KOS News The Newsletter of the Ornithological Society Number 499 March 2015

Desert Wheatear, by Matt Hindle

● Bird Sightings November 2014- February 2015 Obituary notices● Flocks● News &

Announcements ● Fifty Years Ago● Letters & Notes

1 KOS Contacts – Committee Members

Newsletter Editor: Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, , 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: Stephen Wood, 4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, ME13 0PJ. Tel: 01795 890485. 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: : Norman McCanch, 23 New Street, Ash, Canterbury, Kent CT3 2BH Tel: 01304-813208 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: Anthea Skiffington 4 Station Approach, , Kent CT4 5DT Tel: 01227 831101 e-mail: [email protected] Field Meetings organiser: Mike Roser 19 Foxdene Road, , CT5 4QY Tel: 01227 272041 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] Jack Chantler 34 Gladstone Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7ET Tel: 01304 366214 [email protected]

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Editorial

Spring is imminent, a time of great anticipation for birders of all persuasions. Personally I have long had a fascination for nests; indeed, birds eggs provided an early rational for going out into the field when I was much younger. A book called ‘Finding Nests’, by Bruce Campbell opened my eyes, for it included details of the BTO nest record scheme and samples of that famous green card. I was hooked, in part because my initial letter of enquiry (at the age of thirteen) produced such an encouraging response from Henry Mayer-Gross, the Nest Records Officer at the time. Nest recording was for many years my most absorbing birding activity. Now I have retired, I look forward with sweet anticipation to the coming spring. I have already noted two Blackbird sites, a Collared Dove and a building Dunnock, around my garden.

Sadly, not everyone we meet out birding has the birds’ best interest at heart. As ever, please be very careful about passing on information regarding breeding birds, no matter how common, to birders you do not know very well indeed!

Good birding, Norman

News and announcements

Obituary Announcements

It is with regret that we acknowledge the passing of two former officers of the society recently. James Allen was made an Honorary Life Vice-President in 1976. He was the recorder for West-Central from 1955-57 and assisted with editing the KBR in the period 1959-61, but will be remembered as treasurer from 1956-75.Jim Martin passed away on 22nd January 2015 at his home in Shropshire after a short illness. He was a life member of the K.O.S. and a splendid, hardworking Chairman of the Society for 10 years throughout the 1990s.

Full obituaries will appear on the KOS website in due course and their passing will also be recorded in the KBR for 2015.

3 Ruddy Ducks There has been some discussion recently in birding circles regarding submission of records for this species, given its status as ‘public enemy’. The Records committee would like to state that any records submitted to the KOS will not disclose exact details of localities of breeding birds. The full text of clarification from the Rare Birds Breeding Panel sent to county recorders is placed below. Barry Wright – Chair E&RSC

The Rare Breeding Birds Panel does not hold a view on the rights and wrongs of the cull but one of our objectives is to be able to provide the best possible information on population status for all species with fewer than 2000 breeding pairs in the UK. The Ruddy Duck is clearly one and we hope that all county recorders will do their best to be able to provide accurate, annual, totals of breeding pairs at the county level. This would include pairs in breeding habitat which may not be confirmed breeding later in the season (due to lack of follow up, no breeding having taken place, or the birds being shot) as well as any that were confirmed breeding pairs. In our most recent report on non-natives we put the minimum breeding population of Ruddy Ducks as 24 pairs (2011) You will know from our published reports (in British Birds) that we do not name sites and in some cases we provide totals only at the regional level (rather than by county) to better protect the location of breeding birds – this may be necessary for Ruddy Duck when we next publish the rare non-native breeding birds report (covering 2012-2014), if indeed there are any breeding Ruddy Ducks to report – very few records have been submitted for 2012 or 2013 so far! So I would ask all recorders to encourage their observers to submit their breeding records to you (in confidence) and for you to summarise these at county level and submit county totals to RBBP. Although we always request site data we appreciate that you may not have these yourselves. If any data for 2012 or 2013 is available but was overlooked in the annual data submissions to RBBP for those years, we would always welcome such records if they were to come separately. The advantage of doing all of this is that at some point it would still be possible to document the status of Ruddy Duck in the UK in some detail because the data for the period since 2009 will have been securely archived in one place – with RBBP

Mark Holling, Secretary of the Rare Breeding Birds Panel

4 New Technology!

The KOS has something called a ‘Facebook page’ which we are keen to use more frequently in order to update members and potential new members on latest developments in the KOS, discuss bird sightings, meetings, publications. The KOS wishes to embrace modern technology and this will serve as another means to keep in touch with the KOS and birding in Kent.

Articles

FLOCKS

Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover by John Whitting

We are always seeing flocks of birds, but flocks vary according to species and circumstance; they may also comprise one or several species. They may stay together all the time or at specific times. They may feed and fly in tighter or looser groups of a few to many thousands. They are drawn together for different reasons. Some species never flock; others are rarely sole. Most behave differently according to season - breeding, winter or passage. Some waders are keen flockers, both at a source of food and at high tide roosts. Some of their huge closely packed flocks are spectacular in their manoeuvres.

