An excellent week of birding in Kent with a Desert Wheatear, 3 Dusky Warblers and 5 Pallas’s Warblers. The Pallid Swift remained on show and the mild weather brought some interesting sightings of late summer migrants. See: kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

The weekly update is again available on the KOS website, with Pallid Swift, Pallas Warbler, good seawatching and an update on the Kent year list at the end of October. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

KOS species of the month – November Starling – November is a month to look out for Starling murmurations. Kent isn’t the best for these late afternoon spectacles but can deliver solid performances.  Sites vary from year to year but reedbeds are a favoured location. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A leucistic Kestrel, a Long-billed Dowitcher, more winter geese, duck and grebes and pick up in sea-watching made for a varied week of birding in Kent. See Kentos.org.uk for the full weekly highlights. #kentbirding #birdguides

An excellent week of autumn birding in Kent with a beautiful Red-flanked Bluetail and an amazing mix of Phylloscopus warblers (including Radde’s, Hume’s and Pallas’s). See full weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides

Look out for various members of the KOS on this weekend’s episode of Countryfile which was filmed recently at Samphire Hoe. One of the topics on the episode is the joint White Cliffs Countryside Partnership and East Kent Wildlife Group research project studying the Stonechats that live there

Reculver hits a true purple patch with Radde’s Warbler, Richard’s Pipit and Red-breasted Flycatcher, while Dungeness did very well on diversity of finch species which included Serin and Twite. Plus a Shrike at Worth. Full weekly highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

KOS Site of the month – October Bockhill (St Margarets) has a strong history of producing autumn rarities such as Yellow-browed Warblers in amongst the many commoner migrants that leave the UK from here (the closest point to France). #kentosbirding #kentbirding

World Migratory Bird Day – Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-friendly Cities and Communities. Focussing this year on the spaces we share with birds it’s a good opportunity to clean out bird boxes for next year or install some new ones. www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/about #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A twitchable Pallid Harrier, a third Red-breasted Flycatcher, early winter waterfowl and the discovery of the origins of one of the Glossy Ibises made for a diverse week in Kent birding. See kentos.org.uk for all details. #kentbirding #birdguides

KOS species of the month – Ruff – At this time of year Ruff can appear anywhere along the coast such as Oare or Worth. All birds will look similar with none of the males in their plumed breeding finery, but males are much larger than females. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A Pallid Harrier, two Red-breasted Flycatchers and lots of good sightings during the Big Kent Migration Day made for a busy week in Kent birding. See full highlights on Kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

There was lots going on in Kent birding this week: a Kentish Plover, a Corncrake at someone’s door, large passage of hirundines, the first Ring Ouzels and Yellow-browed Warbler and some good sea-watch sightings. All details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides

Seven days to go to the Big Kent Migration Watch! To celebrate bird migration KOS and partners are organising activities on 28 September at Dungeness, Samphire Hoe and Sandwich Bay. Please join us. For details: kentos.org.uk/index.php/ev...

Some typical September scarcities and excellent sea-watching made for a good week in Kent birding. A beautiful Red-footed Falcon, a Red-necked Phalarope, a large number of Sooty Shearwater and several Storm Petrel were the highlights. See kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

KOS Site of the month – September Warden Point on the Isle of Sheppey with the correct conditions can be an autumn focal point for migrants such as scarcer warbler and flycatcher species. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

This week in Kent saw a massive influx of Glossy Ibis, but also plenty of other scarce birds like Montagu’s Harrier, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck. For this and more see the KOS website kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #BirdGuides

A showy Spotted Crake, a Glossy Ibis, photo-genetic Dotterels and lots of interesting sea-watching sightings. Read full weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #BirdGuides

KOS species of the month – September Whinchat – A smart cousin of the Stonechat most of Kent’s records come from the autumn as birds that have bred in the uplands migrate to the tropical savannas and grasslands of central and southern Africa. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A brief Sardinian Warbler, several Dotterel, Stone-curlew, Osprey, Purple Heron and several other goodies made for another very good week of birding in Kent. See kentos.org.uk for all details. #kentbirding #birdguides

World Lake Day – Lakes support birds in many ways – drinking water, bathing, safety from predators, nesting, food sources that both live in the water and are also attracted to it. So many species are reliant on lakes it is important we protect them from pollution, development and disturbance.

