news - kent ornithological society3 jack chantler 34 gladstone road, walmer, kent ct14 7et tel:...
TRANSCRIPT
1
KOS News
The Newsletter of the Kent Ornithological Society
Number 507 March 2017
Stonechat by Paul Trodd
● News & Announcements ● ● That Stonechat!! ● Stodmarsh – changes over forty years ● Bird Sightings November2016 - February 2017 ● Fifty Years Ago●
2
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: Stephen Wood, 4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, Faversham 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: Murray Orchard, 1, Gatesbury Way, Puckeridge, Ware, Herts SG11 1TQ Tel: Home 01920 822955 Mobile 07776 238645 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 07879 636198 [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]
3
Jack Chantler 34 Gladstone Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7ET Tel: 01304 366214 e-mail: [email protected] 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]
Spring has finally arrived, for today at least! As I write this I can see a range of garden birds busily collecting nest material; so far, this morning I have noticed Blue Tit, Wren, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Mistle Thrush and Dunnock all busy around my veg garden, while a male Blackcap sings from the hedge. Great to see especially as my winter was somewhat marred by a disabling injury which meant only six trips out between November and yesterday!! I do not like to think of all the nice birds I missed, but the one that rankles most was the Pine Bunting, a bird I have long wanted to see. Oh well, next time! This issue marks the first of the purely online newsletters and is the beginning of the transition to six issues a year, although to make that transition fit we will have only five issues this year. This will make the content of the newsletter more relevant and allows for more and bigger pictures as well as a wider range of articles. Please consider a writing a piece for inclusion, I am always happy to assist and I am very keen to see more of your observations and experiences shared online. This issue includes details of our next AGM on 13
th April and also of the
forthcoming KOS Conference in November. Both events are a good opportunity to meet members and also to make your thoughts and ideas about the society known to a wider audience. The relevant committees are always on the lookout for willing recruits so if you have some time available please consider offering your assistance, it would be most welcome! Good birding, Norman
Editorial
4
Chas Langton has been the Recorder for Bough Beech since 1994. Every month he has provided the regulars and the KOS with spreadsheets showing the maxima for each species recorded.. Every year he has compiled an illustrated annual report. Chas and his wife are moving to Yorkshire, which is North of Kent, for family reasons. We wish them well in their new home, They will be sadly missed" 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) 2016 Bird Records All bird records for 2016 should be with the county regional recorders by March if they are to be included in the KBR. KOS Conference November 2017 Details of the forthcoming KOS Conference are included in this newsletter, along with a booking form. It looks set to be an interesting day and I look forward to meeting some of you in person! KOS AGM Thursday 13
th April – for details and map see the final page
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
5
That Stonechat!
The Kerton Stonechat by Terry Laws
In November 2016 a rather strange looking Stonechat appeared in the coastal gorse scrub along Kerton Road, Dungeness. The bird was rather pale, greyish and without any of the warm ochre or fawn tones associated with this species in most plumages. It was a puzzle, but given the time of year and the general pallor it began to be described in the birding social media as a ‘Siberian Stonechat’, even though most of the earliest observers were by no means convinced of that attribution. Inevitably given the impact of social media in modern birding, this little bird attracted a good deal of attention, so on 11
th November on one of my
infrequent visits to Dunge I decided to take a look, especially as it seemed to be associating with a Dartford Warbler. It was a rather grey day, but I found both birds and managed to make some rather simple sketches during about 15 minutes’ observation. It was a little charmer, but I could not reconcile what I saw with my prior experience of Siberian Stonechats of the race ‘maura’, or
Articles
6
the Common Stonechat which is frequently encountered within the UK. Its general lack of warm tones vaguely reminded me of the juvenile plumage of the Ethiopian race ‘albostriata’, but even that seemed to be only a passing resemblance. I felt puzzled and intrigued, but also fairly sure this was not a typical Siberian Stonechat. This trend began to grow within the birding community, especially online. I planned to make another trip to make some more sketches, hopefully in better weather, but fate took a hand and I sustained an injury (largely through clumsiness) which prevented me birding in the field for the next three months!
The Kerton Stonechat by Barry Wright
Without my involvement events progressed rather well; faecal samples were collected and despatched for DNA analysis and the birding world waited, possibly with baited breath. When the answer came, it was a bit of a revelation, confirming the identification as a bird of the far-eastern race known as ‘Stejneger’s Stonechat’. This was pretty big news, as this taxon has only recently been recorded in Britain and its field identification is still to some extent in a state of flux. Even so, many observers, myself included, found this identification extraordinary as the bird did not show most of the key characters we would expect this form to show. In the birding social media, however, this was a big event and substantial numbers of birders travelled to see the ‘Kerton Stonechat’ mostly because of the potential for it to be split in the future and be confirmed as a separate species in its own right. However, ‘all was not well in the state of Denmark’ and a growing sense of confusion led to the re-testing of the faecal samples, which re-assigned the bird to the Common Stonechat!