5 Knot and Dunlin form the tightest masses in the air, and on the ground at roost. Oystercatchers, godwits and Curlew feed as individuals, but pack together in dense masses at roost. Oare Marshes is the best place to see Black-tailed Godwits form a rich brown carpet of up to 2000 birds on the pools at high tide especially in July and August. Elmley is the best place to see the sky darkened by thousands of Lapwings and the more densely packed Golden Plover. These congeners often form mixed flocks on the fields and take off en masse; all of a sudden the air is full of birds. Is it a dread or a ground predator or is it a raptor? It is difficult to look for one offending Peregrine and count the waders at the same time in this great avian spectacle. Other waders congregate rather than flock; best examples are Snipe and its little cousin Jack, Green, Common and Wood Sandpipers and Ruff. Redshank and Greenshank roost communally, but Greenshank and Spotted Redshank will feed co-operatively where suitable prey is present.

Wigeon, by John Whitting

Geese, some ducks and other large birds form noisy flocks often in V formation for aerodynamic reasons. Anas ducks are good at flocks. Our top flocker is the Wigeon, with impressive winter gatherings at Dungeness and especially Elmley, but Teal form more compact and wader-like flocks. Tufted and Pochard gather in hundreds at a number of sites in the county in both mixed and single species flocks. They are congeners, but Pochard are largely vegetarian, feeding on the weed which harbours the fresh water mussels on which the Tufted feed. Moorhens gather, rather than flock. Coot gather in larger rather scattered groups, but Abberton Reservoir used to host a black

6 mass of 2-3000 tightly packed Coot. Both Rooks and Jackdaws breed colonially, roost together and often feed together. Carrion Crows and Magpies merely gather to exploit a food source, but each species will roost communally.

Birds of Prey are often solitary and eagles in particular enjoy large home ranges. Others such as Lesser Kestrels and Red-footed Falcons are social feeders. Kites and Vultures come together at a suitable corpse. Single birds often call in flight, no doubt to make others aware of their presence; some flocks are full of noisy individuals, which surely implies some more definite form of communication. Gulls have had the good sense to exploit humans. Many, such as Black-heads, nest colonially sometimes inland. Kittiwakes and Herring Gulls will also use artificial sites. Most gulls are opportunistic feeders and can form huge flocks at suitable sites, such as outfalls, incoming fishing boats, recently ploughed fields or playing fields. Like vultures they are soon aware from the behaviour of their fellows when food is available. Flocks will then comprise several species with terns thrown in to add a touch of class and variety. However when the feeding is over they become individuals or pairs again, but only until it is time to join a multi species roost at a reservoir or gravel pit provided by that splendid chap - man. Most seabirds breed communally, but feed as individuals; they still come together at a suitable feeding opportunity.

For me the most interesting flocks are the roving tit flocks. These start as soon as the young leave the nest. The first are usually single species flocks, initially of one family. It is often difficult to distinguish the calls of young Blue and Great Tits and they are not very conspicuous at that stage. As the season advances flocks often amalgamate and gradually become more species diverse. My first local patch in the 1950s was Ruislip Common in Middlesex, where I saw my first Red-backed Shrikes and Woodlarks. I was also able to see six species of tit on one visit, even in the same flock in a habitat of mixed woodland, open bushy areas and a golf course with Ruislip Lido nearby. Particularly in August and September the tits are joined by Goldcrests, Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and the odd Treecreeper and even Nuthatch. One of my Ruislip flocks contained my first Pied Flycatcher. Sometimes Chaffinches join in, no doubt caught up in the excitement until they realise that the wrong type of food is on offer. It has been suggested that these birds band together as a protection against raptors, but that seems perverse and merely to advertise to a Sparrowhawk that there is prey for them; so there must be an advantage in collective foraging which outweighs any danger. It can be a nightmare trying to sort out the different numbers of each species in a flock. However, often one species, especially Blue Tit, is predominant. Luckily they often move through a line of trees or bushes. Ideally the birder should be ready for them to cross a gap.

7 Unfortunately they usually cross at different heights. I find it easier to use the naked eye and ears, as binoculars enable you to home in on one while another five or more move above and below your field of view. They call constantly to keep in touch. The largest flocks I have seen contained up to 60 Blue Tits and little else. I have also seen a flock of over 50 Long-tails early in the season. In the Caledonian Pine Forests Coal Tit is often the dominant species. One flock I saw comprised mainly 80 of this species. I have also seen 50 Coal Tits leading a flock which also contained 30 Willow Warblers. In August 2014 I saw a flock of 25 Goldcrests and a few Blue Tits in Knole Park, but that was very unusual for me in West Kent.

