Another enjoyable visit to Elmley NNR today too. Drake Red-breasted Merganser, Barn Owl, Peregrine, Raven, 2 Stonechats, 1000s of dabbling ducks & waders, 2 elusive Bearded Tits, plenty of Marsh Harriers & C Buzzards, Goldcrest & Fieldfares.

Finally after 7 weeks of watching and photographing this Lesser Whitethroat)halimodendri)? it gave me this look and I just knew it was going to do the deed 💩, safely collected into a moth pot. #UKBirding

Spent the day on the Isle of Sheppey. Started at Capel Fleet and Harty Marshes where 2 flocks of White-fronted Geese (200+ and 27) were seen early on, plus a showy Cetti’s Warbler and plenty of Corn Buntings, Marsh Harriers, Common Buzzards (including a pale phase bird), dabbling ducks & Kestrel.

Good luck to everyone out #patchbirding this weekend! Remember that it isn't too late to sign up for this year's competition, so if you have a patch you enjoy watching, why not sign up?! For more info on how to do so, follow this link: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/2026...

More gloomy weather for today’s #patchbirding walk but singing Skylark, Yellowhammer & Reed Bunting at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir made it a little more springlike. An influx of Tufted Ducks there too… 6 birds (4 drakes) plus a further drake on the waterfall lake (& 1 drake Teal).

Back to the dull grey weather for the after work #patchbirding walk around Singleton Lake this afternoon. 1 drake Tufted Duck, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Cormorants, Redwings & Goldfinches, GS Woodpecker, Kestrel & 1 Common Buzzard getting a hard time from the local Herring Gulls. 3 BH Gulls & LT Tits.

After some very depressing, wet & muddy #Patchbirding visits recently it was nice to see some hazy sunshine for today’s after work walk… & wow, it was memorable !!! The Herring Gulls on Godinton Park started alarm calling & suddenly a WHITE STORK appeared overhead, thermalling with a C Buzzard…

Lunchtime was spent at Tankerton slopes where we enjoyed our sandwiches whilst watching 6 Red-breasted Mergansers (3 pairs). Several woodlands visited today too with 2 Firecrests, Siskins, winter Thrushes, Greenfinches, 4+ Red Kites and a daytime calling male Tawny Owl the highlights.

There are few birds better than a Red-flanked Bluetail & the wintering Crockham Hill bird was a typical (& occasionally showy) stunner this morning. Surprisingly only my 2nd in my old home county of Kent, after my first ever on its eastern extent at Bockhill back in my teens, many moons ago...

Bird of the week in Kent was a smart drake American Wigeon, but there was a lot more on offer such as a Red-necked Grebe, Common Crane, the Bluetail and the Pallas’s Warbler. Full highlights in kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides

Some excellent goose watching in North Norfolk over the last week. A notable influx of White-fronted, Barnacle and Tundra Bean Geese joining the Pinkfeet flocks. The Netherlands is most likely the origin of these birds. Certainly livened up the grey weather.

A nice afternoon at Scotney where the drake American Wigeon was re-located at East Sussex end by @dungenessowen.bsky.social , the 4 Walland Marsh Tundra Bean and the 3 Pink-footed Geese finally found there way onto the local patch(Scotney Sward), also 3 White-fronted Geese. #UKBirding

Another flooded, muddy & rainy #patchbirding walk around Singleton Lake & rural Godinton Park. The boat is now on order 🤣💦. Only a Grey Wagtail and a charm of Goldfinches brightened up the gloomy weather.

I’ve now set up a YouTube channel called Kent Birding with some poorly taken videos of some things I have seen, very rough no editing. Here is my latest uploaded, follow if you like! #kentbirding youtu.be/6ejXbcCjfMI?...

More murk & mud for today’s afterwork #patchbirding walk. The #PWC2026 list moves on to 62 sps with the addition of a vocal Nuthatch on rural Godinton Park & a Skylark at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir. Also of note: Green Sandpiper, Raven, Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Little Egret & 2 Grey Herons.