7
Kerton Stonechat by Peter Maton Normal Stonechat by Nick Smith
The response online was a little surprising, with frustration, scorn, disbelief and ridicule in fairly equal measures. However, what struck me was the extent to which it revealed the lack of understanding of the application of mitochondrial DNA analysis. By an odd coincidence British Birds magazine had included a very thorough explanation of the use of this process in bird identification in a recent issue. This should have been helpful, but perhaps not too many people had read the article, because some of the discussions online showed the extent of the misunderstandings, with some asking ‘how could the DNA change between samples’ to others pouring scorn on the applicability and reliability of the technique based on little evident relevant expertise. When the truth came out it was somewhat re-assuring to find that the initial, incorrect, identification as ‘Stejneger’s, was the result of good, old-fashioned human error. The lab contained samples from a real Stejneger’s also undergoing analysis, and the samples were inadvertently confused So interest in the Kerton Stonechat ended abruptly as the peripatetic birding community found new prizes to pursue. This to me was a bit of a shame. This little bird was still intriguing; now we could be reasonably sure it was indeed the Common Stonechat we all know and love, why does it look so different? The most likely answer is that it represents a plumage mutation which is not that common.
8
The Kerton Stonechat by Moi Hicks; this fine photo shows many of the plumage features but also demonstrates the effect of light on the plumage, which appears
somewhat warmer in tone than the bird seemed in other photos and in life.
There is an interesting record on the Bird Guides website of an aberrant Robin in Devon, which lacked all the orange, yellow or olive colouring (http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5384) Hein van Grouw, Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, Tring, commented on this Robin: "The pale colour is the result of a mutation which causes the dilution of both pigments (eumelanin and phaeomelanin; Robins do not have carotenoids), so it is not leucism as suggested in the photo captions. The phaeomelanin seems to be diluted stronger than the eumalenin, but is not fully absent as the forehead and breast still have a pale, cream colour. Robins with this colour are seen more in Britain, so clearly the gene for this type of dilution is present in the Robin population. I have even seen evidence that they do breed with normal-coloured individuals, so perhaps the orange breast colour in Robins is not so important in the mating process after all… I often call the dilution of both pigments 'Dilution Pastel', while the reduction of eumelanin alone I call 'Dilution Isabel'. For more information on plumage aberrations read: British Birds Vol.106; 2013 17-29 “What Colour is That Bird?
9
It seems highly probable that the Kerton Stonechat was exhibiting a similar plumage aberration. At the same time as this bird appeared at Dungeness another very similar bird was present in London and another was reported from another site in southern England. Lee Evans commented” …. these grey variants are not that rare and crop up from time to time – I have seen quite a few over the years”. There is some evidence to support the view that young Stonechat siblings dispersing from breeding areas in northern England can winter in similar localities, so perhaps all the ‘grey stonechats’ recorded this winter were from one brood.
Norman McCanch
Stodmarsh – changes over forty years
Bearded Tits by Henrik Grönvold
Recent anniversary events marking both world wars have had many people reminiscing , but it has got me thinking about the ever changing face of some favourite local sites. This came to me whilst walking along the mound or embankment at Stodmarsh national nature reserve heading towards today’s tower hide. Today it is bordered by a Hawthorn hedgerow full with ripening red berries in autumn,
10
awaiting the visiting Redwings and Fieldfare and perhaps that magnificent bird the waxwing. This hedgerow shields the dyke and reed bed with the odd breaks which give views over the extended reed beds with the horizon broken by clumps of willow trees. The other side with views over the lake edged with reeds, in summer the songs of warblers ring out, with tits fluttering through the hawthorns and willow trees, a Marsh Harrier glides over the track from one reed bed to the other, Hobbies hunt using the willow as cover, to catch prey showing in the open. Forty years ago, there were no hides, you needed field craft to get close to birds or an expensive telescope (£99) and the hawthorn bushes were nowhere to be seen, just reeds down to the dyke’s edge, and you looked over a desert of reed heads, right into the horizon. You could set your watch by the observers that turned up for the 4 pm fly pass of the Glossy Ibis, hearing not only the warbler’s song (including then one of the best sites for Cetti’s) but the pinging of Bearded Tits (today Reedling). I could guarantee seeing them on every visit, along with the Reed Buntings feeding on the path edges or cut reed left on the water edges to the lake. Kingfishers were seen flying the dykes, Cuckoos would seem to be perching on every protruding marker post in the reed bed before migration, with no Harriers, but you were lucky to find a narrow wing raptor then, unlike today. I asked myself where are all the Bearded Reedling’s today, one of my favorite birds, the mass of reeds is still here, but no direct flight path any more from the mass reed bed to the lake side with the large mass of shallow water where the reeds were cut in front of the lakes edge, today full grown vegetation so no longer exposing the water surface for quick foraging of insect life. Could this change in vegetation also explain the reduction in Reed Buntings as well? Or have my favorite friends been hunted to near extinction or being forced into staying in deeper cover to avoid the now common raptors, for although I do not visit as regular as I once did, it has been years since I have seen them feeding or flitting over the reeds in this once regular location. I do regularly see them at other locations within the reserve which today is opened up to the public. . We as conservationists must always remember that whenever we make a change we will affect the ecosystem that will over time change that ecosystem. To conserve we must regularly and minimally manage to keep a stable ecosystem, get it wrong or not bother and we could easily lose that which we love.