Knot, Grey Plover & Dunlin, by John Whitting

Mixed flocks are common. Two or three species of swan may feed together; Walland Marsh is the best area in Kent to see this, although Whoopers cannot be relied upon. Grey-lag and Canada Geese are frequent congeners, but they also form separate flocks. Some individuals join the wrong flock and the resultant hybrids are not uncommon. At Bough Beech Canada and Grey-lag Geese gather in their hundreds. Sometimes they arrive in several flocks from neighbouring areas. There is a lot of dialogue between the birds already at the site and each incoming flock. On one occasion a solitary Greylag arrived some time after the others and received what was perhaps an ironic cheer for forgetting to set its alarm.

Cardueline Finches form close twittering flocks. Siskins and Redpolls and to some extent Goldfinches are congeners although Redpolls prefer Silver Birch 8 and Siskins prefer pines in summer and Alders in winter. Startled Siskins can explode en masse from the top of an Alder. Greenfinches are fairly independent, as are Chaffinches, although the latter will tolerate the presence of Bramblings, their nearest relative. Redwings and Fieldfares are a good example of congeners, which have the same requirements, although Fieldfares are more partial to fallen apples. In early spring I have heard Redwings gathering in the tree tops for a mass sing. I do not know of any other bird which does this. Mistle Thrushes are independent; they form family parties and these may amalgamate into larger flocks in favoured areas. Some individuals, presumably males, may take over a berry bearing tree or bush and defend it with noisy aggression.

The pigeon family are great flockers. Feral pigeons form the tightest flocks, but Stock Doves bunch more closely than do Woodpigeons which can form loose feeding flocks at a suitable site and especially in late October can move in huge numbers southwards in the same loose flocks. Collared Doves like to start the day on a TV aerial, because they arrived in the 1950s just as TV watching was really taking off. They soon go off to feed and may congregate at a suitable seedy feast. This is the only European dove which has a call as well as a song.

The most familiar mass congregations are the great Starling roosts in cities or the countryside. Before they settle down their spectacular evolutions form shifting black patterns in the sky. This is said to be a defence against predators, but the best way of avoiding predators is surely to roost near where they feed. Pied Wagtails are another example of a bird which roost communally often in their hundreds. There was and perhaps still is a roost in O'Connell Street Dublin. Nearer home I have seen a roost opposite St Stephen's Walbrook. The Cold Storage Depot at Dunton Green near Sevenoaks used to host this nocturnal visitation. I once went to Reading for a meeting. As I returned to the station at dusk I was aware of a tree outside the entrance which was still in full leaf. Closer inspection revealed that the leaves were about 400 Pied Wagtails. I am sure these roosts are communication centres from which the birds learn from each other where the best food is. I understand that bees communicate with each other by an elaborate system of pointing.

If anyone has any other thoughts or experiences about flocks please let us know. Martin Coath

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BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR WINTER 2014 and 2015 – NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY

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______November was rather mild and wet with 89.5 mm of rain falling at Bishopstone during the month. Sunshine percentages were about normal for Kent and it was the warmest November since 2011. For much of December the weather was from the west giving milder, wetter spells interspersed with brighter days. There were, however, colder spells from 3rd-14th and 27th-30th. Rainfall was lower than average. During January Kent had near normal temperatures for the main part but with a notably mild spell from 5th-14th after which it turned appreciably colder from 16th-22nd and also during the last three days of the month. It was the sunniest January since 2003. February was the sunniest since 2008 and averaged near normal temperatures. There was a cold spell from 1st-7th with wintry showers on 3rd and 5th. Rainfall was below average with 36 mm falling at Bishopstone during the month.

WILDFOWL______A Bewick's Swan was found with the Mute Swans at Walland Marsh on Nov 22nd, there were four at Elmley on Nov 27th and five at Old Romney on Nov 28th and on 29th there two at Yantlet Creek and Walland Marsh and seven at Elmley. During the rest of the winter up to 87 birds were recorded from Walland Marsh and occasionally Dungeness RSPB with smaller numbers at DBO, Sandwich Bay, Oare Marshes, Cliffe Pools, Worth Marshes, , Sevenoaks WR, St Mary's Marsh, Grain and Sheppey. Two Whooper Swans were discovered at Seasalter on Dec 5th and a little later that morning were recorded flying W at Oare Marshes. There was also one on Walland Marsh with the Bewick's Swans from Dec 10th-Feb 25th and at Dungeness RSPB on Feb 3rd whilst one flew S at Reculver on Feb 18th.

