms and longer spells of rain. The first week of June became increasingly settled with temperatures rising above average in most areas, however onshore winds kept the temperatures down at the coast. The middle of the month saw generally larger cloud amounts but from the 21
st onwards it became increasingly warm although still
with an onshore breeze. The temperature was 1.8°C above normal for June and rainfall was notably well below average with for instance only 1.75mm recorded in the whole month at Bishopstone.
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WILDFOWL___________________________________________________ One or two Dark-bellied Brent Geese summered in the Swale and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese were reported flying past DBO on May 4
th.
In May and June up to ten Egyptian Geese were recorded at Sevenoaks WR, Conningbrook, Chilham, Wouldham, Eastwell Manor, Bough Beech, Godmersham, Penshurst Estate, Northward Hill, Sandwich Bay, Worth Marshes, Dungeness RSPB, Oare Marshes, Grove Ferry, Reculver and Cliffe Pools and as many as ten Mandarins were seen at Bough Beech, Reculver, Brokes Hill Farm, Penshurst Estate, Sandwich Bay, Whetsted GPs, Hawden, Godmersham, Pittswood and Furnace Pond. During May and June one or two Garganey were seen at Dungeness RSPB, DBO, Oare Marshes, Grove Ferry, Elmley, Sandwich Bay and Swale NNR. A late Velvet Scoter flew past DBO on June 1
st.
PARTRIDGE TO GREBES________________________________________ A Quail was heard flying over Botolph's Bridge at 0100 on June 10
th.
Red-throated Diver by Jason Brady
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A summer plumaged Red-throated Diver was found on Stonar Lake on June 3
rd and in the first half of May one or two Black-throated Divers were seen off
DBO and Samphire Hoe whilst a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was recorded off Sandwich Bay on May 14
th.
An unseasonable Sooty Shearwater flew past DBO on May 3
rd.
Manx Shearwaters counted at DBO during the first two weeks of May
May 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th
8 472 2 - 29 18 12 9 7 23 44 5 2 -
The total of 472 counted at DBO on 2
nd was a record count for the
Observatory. In addition during May up to nine were seen at Mill Point, Samphire Hoe, Sandwich Bay and DBO where six also flew past on June 14
th.
During May and June single Shags were recorded from DBO, Samphire Hoe and Sandwich Bay and as many as three Bitterns were recorded at Dungeness RSPB, DBO and Stodmarsh/Grove. A Cattle Egret flew SE at Swalecliffe on May 5
th and was seen at Stodmarsh
the next day and there was another report of one at Cooling Marshes on June 3
rd.
During May and June up to three Great White Egrets were recorded from Dungeness, Sandwich Bay, Worth Marshes, Brooklands, Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh, Graveney, Oare Marshes, Westbere, Coldharbour, Darenth Lakes and Kenardington. Two White Storks flew N over Sandwich Bay on June 3
rd and a Glossy Ibis
was reported from Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry early on May 8th and again on 11
th
whilst during May and June single Spoonbills were recorded at Pegwell Bay, Bough Beech, Sandwich Bay, Worth Marshes, Oare Marshes, Grove Ferry, DBO, Dungeness RSPB and Lade. A summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was offshore at DBO on May 1
st.
BIRDS OF PREY_______________________________________________ The first Honey Buzzard of the year flew over Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh on May 6
th and subsequently single birds were reported from Canterbury, DBO,
Dungeness RSPB, Worth, Samphire Hoe, Sevenoaks, Sissinghurst, Shadoxhurst, Dymchurch, Sandwich Bay, Tankerton, Hamstreet, Sevington, Bough Beech and Littlestone-on-Sea.
14
During May single Black Kites were reported from Willesborough and Southborough on 10
th, from Sevenoaks on 11
th, Stodmarsh on 18
th and Staple
on 31st and one was also reported from Rochester on June 26
th. During the
two months under review up to 16 Red Kites were seen at nearly 40 sites throughout the County.
Red Kite by Chris Bond
A ring-tailed Hen Harrier was reported from Cooling Marshes on June 3
rd and
a male PALLID HARRIER was recorded flying over Grove Ferry towards Stodmarsh on May 30
th whilst a ring-tailed Montagu's Harrier was seen flying
W at Northward Hill on May 4th.