KOS Site of the month – August Greatstone and Lade beaches – Large mixed high tide roosts of gulls, terns and waders can hide rarer species and be fruitful for colour ring readers. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A Zitting Cisticola (found during the KOS day at Dungeness), a showy White-winged Tern, an Icterine Warbler and several other scarcities made for an excellent week in Kent. See kentos.org.uk for full report. #kentbirding #birdguides

Plenty of migrating birds this week in Kent, with the best find a fly-over Greater Short-toed Lark. Other highlights included a large group of White Storks, a Wryneck and many Whinchats, Redstarts and Pied Flyctachers. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

Some intriguing sea-watching sightings, the two sandpipers from last week and two Purple Herons were among the highlights in Kent this week. See Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides

KOS species of the month – August Sandwich Tern – One of the three species named in relation to Kent this elegant bird breeds in colonies and normally winters south of the Equator with ringing recoveries showing birds moving between Kent and Namibia. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

An excellent week of birding in Kent with White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Night-heron and several other scarce birds. See kentos.org.uk for full highlights. #kentbirding #birdguides

Returning waders, a Pom Skua, a Quail and some other early migration made for an interesting week of birding in Kent. See the weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding

The most unusual sighting in Kent this week was an unseasonal Jack Snipe at Worth while the Bonaparte’s remained at Oare and juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were at Dungeness. Full highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides

KOS Site of the month – July Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve is a Kent Wildlife Trust site which in July should allow visitors to see broods of young wildfowl and Great-crested Grebes as well as Swallows and Martins feeding over the lakes. . #kentosbirding #kentbirding

A second rare American gull visiting the county, another Caspian Tern and a large group of Cattle Egrets were among the highlights in Kent birding this week. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

Another mega was found in Kent this week, a Zitting Cisticola at Foreness! It was a good week of Summer birding in any case as the Bonaparte’s Gull returned and Caspian Tern was seen at two locations. Full highlights on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

KOS species of the month - July House Martin – July is a good time to see these smart acrobatic birds at their nest sites under the eaves of buildings. They are glossier and blue-black compared to Sand Martin but easily distinguished at distance by their white rump.#kentbirding

A relatively quiet week in Kent, with the best bird being a Rosy Starling that was seen briefly in a private garden. Other nice birds included a Serin, European Bee-eaters, White Storks and a Ruddy Shelduck. Full details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides

The weekly birding highlights in Kent included Golden Oriole, Black Kite and Bee-eater. See full details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

Another very rare bird was found in Kent, a Western Orphean Warbler, but unfortunately access to the private site was not granted. There was as plenty other stuff to see including a beautiful Rose-coloured Starling. Full weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

KOS Site of the month – June Old Park and Chequers Wood, Canterbury – This 200ha site much of which is SSSI designated on the outskirts of Canterbury is currently under threat. Amongst other species it is home to Turtle Doves and Nightingales. #kentbirding

An singing Icterine Warbler at North Foreland was the best bird of the week but there was plenty of raptor action elsewhere in Kent. See full weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #BirdGuides

KOS species of the month - June Hobby – This small summer visiting falcon which can appear anywhere in the county but favours reedbeds and marshes where it can pick off and eat dragonflies on the wing. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

Last week’s mega was topped this week by a new bird for Kent no less, an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler! Other good birds included Bee-eater and Red-footed Falcon. For full weekly highlights see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding

A very rare Black-headed Bunting was briefly at Foreness Point while there were plenty of scarce birds seen such as Red-backed Shrike, Red-footed Falcon, Black Kite and Montague’s Harrier. Full weekly highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

World Bee Day - Important as a pollinator not just for humans but also for fruits that some birds rely on. And directly being a favoured food for others such as Bee-eaters. Did you know two species of Bee-eaters have been seen in Kent? #kentosbirding #kentbirding #worldbeeday

Two ‘BBRC rarities’ were discovered in Kent this week: a Kentish Plover and a Whiskered Tern. Other notable sightings included a Long-tailed Skua (video of David Scott) and two Bee-eaters. Read the full highlights on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding

Do you know a particular individual who has spent countless hours, tirelessly surveying or ringing birds? Do you know a young birder who is making significant contributions? BTO is asking all birders for nominations for the 2025 Marsh Awards! mailchi.mp/bto/seeking-...

May 11th is one of two International Migratory Bird Days focussed on raising awareness of the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. This year the theme is creating bird-friendly cities and communities. www.worldmigratorybirdday.org #WMBD2025

Following some good birds in recent weeks at Dungeness and North Foreland, it was Sandwich Bay’s turn! A Western Bonelli’s Warbler was the best of a long list of scarcities. Elsewhere a Montague’s Harriet was noteworthy. See all highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

KOS Site of the month – May A spell of appropriate weather and sea watching for common and rarer migrants from Dungeness can be very rewarding from either the ‘fishing boats’ or by the shingle banks bordering the power station.. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

KOS species of the month - May. Bittern, once extinct in Kent, can now be heard booming again at several sites across Kent. Favouring large reedbeds May is one of the best months to hear males’ deep far sounding calls. #kentosbirding #kentbirding

Warm weather and easterly winds brought further scarcities to Kent while Pom season continued at Dungeness. Full highlights on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

Reminder: the KOS AGM is this Wednesday at 7.30pm and is followed by a talk on the birding highlights of 2024! Zoom link and details on kentos.org.uk/index.php/ab...