Two Tundra Bean Geese were identified at Walland Marsh on Dec 7th with a single bird there from Dec 8th-12th and then up to seven from Dec 13th-Jan 24th. At Dungeness single birds were seen on Dec 8th and Jan 23rd with two on Jan 11th, up to five at Scotney GPs from Dec 29th-Feb 18th, up to eight at Capel Fleet from Dec 29th-Jan 25th and six flying NE at Pegwell Bay on Jan

10 26th. During February four were also reported from Swale NNR with six at Marshes on 9th.Up to 48 Pink-footed Geese were seen on Sheppey during November whilst seven flew over Sandwich Bay on Nov 6th and two were seen there on Nov 20th with one at Bough Beech from 15th-17th. There were also 40 at Capel Fleet and Swale NNR on Dec 13th, one at Stodmarsh on Dec 26th and 80 at Capel Fleet on Dec 29th. In January there still up to 70 at Capel Fleet whilst eight were seen at Worth Marshes on 17th with one at Sandwich Bay on 19th and one at Reculver on 25th. In February there were 52 at Seasalter on 11th, 52 at DBO on 12th with three on 16th and up to 68 at Capel Fleet from 14th-22nd.

There were seven White-fronted Geese at Swale NNR on Nov 11th and 12 at various sites on Sheppey between Nov 14th and 19th. On Nov 20th, 12 were reported from Sandwich Bay and the next day 30 flew over and there were four at Brooksend. After this up to 440 were reported from Sheppey with smaller numbers at Oare Marshes, Walland Marsh, Stodmarsh, Scotney GPs, , Willop Basin, Pegwell Bay, Sandwich Bay and Dungeness RSPB.

Other than the feral birds that are scattered around Kent records suggesting possible genuine wild Barnacle Geese included 16 flying E at Minnis Bay on Dec 3rd, three feeding with Brent Geese at Oare Marshes on Jan 23rd, three at Capel Fleet on Jan 25th and 26th, 56 at Pegwell Bay on Jan 27th, 57 at Sevenoaks WR from Feb 13th-15th and singles on the Thames on Feb 15th and a bird with the Brent Geese at Reculver from Feb 19th-27th. The Pale-bellied Brent Goose first seen at Reculver on Oct 25th was still being seen intermittently until Feb 17th. There were other sightings at LNR and DBO with up to five at Lower Halstow from Nov 9th-Dec 20th and in January and February six were reported from Pegwell Bay on Jan 8th and one at DBO on Feb 25th.

A Black Brant was reported from South Swale LNR on Nov 9th and was seen at Shellness on Nov 16th and it or another was seen at Lower Halstow from Dec 17th-19th with one at Oare Marshes from Jan 1st-7th.During the winter up to 18 Egyptian Goose were seen at Sandwich Bay, Sevenoaks WR, Bough Beech, Conningbrook GPs, Dungeness RSPB, Hayesden, Nickoll's Quarry, Otford, Naccolt, Sandwich Bay, Penshurst, Cliffe Pools, Scotney GPs and Halling.

During the winter up to 45 Mandarins were seen at Bough Beech with lesser numbers at Edenbridge, Penshurst, Postern Park, Benenden, Bedgebury, Sandwich, Pedlinge and Stodmarsh.A drake Green-winged Teal was identified at Grove Ferry on Nov 23rd and remained there until 30th with another record at Cliffe Pools from Jan 1st-9th.

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Single Red-crested Pochards were seen at Lade GPs on Dec 2nd, at Dungeness RSPB on Jan 4th, at Stonar Lake on Jan 30th and Feb 12th, at Sandwich Bay on Feb 22nd and a male was present at Dungeness RSPB from Feb 22nd-24th.

A juvenile Scaup was found at Oare Marshes on Nov 2nd and 19th with others recorded at Cliffe Pools intermittently between Nov 18th and Feb 22nd and another at Scotney GPs from Dec 14th-Feb 24th that was sometimes seen in Kent and sometimes in Sussex.Two Long-tailed Ducks were seen at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 1st and there was one in Ramsgate Harbour on Dec 30th whilst another flew past DBO on Jan 25th.

On Nov 5th there were six Velvet Scoter at Swalecliffe and four at Reculver, on Nov 13th seven flew past DBO and there were two at Swalecliffe on Nov 18th with one there on Nov 28th. In December two flew past DBO on 2nd with three on 21st when one was also seen at Willop Outfall. During January and February two were seen at DBO on Jan 2nd and 16th with one on Feb 14th and with seven at Swalecliffe on Jan 20th.

Smew, by Steve Ashton

The first Goldeneyes of the winter were seen at DBO and Sandwich Bay on Nov 2nd and the first Smew of the winter arrived at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 9th and was seen there during the rest of the month whilst two were reported flying past Swalecliffe on Nov 29th. During the remainder of the winter up to 11 Smew were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Hythe, Chilham, Swalecliffe, Sandwich Bay and Lade GPs.

The first Goosander of the winter arrived at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 17th and subsequently up to nine birds were seen at Dungeness, Sandwich Bay, 12 Worth, Stodmarsh, Oare Marshes, Penshurst, West Hythe, Swalecliffe, Palmarsh, Seabrook, Conningbrook GPs, Sevenoaks WR and Bough Beech. Two Ruddy Ducks were found at Stodmarsh on Dec 26th.