Paul Cumberland Postscript: many of the hawthorn bushes have been removed in recent management work and extensive operations to improve and enhance the varied habitats have been continuing this winter. Ed.
11
BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR WINTER – NOVEMBER 2016 TO FEBRUARY 2017
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_____________________________________________________ November started quiet and mild but there was colder weather from 5
th-9
th. It
was generally unsettled after this but on 20th and 21
st Storm Angus brought
106 mph gusts of wind at sea off Margate. After this high pressure built and brought dry settled and colder weather but with an easterly wind. During the month 87.75mm of rain fell at Bishopstone. December began with high pressure and settled conditions and was often cold and foggy. The anticyclone pulled away to the east and between 6
th and
20th southerly winds brought mild conditions. It was then unsettled and windy
for the next week but settled conditions returned from 27th bringing overnight
frosts. The month was the driest December on record for Kent with for instance only 6.25 mm of rain at Bishopstone. January began dry, settled and fairly cold but turned mild and unsettled from 6
th. There was then a cold snap between 11
th and 14
th with some snow falling.
After this a prolonged settled spell brought cold and frosty conditions to Kent with -
th. It turned mild and changeable
towards the end of the month. February began with south-westerly winds but it became colder and quieter from 4
th onwards with frequent easterly wind bringing in occasional wintry
showers. From 13th it was generally mild and after a fairly quiet spell it turned
wet and windy from 21st with Storm Doris bringing damaging winds on 23
rd.
WILDFOWL____________________________________________________ After two Bewick's Swans were seen at Foreness on Nov 5
th during the rest
of the winter up to 74 birds were recorded from Walland Marsh, Dungeness and Lydd with smaller numbers at Grove Ferry, Sandwich Bay, Worth Marshes, Harty Marshes, Northward Hill, Seasalter, Eastborough, Lower Hope Point and Cliffe Pools. During November a single Whooper Swan was reported from Conningbrook on 2
nd, with two at New Hythe GPs from 5
th-9
th and a single bird at Botolph's
Bridge from 6th-18
th whilst there were up to four at Whetsted GPs from 6
th-27
th.
12
Whooper Swan by Mike Hook
The five Taiga Bean Geese seen at Sandwich Bay during October remained there until Nov 20
th and four were recorded at Chetney Marshes on Dec 5
th
with one accompanying a Tundra Bean Goose at St-Nicholas-at-Wade on Jan 9
th. Two birds were also found in the St Nicholas-at-Wade/Monkton area with
Greylags between Jan 31st and Feb 24
th.
17 Tundra Bean Geese were seen at Seaton on Nov 12th and in the Stour
Valley and on Chislet Marshes until Dec 11th and visiting Reculver Marshes on
Dec 5th. Up to five birds were seen at Scotney between Nov 27
th and Jan 28
th
with one at Marshside on Dec 31st and St Nicholas-at-Wade on Jan 9
th, two
birds at Reculver and five at Stodmarsh on Jan 22nd
. During February there were up to five at Walland Marsh with three at Worth Marshes from 7
th-26
th
and two at Capel Fleet on 10th.
Eight Pink-footed Geese were seen at Pegwell Bay on Nov 5
th with three at
Sandwich Bay and six at Worth Marshes on Nov 28th and two at Sandwich
Bay and Reculver on Dec 29th. In January there were up to five at Scotney
GPs and Walland Marsh with one at St Nicholas-at-Wade on 9th.
13
The winter produced up to 228 White-fronted Geese on Sheppey with as many as 70 at Sandwich Bay, Dungeness RSPB, Worth Marshes, Swalecliffe, Lade, Lydd, Walland Marsh, Scotney GPs, Riverside CP, Halstow Marshes, Northward Hill and New Hythe. In addition, 146 flew over DBO on Jan 19
th.
White-fronted & Greylag Geese by Derek Faulkner
Records of possible wild Barnacle Geese included 27 flying N at Sandwich Bay on Nov 29
th, five at Swalecliffe on Dec 29
th, nine at Allhallows on Jan 8
th
and six at Cliffe Pools on Jan 19th.
A Black Brant identified at Seasalter on Nov 15
th and 16
th may well have
been the bird first seen in the area on Oct 8th whilst it or another was seen at
Swalecliffe on Feb 9th and 10
th and Whitstable on 22
nd.