The Scotney American Wigeon on the ARC from Hanson, re-found by Ray O'reilley late morning. At Dengemarsh late afternoon a 3w Polish ringed Caspian Gull P:6WL and a 1w Caspian Gull. #UKBirding

Spent late AM & lunchtime at Scotney GPs where the Kent end of the pits were alive with birds & birders. The drake American Wigeon was relocated by SC & gave reasonable scope views, the 1stW drake Scaup was nr the caravan site & the family group of 2 adults & juv Whooper Swans were behind the farm.

Another murky start on the Kentish North Downs this morning but the woodland produced another good mix of birds… Bullfinch, Redpoll & Crossbills, superb views of a Marsh Tit, singing Coal Tits, 1 Yellowhammer and calling Raven. Gr & GS Woodpeckers, singing Skylark & Jay also noted.

Spent 4 hours at Scotney gravel pits this morning - catching up with Fridays male American Wigeon It is on the pit between the Scotney Farm House and Brett’s compound 1st winter male Scaup on pit to left of Bretts/caravan park No sign of yesterdays Red-necked Grebe so far #KentBirding

A very pleasing session on the patch this Morning with Slavonian Grebe 1 Black-throated 2 Great Northern and nearly 40 Red-throated Diver on sea also up to 18 Red-breasted Merganser @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

A nice 1st winter Little Gull on the garage pool at Pegwell with BH Gulls this afternoon. At times it was the closest gull to the path, which was handy for firing off a few shots #kentbirding

Braved the elements for a long walk from Minnis Bay to Reculver Towers & back this morning. Thanks to @drdavebirding.bsky.social for re-finding the 3 Snow Buntings (1 male & 2 females) east of the towers on the beach + 2 Black Redstarts (1stW male & female), 3 Stonechats (2 males) & 1 Grey Wagtail.

My first local patch American Wigeon at Scotney today, many thanks to the finder Barrie Puttock for letting me know it was present when I met him in Dennis's Hide. The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.

A quick after work twitch to see the drake American Wigeon at the Sussex end of the main Scotney GP. Good scope views with the huge Wigeon flock (for comparison), as the light faded at dusk.

To go to the #PWC2026 sign up and scores spreadsheet click this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... Only January scores to be entered by 8pm on 7th Feb, after that you can start to enter February sightings. Good luck for the coming weekend, sounds like there are more White-fronts to find!

A brief catch-up of the #PWC2026 feed while we are away and it is great to see so much activity. To view and follow, you can do so by clicking this link: bsky.app/profile/did:... Also, if you want to be in the January review, remember to sign-up and/or fill in your scores and highlights soon.

An apparent Kumlien’s Gull, a Common Crane, the Bluetail and some intrigue around 7 ‘winter geese’ made for an interesting week in Kent birding. See all details as well as an update on the Kent year list at the end of January on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding

Today's wet Whitstable lunch-bench. Shared my bag of chips with the gulls. Nothing on the sea at all until this beast floated by to see what was the fuss was about. If only I'd bought some fish. #KentNature Great Northern Diver

A bit of sunshine for a change on my after work #patchbirding walk. The flood waters have receded slightly. A vocal pair of Ravens was a patch year ✅ with the #PWC2026 list moving on to 60 species. The Green Sandpiper was back at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir along with the Stonechat pair.

A long walk around the Scotney complex. 3 Whooper Swans had moved to Kent, Little Owl sunbathing, 1,000s each of Golden Plover and Lapwing, Avocet & Little Stint, Jack Snipe & the Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still coming to my Sunflower chip feeder. #UKBirding

A gloomy day on Walland Marsh eventually found 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 13 White-fronted Geese among a flock of feral Greylag Geese, all rather distant unfortunately. Thanks to @neilburt.bsky.social for alerting us to the presence of 7 Grey Geese yesterday in the rain. #UKBirding

A murky start to the day but an excellent woodland session on top of the Kentish North Downs with a superb Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit (all 5 Tit species noted), Treecreeper & Nuthatch, Goldcrest & GS Woodpecker. Red Kite near Tenterden on route to the flatlands.

2 adult and juvenile Whooper Swans (scarce in Sussex) at Jurys Gap East Sussex today. The garden Lesser Whitethroat(halimodendri)? has now survived January, despite regular visits from Sparrowhawks and the weather. #UKBirding

Another early start, this time at Godmersham where the River Stour was still in flood. A pair of Greenfinches showed by the church. 6 Greylags flying around. Linnets & Fieldfares nearby.