During these two months single Ospreys were recorded from Sandwich Bay, Worth, Stodmarsh, Whitstable, Hythe, the Swale, Oare Marshes, Sandwich, Snodland and Cliffe Pools. A female Red-footed Falcon was found on Worth Marshes on May 19
th and
in the first week of May single Merlins were recorded from Dungeness and Swalecliffe whilst there was a peak of 26 Hobbies at Stodmarsh/Grove on May 19
th.
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RAILS TO WADERS____________________________________________ An adult Black-winged Stilt arrived at Oare Marshes on June 4
th and another
was seen at Sandwich Bay on 17th and 18
th whilst a Kentish Plover was
found at Dungeness RSPB on May 20th.
A Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Pegwell Bay on May 16
th with others at
Dungeness RSPB on May 24th and from June 19
th-20
th and Oare Marshes on
June 2nd
and a late Purple Sandpiper was still at Battery Point, Hythe on May 3
rd.
A Little Stint was identified at Cliffe Pools on May 20
th and two were found at
Elmley on May 23rd
with another at Dungeness RSPB on May 30th and a
Spotted Redshank was recorded at Oare Marshes on June 12th and during
the rest of the month one or two were recorded from Swale NNR and Oare Marshes.
During May a Wood Sandpiper was recorded at Reculver on 6
th and three
were reported from Waterbrook on 7th with one remaining until 16
th and there
were two at Cliffe Pools on 18th and single birds at Grove Ferry on 24
th and
Worth on 25th. The first returning migrant was seen at Sevenoaks WR on June
27th.
AUKS TO GULLS_______________________________________________
Black Terns by Chris Bond
In May up to 20 Black Terns were identified at Dungeness RSPB, Gravesend, Cooling, Bough Beech, Cliffe Pools and DBO. There was also a particularly marked passages of birds at DBO on May 21
st when 87 moved through and
May 24th when there were 104. In June two were seen at DBO on 4
th.
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A Roseate Tern flew past DBO on May 11th and one was seen at Cliffe on
May 21st whilst at the beginning of May, 238 Arctic Terns were seen at
Dungeness on 2nd
with 2,500 flying past on 5th and 932 on 6
th.
During May up to 28 Arctic Skuas flew past DBO with smaller counts at Samphire Hoe, Bockhill and Sandwich Bay. In June three flew past DBO on 7
th and 14
th.
Pomarine Skuas flying past DBO during the first two weeks of May
May 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th
1 9 5 2 - 15 18 5 - - 6 2 5 -
Three Pomarine Skuas also flew past Samphire Hoe with one past Kingsdown on May 13
th and another at DBO on May 17
th with seven there on
21st and one on 22
nd.
An adult Long-tailed Skua seen at DBO on the evening of May 24
th was
subsequently seen flying past Mill Point, Folkestone, Kingsdown, Walmer and Deal. During May up to 11 Great Skuas were seen at DBO but on 2
nd an
Observatory spring record of 31 flew past. Up to eight were also recorded from Samphire Hoe and Sandwich Bay. An adult BONAPARTE'S GULL was found at Oare Marshes on June 7
th and
remained there until the end of the month. This is the same bird that has been recorded there each year since 2013 when it was in its first summer and is therefore now six years old. During May up to eight Little Gulls were seen at DBO and Dungeness RSPB. A first summer Yellow-legged Gull was found at Reculver Marshes on May 27
th and an adult was seen at DBO on June 10
th with a first summer
Glaucous Gull seen at DBO on May 8th and on a number of occasions
between Dungeness and Hythe until May 28th.
DOVES TO WOODPECKERS______________________________________ A Long-eared Owl was recorded from Grove Ferry on May 6
th whilst single
Short-eared Owls were recorded from Sandwich Bay on May 18th and 24
th
and at Dungeness RSPB on May 25th.
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Away from breeding sites a migrant Nightjar was heard briefly at DBO on the morning and evening of May 25
th and another was found sitting on a garden
fence in Ramsgate on May 30th. One was also heard at DBO on June 2
nd.