14
Black Brant by Andy Taylor
During the winter up to 14 Egyptian Geese were recorded from Dungeness, Cliftonville, Penshurst Estate, Postern Park, Sevenoaks WR, Higham Marshes, Reculver Marshes, Hayesden, Swalecliffe, Willop Basin, Conningbrook Lakes CP, Whetsted GPs, Lydden Valley, Scotney GPs and Elmley NNR and there were up to 78 Mandarin Ducks at Bough Beech and 32 at Bedgebury with smaller numbers counted at Sandwich Bay, Kearsney, Chesterfield Wood, Brokes and Bough Hill Farm, Furnace Pond, Saltwood, Hothfield, Littlebourne, Sissinghurst Castle and Whetsted GPs. A male Red-crested Pochard was seen at Conningbrook GPs on Feb 6
th and
24th whilst a drake Ring-necked Duck found at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 8
th
remained there until Feb 24th.
In November two Scaup were found at Dungeness RSPB on 1
st followed
during the rest of the month by up to three at DBO, Dungeness RSPB,
15
Sandwich Bay, Conyer and Oare Marshes with 20+ reported from Pegwell Bay on 30
th. During the rest of the winter up to 10 birds were seen at
Dungeness, Scotney GPs, Lower Halstow, Hythe, Stonar, Cliffe Pools, Milton Creek and Sandwich Bay. November and December were excellent months for Long-tailed Ducks with the first bird a female reported on the sea at Reculver on Nov 5
th.
Long-tailed Ducks by Phil Smith
November and December records of Long-tailed Ducks
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
1st-10
th 11
th-
20th
21st-
30th
1st-10
th 11
th-
20th
21st-
31st
Lower Hope Point 2
Milton Creek 4 6 6 6
Shellness/Harty 2 1 3
Oare Marshes 6
Reculver 1 3
Minnis Bay 1
Foreness 1
Joss Bay 1
Sandwich Bay 1 1 1 1 1
Seaton GPs 1 1 1
Dungeness 3 1 3 5
16
In the New Year the bird seen at Seaton during December was still there on Jan 1
st with up to four birds at Milton Creek until Feb 12
th, one at Cliffe Pools
from Jan 21st-Feb 28
th and three at Swalecliffe on Jan 30
th and Feb 6
th and at
Oare Marshes on Feb 1st. One was also found at Higham Marshes on Feb
16th.
During the winter up to 14 Velvet Scoters were recorded from DBO, Swalecliffe, The Swale between Oare and Conyer, Reculver, Minnis Bay, Tankerton, Foreness, Walmer, Folkestone, Ramsgate, Grenham Bay, Herne Bay, Sandwich Bay and Shellness.
Velvet & Common Scoter by Nick Smith
It was a poor winter for Smew with the first two arriving at Dungeness RSPB on Nov 29
th after which up to three were seen at Lade GPs, Scotney GPs,
Cliffe Pools and Dungeness RSPB. Nine Goosanders flew past DBO on Nov 7
th after which up to 11 birds were
reported from Dungeness RSPB, Grove Ferry, Cliffe Pools, Sandwich Bay, Godmersham, Lade, Pegwell Bay, Chartham, Tankerton, Hever, Mill Point, Botolph's Bridge, Hayesden, Seasalter, Whetsted GPs and Hythe with up to 18 at Bough Beech.
17
PARTRIDGE TO GREBES________________________________________ From the middle of November onwards up to three Black-throated Divers were seen at DBO, Sandwich Bay, Minnis Bay, Swalecliffe, Tankerton, Walmer Beach, Scotney GPs, Conyer, Lydd, Grenham Bay and Reculver and up to three Great Northern Divers were seen at DBO with one or two off Reculver, Swalecliffe, Tankeron, Hampton, Sandwich Bay, Foreness, Oare Marshes, Walmer Beach, Burntwick, Kingsdown and Grenham Bay. In November nine Sooty Shearwaters flew past DBO on 3
rd with one the next
day whilst on 7th nine were seen at Shellness, with two at Foreness and one at
Minnis Bay. One also flew past DBO on 17th with three on 21
st and one at
Ramsgate on 24th.
A Manx Shearwater flew past DBO on Nov 4
th with four in the Swale and
three at Foreness on Nov 7th. Single birds were also recorded at Sandwich
Bay and DBO on Nov 22nd
whilst a Balearic Shearwater flew past Foreness on Nov 7
th.
During the winter months up to four Shags were seen at Swalecliffe, Reculver, Foreness, Sandwich Bay, Sandgate, Mill Point, Dover, Samphire Hoe, Milton Creek and Ramsgate Harbour.
Shags, by Nick Smith
One or two Bitterns were seen at Dungeness RSPB, Sheppey, New Hythe GPs, Elmley, Lade GPs, Conningbrook and Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry.
18
The Cattle Egret first seen at Preston in October was still there until Nov 2
nd
and a bird was seen at Dungeness RSPB from Nov 3rd
-Dec 9th with single
birds at Samphire Hoe on Dec 3rd
, Chislet/Marshside area on Dec 6th-21
st and
Biddenden from Dec 16th-Jan 2
nd. One was found in the Wickhambreaux area
between Jan 2nd
and 15th.