PARTRIDGE TO GREBES______In November and December single Great Northern Divers were seen at DBO, Sandwich Bay, North Foreland, , Swalecliffe, Ramsgate and Reculver with inland records of one at Bough Beech on Dec 8th and another at Stodmarsh and Westbere on Dec 13th. In the New Year one was seen at Tankerton on Jan 18th with another record from Minnis Bay on Feb 5th.

During November and December up to four Black-throated Divers were seen at DBO, North Foreland, Shellness, Walmer, Reculver and Swalecliffe with seven flying past DBO on Nov 17th. Subsequently single birds were seen at DBO on Jan 4th and 6th and at Swalecliffe on Jan 19th.

Red-throated Diver by Mike Hook

Two Sooty Shearwaters flew past Hythe and one flew past Bockhill on Nov 2nd and a Leach's Petrel was seen off DBO on Nov 11th with another two on 13th.Single Shags were seen in Ramsgate Harbour on Nov 14th and Dec 30th with another at Reculver on Nov 23rd. In the New Year there were single birds at Folkestone Harbour, Samphire Hoe and Dover.

Throughout the winter months up to three Bitterns were reported from Dungeness RSPB, Lade GPs, New Hythe GPs, Capel Fleet, Bough Beech and Oare Marshes with up to five seen at Stodmarsh.A juvenile Night Heron 13 was found at Nickoll's Quarry between Jan 14th and 23rd. This was probably bird that had been reported as a Bittern earlier in the month

. Night Heron by Malcolm Freeman Up to 12 Great White Egrets were present at Dungeness RSPB during the winter with as many as four birds seen at DBO, Bough Beech, Snargate, Chilham, Walland Marsh, Sandwich Bay, Higham, Worth Marshes, West Hythe, Lade GPs, Conningbrook GPs, Ham Street and Sheppey with seven birds reported from West Hythe on Jan 18th. The Cattle Egret seen in the Dungeness/Lydd area throughout October was still there during November and was joined by another bird from Nov 3rd-Feb 28th with three there between Nov 15th and 22nd. A bird was also seen at Hamstreet between Feb 9th and 15th and five were reported going to roost at Dungeness RSPB on Feb 14th

Cattle Egrets by Chris Bond

14 A Glossy Ibis flew N at Port Lympne on December 8th, a White Stork was reported flying over Ashford on Nov 26th and there were three Spoonbills at Cliffe Pools on Nov 2nd with one still present on 4th.

Red-necked Grebes were seen at DBO on Nov 12th, at Tankerton on Nov 23rd and Swalecliffe on 27th and 28th. During December one flew S past St Margarets on 21st and on Feb 1st a bird was seen at Deal and Sandwich Bay.

In November one or two Slavonian Grebes were found at Dungeness RSPB from 10th and two were seen on the sea at Swalecliffe on 12th with others at DBO on 15th and 18th, Walmer and Swalecliffe on 22nd and Pegwell Bay on 25th. One also flew past DBO on Dec 19th and in January one was seen at Swalecliffe on 19th and during February there was one at Stonar Lake on 4th.

During the winter up to three Black-necked Grebes were reported from Cliffe Pools, Dungeness RSPB, Lade GPs and Scotney GPs.

BIRDS OF PREY______A Red Kite was seen at Bough Beech on Dec 9th with others at Foreness on Jan 10th, Swalecliffe on Jan 22nd, Hythe on Feb 1st, Brenzett on Feb 16th Throwley Forstal on Feb 20th and 22nd and Bough Beech on Feb 21st.

During the winter up to three Hen Harriers were recorded at Pegwell Bay, Scotney GPs, Sandwich Bay, Sheppey, Oare Marshes, Shuart, Reculver, Barham, Stoke Marshes, Nor Marsh, Swalecliffe, Allhallows, Swale NNR, Worth Marshes and Sandwich Bay with up to four roosting at Stodmarsh.

A juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard flew W along the seawall at Reculver and then out to sea towards Essex on Nov 7th and others were reported from Bedgebury on Jan 3rd, Abbey Meads on Jan 18th and Strood on Feb 7th.

An exceptionally early Osprey was reported flying over the M20 towards Maidstone on Feb 16th.

During the winter single Merlins were seen at Reculver, Oare Marshes, Whetsted GPs, Rye Street, Minnis Bay, Walland Marsh, Grove Ferry, Eastry, Hythe, Rodmersham, Northward Hill and Swalecliffe with up to three on Sheppey and at Dungeness.

RAILS TO WADERS______Two wintering Whimbrel were found at Lower Halstow during December and January. A late Curlew Sandpiper was still present at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 1st.

15 During the winter up to 14 Purple Sandpipers were counted at Foreness, Dumpton Gap, Minnis Bay, Hampton, Dover Harbour, Hythe, Folkestone and Swalecliffe.