Bee-eater by Paul Steward
Two Bee-eaters flew in off the sea at DBO on May 11
th and other birds were
seen at Worth and Sandwich Bay on May 18th and another was seen in the
Dungeness area between May 19th and 25
th whilst five flew S there on June
4th. Six birds flew SE at West Hougham on June 6
th and one was seen and
heard at DBO on 7th.
Hoopoe by Paul Steward
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A Hoopoe was seen at Dengemarsh Road from May 18th-20
th with others at
Ashford on 20th and Folkestone from May 27
th to 30
th.
GOLDEN ORIOLE TO HIRUNDINES________________________________ A Golden Oriole was heard singing early on May 28
th at Worth and a female
Red-backed Shrike was found by the Long Pits at Dungeness on May 13th
with another reported from South Foreland on June 8th.
During May and June up to five Ravens were seen at Abbotscliffe, Blean Woods, Wouldham, Shuart and Shepherdswell, a Firecrest was seen at DBO on May 4
th and a Woodlark was found at DBO on May 3
rd.
A Red-rumped Swallow was seen briefly at Stodmarsh on May 2nd
and another flew W along the seawall at Reculver on May 10
th and two were found
together with House Martins at Kingsdown on May 24th with yet others at
Pegwell Bay on June 2nd
and Postling on June 7th.
CETTI’S WARBLER TO WHEATEARS______________________________ A Wood Warbler was seen and heard at Kearsney Abbey on May 11
th and
during May up to three Grasshopper Warblers were recorded from Reculver Marshes with one or two still "reeling" there until at least June 8
th. There was
also single birds recorded at Bough Beech on May 6th
and Victory Wood on June 19
th.
Single Marsh Warblers were recorded from at least three sites in Kent during May and June but due to the fact that this is a Schedule 1 species and very prone to disturbance during the breeding season no details will be given.
Great Reed Warbler by Terry Laws
19
A GREAT REED WARBLER was found at Dungeness RSPB on May 29
th and
was seen and heard well the next day. This is the 40th record for Kent.
An adult Rose-coloured Starling seen in gardens at Bishopstone on May 26
th
and 27th was the first of a series of records resulting from an eruption of these
eastern birds into the UK and other parts of Europe. Other records were of an adult bird found at DBO between May 28
th and 30
th, another reported in trees
by Grove Ferry Road on May 29th, an adult at North Foreland on June 2
nd and
further birds at Cliffe Pools and Pegwell Bay on June 3rd
and Port Regis on 15
th.
Rose-coloured Starling by Richard Bonser
In the first days of May one or two Ring Ouzels were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Leysdown-on-Sea, Samphire Hoe, Cliffe Pools and Pegwell Bay with the last bird recorded from Reculver Marshes on 17
th.
There was an unexpected record of a Redwing at Dungeness on June 4
th and
another, a female with a brood patch, was trapped and ringed at Sandwich Bay on June 25
th.
The first Spotted Flycatcher of the year was seen at Stodmarsh on May 6
th
one week later than the first one last year and on May 1st five Pied
Flycatchers were seen at Sandwich Bay with four at Foreness and with one
20
remaining at Sandwich Bay on 2nd
and 3rd
. A male was also reported to be singing at Fairseat on June 19
th.
Spotted Flycatcher by Steve Ashton
During May and June single Black Redstarts were recorded at DBO, Bockhill, Seasalter, Waterbrook and Sandwich Bay and there was an arrival of 120 "Greenland" Wheatears at Dungeness on May 3
rd.
DUNNOCK TO BUNTINGS_______________________________________ Single Serins were seen at DBO on May 27
th and June 7
th and in May and
June up to eight Common Crossbills were seen at Orlestone, Bockhill, Walmer, Samphire Hoe, Sandwich Bay, King's Wood, Denge Wood and Kingsdown Wood. A Hawfinch was seen at Sandwich on May 9
th with two at Orlestone Forest on
May 13th and one at Littlestone on May 31
st.