Up to 17 Great White Egrets were seen at Dungeness RSPB with one or two birds at Reculver, Allhallows, Lade GPs, Darenth Lakes, Lydd, Sandwich Bay, Scotney GPs, Littlestone-on-Sea, Brooklands, Cliffe Pools, Naccolt, Conningbrook Lakes CP, Hamstreet, Seaton, Walland Marsh and Capel Fleet. Two Spoonbills were seen at Pegwell Bay on Nov 6
th with five at Dungeness
RSPB on Nov 7th and two on 8
th.
Spoonbill by Jonathan Boyce-Leigh
A Red-necked Grebe was reported from Ramsgate Harbour on Nov 18
th with
singles flying past DBO on Dec 6th
and Jan 7th and others at Scotney GPs on
Dec 15th, Sandwich Bay on Dec 21
st, Tankerton on Jan 3
rd and Swalecliffe on
Feb 2nd
.
19
During the winter one or two Slavonian Grebes were seen at Sandwich Bay, DBO, Lade GPs, Conyer, Scotney GPs, Lade GPs, Higham Marshes, Swalecliffe and Cliffe Pools with up to three at Dungeness RSPB. A Black-necked Grebe was seen offshore at DBO and there were one or two at Cliffe Pools during November and one at Oare Marshes from Nov 12
th-14
th.
During the rest of the winter up to three birds were recorded at Dungeness RSPB, Cliffe Pools, Higham Marshes and Scotney GPs. BIRDS OF PREY________________________________________________ Single Red Kites were seen at Sissinghurst Castle, Shuart, Bough Beech, Faversham, Smarden, Harrietsham, New Hythe, Shorne, Folkestone, Throwley Forstal and Tunbridge Wells, whilst a juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard was reported from Tudeley on Dec 11
th.
During the winter up to seven Hen Harriers were recorded from Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh with smaller numbers on Sheppey and at Dungeness, Eastry, Oare Marshes, South Swale LNR, Shuart, Seaton, Bramling, Romney Marsh, Hinxhill, Capel-le-Ferne, Milton Creek, Cliffe Pools, Naccolt, New Hythe, Allhallows, Chillenden, Swalecliffe, Whitstable, Walland Marsh, Pegwell Bay and Lower Hope Point.
Hen Harrier by Terry Laws
A female Goshawk was seen at Dengemarsh on Nov 3
rd.
20
During the winter one or two Merlins were recorded from Dungeness, Grove, Reculver, Whetsted GPs, Elmley NNR, Pegwell Bay, Willop Basin, Chainhurst, Lower Halstow and Swale NNR. RAILS TO WADERS__________________________________________ The Common Crane first seen at Swale NNR during October remained on Sheppey until at least Feb 19
th. Another was seen at Marshside on Nov 25
th
and on Minster/Monkton Marshes from Dec 11th-Feb 18
th. On Feb 27
th a flock
of 36 flew over Sandwich Bay towards Pegwell Bay during heavy rain. A very late Stone-curlew was found at Milton Creek on Nov 30
th whilst a
juvenile Dotterel was an unexpected find on the beach at Dungeness on Nov 15
th.
During the winter up to 12 Purple Sandpipers were seen at their regular wintering site at Foreness, Hampton, Margate, Minnis Bay, Reculver, Dover, Grenham Bay, Shellness and Hythe. Single Spotted Redshanks were found at Cliffe Pools between Nov 29
th and
Dec 18th and up to five were seen at Milton Creek between Dec 28
th and Feb
14th whilst there were up to four Little Stints observed at Oare Marshes and
Cliffe Pools during November with one still at Cliffe Pools on Jan 29th.
During the winter up to three Jack Snipes were seen at Dungeness, Cliffe Pools, Swale NNR, Kennington, Wouldham, Willop Basin and Sandwich Bay. The LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER first seen at Oare Marshes in October was reported from there until Nov 28
th.
AUKS TO GULLS_______________________________________________ In November up to seven Pomarine Skuas were seen off DBO and the north Kent coast between the Swale and North Foreland. The only reports in December came from DBO on 16
th and 28
th with occasional birds there in
January. Up to four Arctic Skuas were recorded from Foreness, Oare Marshes and Reculver during November when up to 22 Great Skuas were seen at Oare Marshes, Bockhill, Sandwich Bay, Shellness, Foreness, North Foreland, Swalecliffe, Minnis Bay, Reculver, Mill Point and DBO. During the rest of the winter there were up to three Great Skuas seen intermittently at DBO, Sandwich Bay, North Foreland, Foreness, Walmer Beach, Reculver and St Margarets-at-Cliffe.
21
On Nov 24th two Puffins were reported from Foreness with one at Swalecliffe
whilst impressive 11,500 Guillemots flew past DBO on Feb 15th.