There was still a Little Stint at Oare Marshes on Nov 2nd, 8th and 19th with one at Scotney GPs between Nov 20th and Dec 1st. In the New Year one was reported from Elmley on Feb 5th and a colour-ringed bird was seen at Scotney GPs from Feb 20th-24th.

Single Grey Phalaropes were seen at Swalecliffe and Shellness on Nov 5th, at DBO on Nov 7th, 8th, 13th and 15th and at Oare Marshes on Nov 21st.

During November and December one or two Spotted Redshanks were seen at South Swale LNR, Sandwich Bay and Dungeness RSPB.There was an unexpected record of a Wood Sandpiper at Elmley on Feb 20th where it was also seen the next day.

A Jack Snipe was found at Sandwich Bay on Nov 3rd with others at Oare Marshes on Nov 26th and Dungeness RSPB on Nov 28th. There were also impressive counts of 14 at Allhallows on Nov 30th with seven still there on Dec 23rd. During the New Year up to three birds were recorded from Sandwich Bay, Lade GPs, Penshurst, Wateringbury, Swalecliffe, Nickoll's Quarry and Wouldham.

SKUAS TO GULLS______There was a record breaking autumn count of Pomarine Skuas at DBO on Nov 1st when 51 flew past. The next day there were single birds at Bockhill and Sandwich Bay and three at Swalecliffe. With a moderate N wind on Nov 5th there were eight at Reculver, four at Swalecliffe and two at Shellness. During the rest of November one or two birds were regularly seen along the north Kent coast at Oare Marshes, Shellness, Swalecliffe, Minnis Bay, Seasalter and Reculver. During December there were up to three at Swalecliffe between 1st and 3rd with singles at DBO on 2nd, 4th, 12th and 21st and St Mary's Bay on 24th. In January single birds were seen at DBO on 5th, 29th and 30th. On Feb 1st with a strong, cold NW wind blowing there were single birds seen off Sandwich Bay, DBO, North Foreland and Seasalter with two at Cliftonville and 4 at Swalecliffe. Subsequently single birds were reported from Swalecliffe and a bird that flew in over the Point at DBO and landed subsequently died.

Pomarine Skua numbers at DBO during the first three weeks of November

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 51 7 - 8 - - 5 - - - 9 1 7 2 1 2 - - -

During November one or two Arctic Skuas were seen at DBO and Reculver. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua was reported from DBO on Nov 7th and 8th. During the winter up to 13 Great Skuas were reported from 19 coastal sites.

A juvenile Sabine's Gull was seen at DBO on Nov 2nd with another at Shellness on Nov 5th.In November up to 60

Little Gulls were seen at DBO, Shellness, Oare Marshes, North Foreland, Swalecliffe, Seasalter, Sandwich Bay, Hythe and Reculver and in addition there were 441 at DBO and 69 at North Foreland on Nov 17th and 75 at Swalecliffe on 18th. During the rest of the winter one or two birds were reported from Sandwich Bay, Minster and DBO.

During the period under review up to five Yellow-legged Gulls were seen at Dungeness, Swalecliffe, Dartford Marshes, Bough Beech, Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate Harbour, Reculver and Sandwich Bay.An Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was reported from Pegwell Bay on Nov 7th.

Up to four Caspian Gulls were seen intermittently at Dungeness throughout November and December. In addition one was also identified at Folkestone Harbour on Dec 1st, with singles at Dartford Marshes on Dec 14th, 21st and 29th and three there on Dec 30th with one at Scotney GPs on Dec 14th. During January and February one or two were reported from DBO, Pegwell Bay and Dartford Marshes.

An adult Iceland Gull was reported flying SE at Leysdown on Feb 14th and there was a second winter bird at Cliffe Pools on Feb 20th.

A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen at Dungeness, Greatstone-on-Sea and Hythe on Dec 27th and what may have been the same bird flew over Chilham on Dec 31st. A juvenile was also seen at DBO on Jan 3rd with other reports from Pegwell Bay on Jan 26th, Foreness on Feb 7th, Cliffe Pools on Feb 9th, Dover Harbour from Feb 11th-28th with a different juvenile at the "Patch" at

DBO also on 28th.

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Glaucous Gull by Steve Ashton

There were a number of Little Auks seen at the beginning of November with four at Shellness and single birds at Reculver and Swalecliffe on 5th. On 6th there were two at Swalecliffe and single birds at Shellness and at Reculver which was eventually killed by a gull. Another was observed at DBO on Nov 7th.

DOVES TO WOODPECKERS______

A Turtle Dove was found wintering at Wilmington on Jan 10th.

Two Long-eared Owls were found roosting at DBO on Nov 23rd with another at Shuart on Nov 30th and one at Northward Hill on Dec 6th and Feb 15th. In the New Year one was found at Swale NNR on Feb 9th

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Short-eared Owl by Mark Chidwick

During winter up to five Short-eared Owls were seen at Dungeness, Sheppey, Foreness, Wouldham, Botolph's Bridge, Allhallows, Lydd, Swalecliffe, Seasalter, Oare Marshes, Lade GPs, Reculver, Halling and Sandwich Bay. A Hoopoe was at Dover between Nov 12th and 17th.