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DBO = Dungeness Bird Observatory BBRC = British Birds Rarities Committee
RSPB = Royal Society for the Protection of Birds “The Patch” = the warm water outflow from Dungeness Nuclear Power Station NNR=National Nature Reserve NR=Nature Reserve LNR=Local Nature Reserve
FC = Field Centre WR = Wildlife Reserve GP = Gravel Pits CONTRIBUTORS________________________________________________ This summary owes much to the contributors to the various sites in “Latest Sightings” on the KOS Website at www.kentos.org.uk, Twitter, Facebook and the RBA Hotline. Records have been contributed by A. Appleton, S. Bellinger, B.Benn, Bockhill Birders, C. Bond, Bough Beech (per A. Ford), E. Brown, G. Burton, F. Cackett, I. Cardy, R. Carr, M. Casemore, J. Chantler, P. Chantler, M. Chidwick, S. Cutt, K. Cutting, DBO (per D. Walker), D. Eade, R. Etheridge, D. Faulkener, D. Feast, Folkestone and Hythe Birds (per I. Roberts), V. Green, J. Guiver, J. Headley, M. Heath, A. Hindle, C. Hindle, M. Hindle, R. Hinge, A. Holcombe, B. Holcombe, M. Hollingsworth, L. Hunter, M. Kennett, M. Lawson, A. Lipczynski, T. Manship, S. McMinn, S. Mills, S. Mount, P. North, M. Orchard, R. O'Reilly, K. Privett, M. Puxley, R. Rackliffe, S. Reynaert, B. Ring, M. Roser, K. Ross, B. Ryan, Samphire Hoe (per L. Collins, P. Holt, D. Smith, and P. Smith), SBBO (per I. Hodgson), Sevenoaks WR (per S. Clerici), I. Shepherd, D. Smith, W. Stoneham, Swale NNR (per R. Smith, D. Faulkner, I. Davidson), T. Swandale, S. Tomlinson, P. Trodd, D. Tutt, H, Walavles, P. Wallader, A. Watkin, B. Watmough, M. Wilson, S. Wood, J. Woolgar, B. Wright and M.Wright.
Please send records for this review to: Chris Hindle, 42, Glenbervie Drive, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 6QL Email: [email protected] Records sent to me may not all be used for this report as I try to extract the more interesting sightings. However all records are equally important and I forward them to the appropriate Area Recorders who enter them all onto the KOS database.
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Fifty Years Ago
Roller, by Archibald Thorburn (1885)
260. Roller One at the Duke of York’s School, Dover, from June 5th. To 12
th. ( F.Took).
This appears to be only the fourth record for Kent, the earlier ones being one caught alive on Rainham Marsh Nov. 8
th 1888; one at Edenbridge summer of
1906 and one at Canterbury and Wye (probably the same bird) June 27th to
July 15th, 1962.
KBR 1968
Letters and Notes
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Kent Ornithological Society
2018 Annual KOS Conference
Saturday November 3rd 2018
Our conference this year features a wide range of speakers and topics. We are delighted to welcome, among others, Mark Avery and the Director of the BTO - Andy Clements to address KOS members in Kent for the first time. SPEAKERS Andy Clements Director of the BTO Mark Avery Wildlife Campaigner Nicole Khan - RSPB - Turtle Doves Project Will Tofts Warden, Northward Hill RSPB Reserve
Carol Donaldson Country side Consultations Dr Sara Zonnenveld University of Exeter Steffan Walton Sandwich Bay BO Kent Bird Artist Norman McCanch will be exhibiting work.
COUNTING BIRDS – MAKING BIRDS COUNT
AN EXCITING ONE-DAY CONFERENCE
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Chaucer College, Canterbury (Registration & Coffee from 9.00am) This one day conference will examine a range of issues, including the breeding success of some birds in Kent and the difficulties experienced by others. Mark Avery will be talking about Hen Harriers and the challenges they face in this country, and Andy Clements will bring the perspective of the BTO to bear on a range of issues concerning bird populations.
Booking
To book a place please see our website: https://kentos.org.uk for details of payment methods, either online or by post. Or contact Chris Roome - [email protected] (Tel: 07833361446)
£25 for current KOS members £30 Guests & Non KOS members
£10 under 25s Including refreshments on arrival, morning coffee, lunch
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