Three Little Auks were seen at DBO on Nov 3
rd and 4
th with single birds at
Reculver and Hythe on 3rd
and 6th and Kingsdown and Shellness on 6
th. On
Nov 7th, five birds were recorded at Sandwich Bay with one at Shellness and
another seen at Grenham Bay on Nov 24th.
The first Sandwich Terns of the year were seen on Feb 18
th with one at
Hythe and two at DBO. A first winter FORTSTER'S TERN was found at Hythe on Nov 26
th but only
stayed for a few hours. This is only the second record of this species for Kent following one seen off Westbrook on Oct 11
th 1986.
Forster’s Tern by Mark Chidwick
Two Sabine's Gulls flew past Shellness on Nov 7
th.
During November and December up to 14 Little Gulls were seen at Sandwich Bay, North Foreland, Foreness, DBO, Shellness, Dover Harbour, Riverside CP, Mill Point and New Hythe. In the New Year one was seen intermittently at DBO during January and on Feb 24
th, following Storm Doris, 28 flew S at
Seasalter. Up to five Yellow-legged Gulls were identified at Reculver, Folkestone Harbour, Sandwich Bay, Hythe and Dungeness RSPB, whilst up to nine Caspian Gulls were seen in the Dungeness area with up to three at Pegwell
22
Bay, Ramsgate Harbour, Scotney, Deal, Lade GPs, Seaton GPs, Dartford, Swanscombe Marshes, Folkestone Harbour and Sandwich Bay. A juvenile Iceland Gull was recorded at DBO on Nov 12
th and an adult was
seen at Pegwell Bay on Nov 16th and it or another flew S at Sandwich Bay and
Kingsdown on Nov 20th. In the New Year a juvenile was seen at Nickoll's
Quarry on Jan 6th and two were present at Dungeness from Jan 15
th-Feb 28
th
and a second winter bird also seen there from Feb 19th-22
nd.
A juvenile Glaucous Gull was reported from Foreness on Nov 16
th with others
at DBO on Nov 20th, Dec 31
st-Jan 1
st and from Jan 14
th-17
th, at Reculver on
Nov 28th and at Ramsgate and Pegwell Bay on Jan 15
th. In February juveniles
were seen at DBO on 2nd
, 3rd
and 27th and at Sandwich Bay on 24
th.
Glaucous Gull by Chris Bond
23
DOVES TO WOODPECKERS______________________________________ During the winter single Long-eared Owls were seen at Cliffe Pools, Saltwood, Walland Marsh, Reculver Marshes and Grove Ferry. At Dungeness RSPB one or two were seen regularly roosting near the Dipping Pond between Nov 15
th and the end of February.
Long-eared Owl by David Fenton-Scott
It was a good winter for Short-eared Owls with up to 25 roosting on Sheppey and as many as six seen at South Swale LNR, Dungeness, Worth Marshes, Sandwich Bay, St Mary's Bay, Reculver Marshes, Lade, Ramsgate, Manston, Seasalter, Cleve Marshes, St Margarets-at-Cliffe and Conyer. GOLDEN ORIOLE TO HIRUNDINES________________________________ During the winter up to three Ravens were seen at 20 sites throughout the County. One or two Firecrests were recorded at Dungeness, Stodmarsh, Egypt Bay, West Hythe, Church Woods, Shuart, Folkestone and Foreness. During November single Shorelarks were seen at Swale NNR on 1
st, South
Foreland from 1st-27
th, Shellness from 3
rd-11
th, Leysdown-on-Sea on 4
th and
Swalecliffe from 28th-Dec 1
st. One was also found at Swale NNR on Feb 26
th.
24
Late Swallows were seen at Stodmarsh on Nov 30th and Chartham on Dec
1st.
CETTI’S WARBLER TO WHEATEARS_______________________________ A Siberian Chiffchaff was mist netted and ringed at Shuart on Nov 11
th and
others were reported from Rodmersham on Jan 19th and Willop Sewage
Works on Feb 6th.
Siberian Chiffchaff by Chris Hindle
Up to three Dartford Warblers were seen at Dungeness between Nov 1st and
Dec 29th, at Sandwich Bay from Nov 1
st-Dec 4
th, Pegwell Bay from Nov 16
th-
Dec 1st and Lade on Nov 27
th. In the New Year single birds were still at
Dungeness and Sandwich Bay with one at Yorkletts on Jan 2nd
and another at St Mary's Bay/Egypt Bay from Jan 22
nd-Feb 5
th.
25
Dartford Warbler by Brian Short
There was an arrival of Waxwings on Nov 3
rd with seven at Shuart Farm, two
at Broadstairs, Margate, Swalecliffe and Seasalter and single birds at Reculver and Kingsdown. On Nov 4
th, 15 flew over Shuart Farm and nine were
seen at Pegwell Bay. After this single birds were seen at Kingsdown, Nethergong, Bobbing, Harty Marsh and Wainscott with five or six at Stonelees between 19
th and 26
th. In December there were up to four at Strood between
5th and 22
nd with one at Cliffe Pools, three at Cliftonville on 12
th, two at
Stonelees on 14th
and one at Sittingbourne on 28th.
