A clearer photo of the New Year’s Day gull. The first addition to my Swalecliffe site list since Caspian Tern in May 2022 and another 660 visits!

What a way to start the year on my local patch. Landed on the beach for a few minutes then flew off west.

Purple Sandpiper at Swalecliffe this morning plus 2 Great White Egrets flew over. #kentbirding

Now winter is officially here, I can reflect on 3 species that have provided my latest ever records. A Hobby at Oare Marshes on October 21st, Turtle Dove at Swalecliffe on November 8th and Arctic Tern at Swalecliffe on November 17th. Something’s happening?

At last a little water on the east flood at Oare Marshes and waders, albeit just 5 Lapwings. Also excellent views of a Hobby. Quite possibly the latest I’ve seen.

The changing of the guard. Juvenile Hobby at Samphire Hoe, Snow Bunting at Swalecliffe #kentbirding

It was a lifer for me but I still needed to add Stonechat and Black Redstart, amongst others, to that list. The bird was present for 16 days! I don’t know the name of the finder, but it might be a P Thompson? Anyone know?

60 years ago yesterday, whilst sitting on the shingle beach at Cley in Norfolk talking to John Crudass, a breathless man ran towards us pleased to have found someone to tell he had seen a Black-eared Wheatear down the coast at Salthouse.

I saw my first Cattle Egret at Swalecliffe in April 2019, 5 records of 1 or 2 since but today a flock of 16 were huddled together on the beach. Reminded me of penguins in Antarctica, but then they flew off.

35 years ago yesterday, @birdingbazzer.bsky.social and I saw a juvenile Golden Oriole in an area of scrub at Swalecliffe, now part of the sewage works. My only juvenile in the county. An early visit to the site, now my local patch, over 6,500 visits later.

Lots of reports of Jersey Tigers locally. I went undercover to get this pic.

A few minutes at lunchtime on a day in late July, not ideal for finding a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, but I was soon enjoying brief but good views of a male in the local woods. Not calling but just caught the movement high in the trees👍

An interesting couple of days down in Kent. The Bonaparte’s Gull returns for its 13th year at Oare Marshes, the 6th Zitting Fan-tailed Warbler graces Thanet and then the 2nd only Caspian Tern for Oare Marshes is up the creek after a wait of 26 years #kentbirding

Not much in my moth trap this morning but this seemed to be ruling the roost

That’s the thing about patch watching, or one of them, you spend all morning expecting migrants, hearing of Wheatears, Black Redstarts and Ring Ousels elsewhere. But then, like a piper at the gates of dawn, the call of the Bullfinch and my first sight of one at Swalecliffe for over 4 years

References recently to a Purple Sandpiper “inland” at Scotney reminded me of this bird present at Bough Beech on 1st-3rd November 1985. Nearly 40 years ago and the only record there. Photo by the legendary Royston K Cole’s #kentbirding

Good few days for laridae at Swalecliffe with an early Sandwich Tern, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls and today an Iceland Gull #kentbirding

Visit to Godmersham this afternoon. Hawfinch in tall trees by the church. Little Grebe on river below church and Tufted Duck on flood beyond. Also Red Kite

Trawling through social media etc, I noted a total of 176 bird species recorded in Kent in January. No idea whether that’s good or bad. Perhaps fairly average? #kentbirding

After 3 days I have seen Little Egrets, 4 Cattle Egrets, a Great White Egret and 3 Spoonbills but no Grey Heron. Today, 3 Snow Buntings, and a Grey Heron, at Swalecliffe and a Firecrest in the garden #kentbirding

The tenth British record of Yellow Warbler. Seven on Scottish islands but not Fair Isle, the first on Bardsey in 1964, two in England but not Scillies. Fourth American warbler in Kent. Well done Glenn

Dartford Warbler again at Swalecliffe for its 48th day. In my 24 visits during this time, I’ve seen it 10 times. A strike rate of 42%. Snow Bunting present for the same period, seen 12 times. Strike rate of 50% #kentbirding

Just seen a Firecrest in the garden. My second this year but no Goldcrests?

As it came closer it turned to reveal its shape. A Moorhen! It pitched down on the beach behind a groyne. Never seen one over the sea before.

Scanning over the sea I picked out an apparently all dark bird in the middle distance. Heading straight towards us, my first thought was of scoter but the flight seemed too weak. No plumage details or actual shape could discerned as it continued to head straight towards.

A rare visit to Stodmarsh this afternoon. Drake Scaup on Collard’s Lake, 2 Hen Harriers, Barn Owl, 9 Pink-footed Geese at Grove Ferry.

Nice start to the month at Swalecliffe yesterday with Snow Bunting, Dartford Warbler, Purple Sandpiper, Kingfisher et al #kentbirding

This white-tailed scrub robin has been present at Swalecliffe for some weeks

Curlew on the beach at Swalecliffe. Yellow flag with 64 on it and red ring on left leg, yellow ring on right. Anyone know who put them on?

A warm morning, a temperature of 21.5 C at 11 am. A Black-necked Grebe on the flat calm sea was the highlight. Also a summer plumage Red-throated Diver close inshore, 120 Brents on the beach without a single juvenile, the resident Purple Sandpiper, a few Sandwich Terns and a Redwing in off the sea.

Oare Marshes this morning was fairly quiet. Small numbers of Swallows and House Martins on the move. 6 Spoonbills, Great White Egret, juvenile Hobby, juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpipers, Grey Wagtail, Whinchat, Mistle Thrush, Bearded Tits.

A Great White Egret at Moor Green Lakes this morning

Spoonbills mutual grooming at Oare Marshes this morning

Aren’t Great Black-backed Gulls enormous?