GOLDEN ORIOLE TO HIRUNDINES______

A Great Grey Shrike was seen at DBO on Nov 5th with a wintering individual at Chilham from Nov 16th to the end of February. There was also another bird reported from a private site at East Barming on Dec 20th

. Great Grey Shrike by Steve Ashton 19 A Hooded Crow was reported at various sites on Sheppey between Dec 6th and February 22nd. During the winter up to four Ravens were reported from over 20 widely separated sites throughout the County.

In the winter months up to five Firecrests were recorded from 20 sites with larger counts of 12 at DBO on Nov 26th and nine at North Foreland on Feb 2nd.

During November Woodlarks were seen at Abbotscliffe on 6th, Bockhill on 9th and Samphire Hoe on 19th and 20th. In December there were three at Hythe on 28th and in the New Year one was seen at Foreness on Feb 21st.A Shore Lark was recorded from Reculver between Nov 7th and 10th and also on 25th with another at Seasalter on Nov 19th and five were seen briefly at Reculver on Dec 13th before flying E towards Thanet.

A late House Martin was seen at Lydd on Nov 26th and single Swallows were seen at Scotney GPs and Lade GPs on Nov 30th with an even later bird flying S at DBO on Dec 20th.A juvenile Red-rumped Swallow was found at DBO on Nov 6th.

CETTI’S WARBLER TO WHEATEARS______

A Pallas's Warbler was reported from Margate on Nov 16th with another at Dungeness RSPB on Jan 1st.Single Dartford Warblers were seen at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 1st and at Sandwich Bay from Nov 1st-16th, Pegwell Bay intermittently between Nov 19th and Jan 23rd, at Hurst Wood near Tunbridge Wells on Jan 17th and at Higham Common on Jan 25th. In February one was seen at DBO on 10th with another at Harty on 22nd

Dartford Warbler by Gavin Coultrip

20 A Common Whitethroat with an injured or deformed wing was ringed at Reculver on Nov 6th and seen again on Jan 1st.

Single Waxwings were seen flying over at Foreness and Pegwell Bay on Nov 22nd.

During November one or two Ring Ouzels were seen at South Foreland on 4th, at DBO on 5th, Capel Fleet, Bockhill, South Foreland, Abbotscliffe and DBO on 6th, Bockhill and Sandwich Bay on 9th, Langdon Cliffs on 11th, Folkestone on 13th, DBO on 14th and at Lade on 16th. Even later birds were seen at DBO on Dec 9th and reported from Maidstone on Dec 16th.

During the period under review up to seven Black Redstarts were recorded from 20 sites throughout the County.A late Whinchat was seen at Reculver on Nov 9th with it or another at nearby Marshes on 12th.A male DESERT WHEATEAR was found at Reculver on Nov 6th and remained there until 9th attracting hundreds of birders. This is the 14th record for Kent and the fourth for Reculver.

DUNNOCK TO BUNTINGS______A male White Wagtail was reported from Copt Point on Jan 30th.

During the winter up to nine Water Pipits were seen at Grove Ferry as well as one or two at Wouldham, Bockhill, Harty, Oare Marshes, Swanscombe, Worth Marshes, Halling Marshes and Dartford Marshes.A Richard's Pipit was seen at Seasalter on Nov 18th and there was one reported from Swale NNR between Nov 9th and Feb 28th.

Richards Pipit by Terry Laws 21 A Serin was observed at Bockhill on Nov 16th with another at DBO on Nov 19th.Two Twite were seen at Foreness on Nov 4th and at Swale LNR on 6th with four at Sandwich Bay on Nov 8th and with one there on 17th. There were also 15 at Elmley on Nov 24th and in the New Year there were eight at Swale NNR on Jan 8th and one at Sandwich Bay on Feb 7th.Up to seven Hawfinches were seen at Bedgebury between Dec 29th and Feb 10th.

Lapland Bunting by Barrie Ryan

During November single Lapland Buntings were recorded at Swalecliffe, Stoke, Reculver and Sandwich Bay and in December single birds were seen at Oare Marshes on 6th and at Reculver from 28th-30th.During the winter Snow Buntings were recorded from 18 coastal sites with a peak of 21 at Reculver on Nov 29th.