Waxwing by Terry Laws
26
In the New Year birds began arriving again from the north with up to 30 reported from over 40 sites throughout the County and maximum counts of up to 84 at Northfleet between Jan 14
th and 28
th, up to 75 at Strood from Feb 10
th-
12th and up to 70 at East Malling during February.
A BLACK-BELLIED DIPPER was seen at Beachborough Lakes, Folkestone on Nov 29
th and is only the 28
th record of this species in the County.
During November the last Ring Ouzels were seen at Lade GPs on 1
st and
DBO from 1st-3
rd.
In the winter months one or two Black Redstarts were found at Sandwich Bay, Seasalter, Dover, Ramsgate, Foreness, Abbotscliffe, Margate, Scotney GPs, Reculver, St Margarets-at-Cliffe, Milton Creek, Rochester, Greatstone-on-Sea, Bough Beech, Hythe, Folkestone and Dungeness with four at Ramsgate on Jan 24
th.
A very late Northern Wheatear was seen at Samphire Hoe on Dec 4
th.
DUNNOCK TO BUNTINGS_______________________________________ A Richard's Pipit was found at Shellness on Nov 6
th and remained there until
Dec 11th. It is almost certainly the bird that has wintered there for the previous
two years as may have been the one seen at Seasalter on Jan 21st.
During the winter up to 14 Water Pipits were seen at Stodmarsh/Grove Ferry with one or two birds at Sandwich Bay, Dungeness RSPB, Cliffe Pools, Wouldham and Swanscombe Marsh. Two Twite, one with colour rings, were seen at North Foreland on Nov 6
th and
eight were reported from Cheriton on Feb 7th.
Two Mealy/Common Redpolls were ringed at DBO on Nov 3
rd with one on
8th.
During the winter up to 20 Common Crossbills were seen at Hemsted Forest with smaller numbers at Bedgebury Forest, Bockhill, Foreness, Sandwich Bay, Perry Wood and Worth Marshes.
27
Hawfinch by John Young
Single Hawfinches were reported from Bedgebury on Jan 11
th and Feb 12
th
with two there on Jan 15th and Feb 4
th whilst there were up to 10 seen
intermittentlynear Eastling between Jan 19th and Feb 19
th.
During November and December up to 10 Snow Buntings were found at DBO, South Foreland, St Mary's Bay, Minnis Bay, Grenham Bay, Romney Marsh, Foreness, Minster, Sandwich Bay, Shellness, Littlestone, Conyer, Seasalter, Halstow Marshes, Brooksend, Foreness, Reculver and Swalecliffe. In the New Year one was seen at DBO on Jan 2
nd with one at Minster,
Sheppey on Jan 15th and six or seven there from Feb 15
th-18
th whilst there
was also one at Sandwich Bay from Jan 23rd
-Feb 7th.
A Lapland Bunting was seen at DBO on Nov 11
th with another at South
Foreland on Nov 13th and up to 10 were found in maize stubble at Reculver
Marshes between Nov 29th and Jan 25
th. During December one was reported
from Dungeness RSPB on 7th with up to three at Sandwich Bay from Dec 13
th-
18th, one at Halstow Marshes on Dec 18
th and up to five at Scotney GPs
between Jan 20th and 24
th.
28
Pine Bunting by Matthew Short
A male PINE BUNTING was found at Milton Creek on Jan 24th
and remained there until Feb 20
th. If accepted by BBRC this will be a new species for Kent.