Another stodgy walk after work for #patchbirding. Made it to the Hothfield flood storage reservoir where it was a pleasant surprise to find the pair of Stonechats, the first sighting of them this year. I thought the flood water might have moved them on. Also 1 Common Gull East. #PWC2026 #59 species.

If you haven't signed up yet, and want to be included in the first review of #PWC2026, then follow this link to the sign-up sheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... Happy birding!

Another #Patchbirding walk, this time covering the very flooded paths around Singleton Lake & Godinton Park. A female Siskin and 3 Cormorants were added to the #PWC2026 year list. That’s #57 species now for Jan-26.

A lot more water 💦 than birds on today’s #patchbirding walk. A very flooded Hothfield Waterfall Lake & the Flood Storage Reservoir was starting to flood again too. A Coal Tit was new for #PWC2026 and a Sparrowhawk displayed overhead as the storm cleared to the north.

42 Bewick’s Swans all present and correct in the usual field on Walland Marsh (3 juvs & ‘Nadine’), near Ashentree Lane. At least 11 White-fronted Geese back in the fields near the Woolpack Reedbed with the Greylags, viewed from Hook Wall. Up to 4 Ravens in the Dungeness area…

Finished off the day at Funton Creek and Lower Halstow where masses of Wildfowl and Waders were being harassed by an immature Peregrine, Marsh Harriers & 2 Common Buzzards. 2 Greenshanks noted along with some showy Turnstones. Redwings with Song Thrushes in the horse paddocks.

A quick pit stop at Milton Creek, Sittingbourne where a showy Spotted Redshank was actively feeding and performing its swimming technique.

An early start today for a trip to Faversham Creek, Sewage Works & Standard Quay. The Pallas’s Warbler showed several times alongside the many Chiffchaffs (including 1 Siberian type), Firecrest, Goldcrest, male Blackcap, Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Spoonbill, Greenshank & Common Sandpiper…

A couple of soggy #patchbirding walks this week. Very wet & muddy under foot with lots of flood water laying around. The #PWC2026 list moves on to 54 species. A flock of 38 Pied Wagtails, c50 Linnets, Treecreeper & 2 Sparrowhawks of note. 2 drake Teal at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir today.

We are still getting new sign ups for the #PWC2026 competition which is superb to see, and hopefully it will continue! If you haven't already seen, we are doing a voluntary 'Pin Your Patch' which you can do by clicking this link: maps.app.goo.gl/3wfgbWvS353n... and then add your Patch and Name!

Are you interested in #UKBirding and #PatchBirding? Have you checked out the blog lately? Some exciting blog posts recently with the Best Find competition and the #PWC2025 wrap up! Head over to have a look: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com and remember it isn't too late to sign up to #PWC2026!

Pleasant weather for a trip out across Walland Marsh, Kent today. Counted 42 Bewick’s Swans (including the 3 juveniles [2 & 1]) & ‘Nadine’ with the tracking collar. Fantastic birds 👍♥️. All together in a winter wheat field off of Ashentree Lane. @wwtworldwide.bsky.social @kanebrides.bsky.social

Out before dawn for a day trip in West Kent (& a bit of Surrey). The Red-flanked Bluetail was extremely elusive and only showed briefly for us at c8:25 at Crockham Hill Common. Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Redpoll, Coal Tit & calling Crossbill were also noted.

We are now half way through the first month of #PWC2026! Are you going to be out on your patch this weekend? Remember to keep us updated with pictures and sightings with the hashtags, good luck! If you haven't signed up yet then follow this link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

An aborted days birding around Dungeness - as I spent 6 hours picking up insulating foam on a 3km stretch of tideline at Dungeness This pollution has come from the multiple shipping containers lost off the Isle of Wight at Christmas/New Year with debris now washing ashore in Sussex and Kent

Another excellent week in Kent birding as a Red-flanked Bluetail was discovered at Crockham Hill. But there were plenty more good birds around. Full weekly highlights are on kentos.org.uk, including the story of Nadine the Bewick’s Swan! #kentbirding #birdguides