This summary owes much to the contributors to the various sites in “Latest Sightings” on the KOS Website at www.kentos.org.uk, KOSForum, Twitter and the RBA Pager Hotline. Records have been contributed by Ashford Bird Club (per A. Dunstan), N. Austin, R. Bailey, M. Baldock, G. Barker, J. Barnard, V. Beaney, S. Beard, P. Beckenham, B. Benn, P. Beraet, J. Bloor, Bockhill Birders, C. Bond, J. Boorman, A. Borlase, Bough Beech (per C. Langton), R. Brockett, E. Brown, S. Broyd, M. Buckland, N. Burt, G. Burton, F. Cackett, M. Casemore, B. Chambers, J. Chantler, P. Chantler, D. Chesterman, M. Chidwick, P. Cliffe, P. Coleman, G. Coultrip, C. Cox, K. Cutting, DBO (per D. Walker), I. Davidson, K. Digby, C. Drake, R. Dubbins, A. Dunstan, S. Durbridge, D. Eade, P. Earley, B. East, R. Elvy, L. Evans, D. Faulkener, D. Feast, D. Featherbe, Folkestone and Hythe Birds (per I. Roberts), M. Freeman, M. Gould, P. Graham, V. Green, J. 22 Guiver, J. Hall, S. Haughie, M. Heath, A. Hindle, C. Hindle, M. Hindle, A. Holcombe, B. Holcombe, J. Horton, S. Huggins, B. Hunt, K. Jarvis, M. Kennett, J. Kirk, T. Laws, A. Lawson, A. Lipczynski, P, Lloyd, M. Longdon, A. Luckhurst, S. McMinn, M. McVail, S. Message, P. Milton, K. Morris, R. Morton, S. Morton, C. Mount, S. Mount, M. Norman, M. Paice, R.O'Reilly, M. Orchard, A. Perry, J. Perry, L. Platt, K. Privett, M. Puxley, J. Reeves, B. Ring, M. Roser, Ryan, Samphire Hoe (per L. Collins, P. Holt, N, Samuel, P. Selwood, D. Smith, and P. Smith), SBBO (per I. Hodgson), G. Segelbacher, Sevenoaks WR (per S. Clerici), I. Shepherd, D. Smith, R. Smith, M. Southcott, T. Speller, W. Stoneham, Swale NNR (per R. Smith, D. Faulkner, I. Davidson), A. Taylor, E. Thomason, S. Tilley, P. Trodd, D. Tutt, J. Walder, M. Warburton, A. Wells, A. Whitehouse, N. Williams, A. Willis, M. Wilson, T. Wilson, K. Witham, S. Wood, B. Woolhouse and B. Wright.

Please send records for this review to: Chris Hindle, 42, Glenbervie Drive, , 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.

Letters and Notes

Killer Crows At Oare Marshes recently I was surprised to watch a pair of Crows setting up the Lapwing flocks and then diving at them like Raptors and knocking a bird down into the water and then attacking it again and again until it was weakened whereupon they half lifted, half dragged the Lapwing onto an island and finished it off by repeatedly pecking it. They stayed a while supposedly eating it and then set off and did the same again to another Lapwing. As we left they were just trying to pick off another Lapwing.

23 I have watched a family of Magpies hunting along hedges and pulling out live sparrows and starlings and killing them but have never seen Crows use this Raptor like behaviour before.

Pat Carlton

British Birds Vol. XLVI (1953) p.377 Includes an note by Niko Tinbergen of an almost identical incident of aerial predation on a lapwing, observed in Northumberland in April 1953 butv it is clearly not commonly observed. Ed.

24 Fifty Years Ago

Snowy Owl: A female observed on Romney Marsh between 24th -31st January 1965, may have been an escape. Apparently large numbers were imported for sale in the early sixties. Birds of Kent 1981

Norman McCanch

Recently Accepted Kent Rarities Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Sandwich Bay 05/05/2013

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) Swalecliffe 17/06/2013

Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) Abbotscliffe 28/10/2012;

Alpine Swift (Apus melba) Kingsdown 09/08/2014

Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) Bockhill 24/09/2014

Coue's Arctic Redpoll (C. h. exilipes ) Hemsted Forest 09/01/2014;

Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) Bockhill 12/10/2013

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) Bockhill 12/10/2013

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) Bockhill 30/08/2014

Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) Dungeness 11/09/2014

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) Dungeness 03/05/2014

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) Hildenborough 29/05/2014

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) Dungeness 06/11/2014

Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) Pegwell Bay 30/11/2014

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) Reculver 11/09/2014

Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) Eastry 25/01/2014

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) Reculver 28/08/2014

25 BBRC rarities still pending

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) Reculver 06/11/2014

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Dungeness RSPB 06/08/2014

Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) Dungeness 12/10/2014

Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) Dungeness 28/05/2014

Gyr Falcon (Falco rusticolus) Dengemarsh, Dungeness 30/08/2014

Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla) Oare Marshes 22/05/2014

Updated information for BB Rarities can be found on the BBRC website

Barry Wright, Chairman KOS E&RSC

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INDOOR MEETINGS Meetings are held on the second THURSDAY of the month (Oct. to April) Venue - Grove Green Community Hall, Grovewood Drive, Maidstone - just south of Junction 7 of the M20 and adjacent to Tesco’s Supermarket. The hall will be open from 7.15pm for a 7.45pm start.

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