DBO = Dungeness Bird Observatory RSPB = Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
“The Patch” = the warm water outfall from Dungeness Nuclear Power Station NNR=National Nature Reserve NR=Nature Reserve LNR=Local Nature Reserve
WR = Wildlife Reserve GP = Gravel Pits CP = Country Park BBRC = British Birds Rarities Committee
CONTRIBUTORS________________________________________________ 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 A. Appleton, R. Bailey, G. Barker, P. Beckenham, B. Benn, P. Beraet, R. Blackman, J. Bloor, Bockhill Birders, A. Borlase, Bough Beech (per A. Ford), E. Brown, A. Bugden, N. Burt, G. Burton,
29
F. Cackett, D. Carey, S. Carter, M. Casemore, J. Chantler, D. Chesterman, J. Childs, P. Cliffe, R. Collins, G. Coultrip, D. Cox, A. Crocker, P. Cumberland, K. Cutting, P. Davies, DBO (per D. Walker), R. Dean, C. Dennis, S. Downer, C. Doyle, R. Dubbins, A. Dunstan, S. Durbridge, D. Eade, B. East, R. Elvy, D. Errey, D. Faulkener, D. Feast, Folkestone and Hythe Birds (per I. Roberts), N. Frampton, M. Freeman, S. Gale, S. Ginnaw, S. Goodrich, M. Gould, P. Graham, V. Green, J. Guiver, M. Haynes-Perks, R. Heading, A. Hindle, C. Hindle, M. Hindle, A. Holcombe, B. Holcombe, M. Hollingsworth, B. Holwell, M. Hook, E. Hunter, J. Kirk, S. Lea, O. Leyshon, A. Lipczynski, P. Lloyd, A. Malone, J. Massey, S. Message, I. Moffatt, S. Mount, J. Neighbour, M. Norman, D. Oates, R. O'Reilly, M. Orchard, S. Parker, V. Parker, D. Perrin, A. Perry, J. Perry, C.Powell, M. Puxley, C. Roome, M. Roser, J. Russell, T. Ryan, Samphire Hoe (per L. Collins, P. Holt, D. Smith, and P. Smith) L. Sampson, N. Samuel, G. Segelbacher, P. Selwood, SBBO (per I. Hodgson), Sevenoaks WR (per S. Clerici), I. Shepherd, D. Smith, M. Sutherland, Swale NNR (per R. Smith, D. Faulkner, I. Davidson), T. Swandale, A. Taylor, D. Taylor, J. Tilbrook, S. Tomlinson, P. Trodd, J. Varley, R. West, A. Whitehouse, M. Wilson, T. Wilson, S. Wood, A. Woodcock, J. Woolgar, B. Woolhouse, P. Worsley, 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.
30
Fifty Years Ago 92. Rough-legged Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard by Archibald Thorburn
Letters and Notes
31
An exceptional irruption of this species occurred in the Autumn with large numbers arriving on the East and South coasts of the British Isles from the end of October and early November. Unprecedented numbers were recorded in the county including a maximum of six on Sheppey on Nov. 9th (BH, CS, et al). At Dungeness, two from Oct. 29th to Nov. 30th and then one present to the end of the year. At Stodmarsh, two from Nov. 14th to Dec. 31st (PJM, DCHW, et al) and at Cliffe one from Oct. 29th to Nov. 27th (JJMF, CJC, et al). One at Chetney on Nov. 19th, remaining until the end of the year (WGJ, JGH, JMH) was the only record for the Medway Estuary. A paper by R. E. Scott summarising the irruption will appear in a future issue of "British Birds".
KBR 1966
Norman McCanch
32
What Future for Birds in Kent? An exciting one-day conference
Kent Ornithological Society Saturday November 4th 2017
This conference will explore some of the challenges facing wild birds in Kent. The morning sessions will be broadly themed on “Places” and the afternoon session will focus on “Species”. SPEAKERS Stephen Moss Naturalist, Birder, TV Producer and Author Alan Johnson RSPB John McAllister KWT David Walker Warden, Dungeness Bird Observatory Ian Hunter Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Dr Hazel Jackson University of Kent Murray Orchard Kent Ornithological Society Dr Stephen Wood Kent Ornithological Society Kent Bird Artists, Norman McCanch, Stephen Message and Ian Rendall will
be exhibiting work.
Canterbury High School 9.30 - 4.15 (Registration & Coffee from 9.00am) This stimulating one day conference will examine a range of issues, especially the changes facing birds both resident in - and migrating through - Kent. Presentations will range over the importance of habitat and its preservation and enhancement for birds, and at the history of bird life in the County -
Booking To book a place please return the form below to: Chris Roome, Rowland House, Station Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0PY together with your cheque for the appropriate amount . Payment can also be made using BACS to the KOS.[see below]
Places are limited - book early!
33
Kent Ornithological Society 2017 Conference What Future for Birds in Kent? £25 for current KOS members £30 Guests & Non KOS members £20 under 25s Including refreshments on arrival, morning coffee, buffet lunch and end-of-day refreshments. Please choose your method of payment from the two options below - cheque or BACS transfer, and send the completed form either by post or email to:- Chris Roome, (KOS Conf) Rowland House, Station Road, Staplehurst, Kent, TN12 0PY. [email protected]] Number of Places required:- Member - £25_______ Guest - £30________ Under 25 - £20________ If paying by cheque please make the cheque out to Kent Ornithological Society. [Please tick box to show payment method used] I enclose a cheque for £…………made payable to Kent Ornithological Society
.
I have made a payment via BACS to Kent Ornithological Society of £…………… using Bank sort code: 30-95-37 and Account Number 01637909
Please include KOSCONF17 as the reference. Name: …………………………………………………………. Address : ……………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………. Post Code: …………………email: ………………………………………… A detailed programme and a map to the venue will be sent to the address you have indicated via email or by post if you have no email address. Please indicate numbers of vegetarian buffet lunch option if required: ……………………..
34
KOS 2017 AGM THURSDAY 13th April 2017 at 7.15pm.
Followed by Barry Wright on ‘Alaska’
Venue - Grove Green Community Hall, Grovewood Drive, Maidstone - just south of Junction 7 of the M20 and adjacent
to Tesco’s Supermarket.
35