Neil Burt

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

The September #PWC2025 review is now out on the blog!

There has been plenty to write about! So take a look at where you finished by the end of September, plus what others saw and found on their patches: patchworkchallenge.blogspot.com #patchbirding

A lovely surprise at Dengemarsh Gully today when this smart Pallas’s Warbler appeared in front of me.

Patch gold this morning when I found this RADDE’S WARBLER at King George Park! Skulking in the undergrowth, it eventually showed itself nicely, magic! ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding #ukbirding #ukrarebirds @kentishplover.bsky.social

Shooter on seasalter on low tide with decoys on eel grass @birdwise.bsky.social

Not good at all @kentwildlife.bsky.social @kentishplover.bsky.social

#Patchgold on today’s afterwork #PatchBirding walk. a migrant DARTFORD WARBLER with at least 3 Stonechats (1 male, 2 females) at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir. Patch Tick !!!! ✅✔️ ☑️ That is species # 105 for #PWC2025. Also 5 very distant Hirundines (Swallows/H Martins). #Kentbirding

#Patchgold on today’s afterwork #PatchBirding walk. a migrant DARTFORD WARBLER with at least 3 Stonechats (1 male, 2 females) at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir. Patch Tick !!!! ✅✔️ ☑️ That is species # 105 for #PWC2025. Also 5 very distant Hirundines (Swallows/H Martins). #Kentbirding

At the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir a nice surprise in the form of a female/1st winter Black Redstart (my 2nd here this year) on the fence line with 8 Meadow Pipits. Also another Teal, 1 Snipe, Kingfisher, 5 Skylarks, Yellowhammer & Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechats & Sparrowhawk.

Back out #PatchBirding after work and another successful walk, finding 2 WIGEON ✅ with 12 Teal on the Hothfield Waterfall Lake plus 2 Little Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 C Buzzards and a flock of c50 Siskins feeding in Alders nearby. That is species 104 for #PWC2025 👍

Another murky #patchbirding walk after work. 19 Greylag Geese flew north over rural Godinton Park, female Tufted Duck with Mallards 🦆 on Singleton Lake, 3 Jays, Grey Wagtail, Siskin, increase in Song Thrush numbers, a couple of Chiffs, Meadow Pipits overhead & GS Woodpecker.

Wonderful self-found suprise today in the form of this wryneck, at Chambers Wall, Reculver. Fair few birds around, but had to scoot for a 10am meeting. #kentbirding #selffoundbirding.

I have no idea on that one.

A murky & damp #PatchBirding walk after work. 3 Siskins across rural Godinton Park & 2 Ravens. 6 Teal & 1 Grey Wagtail at the Hothfield Waterfall Lake plus 19 Redwings flying W. The usual Stonechats, GC Grebe, Egyptian Geese plus 10 Meadow Pipits at the flood storage reservoir.

Dungeness area again today: 2 Little Stints on Burrowes Pit, Hobby at Cooks Pool, 4 Peregrines in the area, 2 Ravens, Brent Geese migrating SW across the point, BN Grebe, 3 Green Sandpipers & 4 Ruff at Scotney GPs, Goldcrests & Chiffchaffs aplenty. @RSPBDungeness @DungenessBO

Black brant seasalter along with 2 scaup,male eider and in excess of 3000 brent #kentbirding #ukbirding

Black Brant seawall seasalter @birdguides.bsky.social

Dungeness RSPB: Little Stint from the Dennis’s Hide Picnic Tables with Lapwings & Golden Plovers on Burrowes Pit. Greenshank calling flying south (unseen). Another Little Stint at the Sussex end of the main Scotney Pit on western island & 1 Black-necked Grebe. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdGuides

Dungeness this morning: c30 Siskins (2 groups) N over the top end of Long Pits, & 1 GS Woodpecker. A Bittern from the screen hide at ARC. Whinchat at Cooks Pool, Firecrest in the RSPB car park between the visitor centre & toilet block, @RSPBDungeness @DungenessBO @birdguides.bsky.social #Kentbirding

Cheers Steve 👍

2 Grey Wagtails too. The Cetti’s Warbler is species number 103 for the year… hopefully more to come for Patch Birding #Patchbirding #PWC2025… fingers crossed the Cetti’s stays, finds a mate and continues the spread of this species along the Kentish River Stour.

#Patchgold this evening at Singleton Lake !!! JACKPOT !!! CETTI’S WARBLER !!! My first sighting this side of Ashford (all previous sightings have been at Conningbrook, Naccolt & Evegate)… calling, alarming, full song 🎶 and showing too !!! 😁😁😁 #PatchBirding #PWC2025

Another @PatchBirding walk after work… this time to @SingletonLake. Kingfisher zipping around & several Chiffchaffs & Goldcrests with the Tit flocks, GS Woodpecker & 3 Jays…. Still relatively quiet & very dry. #patchbirding

… 4 Stonechats at the Hothfield Flood Storage Reservoir, plus a returning Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 GC Grebe, 2 Egyptian Geese, 7 Moorhens, 1 Coot and 10 Mallard. 2 Grey Herons, 1 Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipits & 4 Common Buzzards.

The first after work #patchbirding walk of October. 2 Little Grebes, 15 Coots, 1 Kingfisher & 1 Grey Heron at the Hothfield Waterfall Lake. On route singles of Greenfinch & Siskin overhead, a Goldfinch flock, 3 Jays & Mistle Thrush.

Back at @RSPBDungeness, 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff & 1 Dunlin with Lapwings & Golden Plovers from Dennis’s Hide & Picnic Tables + Sparrowhawk, GW & Little Egrets. Hobby & Sparrowhawk earlier at Broomhill Car Park, Camber too.

Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Tree Sparrow & Corn Bunting also in the area.

Had a good wader day in East Sussex. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in the usual place at the western end of Scotney Pits from the open gate, plus 1 Ruff. Also relocated the American Golden Plover with large GP flock west of Jury’s Gap viewable from Broomhill Car Park.

Singles of Caspian & Yellow-legged Gulls on the beach by the fishing boats this afternoon too.

Dungeness AM. Glossy Ibis at Cooks Pool. Sparrowhawk & Chiffs at ARC. Hobby & 4 Pintails at Firth. On the Point a Merlin nr the Old Lighthouse. This PM a White Stork from the fishing boats, heading out across the Channel at 12:45. 4 Arctic Skuas, Sandwich & Common Terns offshore & 1 Brent Goose