Kent Birding Highlights for July 2026

                                             6th

                                                  OARE  MARSHES

                                                                         

Bonaparte's Gull.

News that the Bonaparte's Gull had returned to Oare marshes on the 3rd July (Found by Martyn Wilson this year, well done Martyn) and remarkably has now returned for it's 14th year in a row.

I headed over there on the 6th July with AE and had superb views of this stunning bird, it was in full summer attire and looked in great condition.

There was a report of 2 Grasshopper Warblers on the reserve which would be a welcome year tick, however on listening to one of the birds near the seawatch hide AE who has a remarkable ability on bird songs & calls said in his opinion that was a Savi's Warbler !!!

Unfortunately for me i have developed tinnitus which effects my hearing which in windy conditions makes it even harder to distinguish certain songs & calls (that's my excuse anyway...), however i trust AE knowledge on these matters 100%.

I contacted Murray.W. and he said he would check it out in the morning and he messaged me to say , ' Yep that's a Savi's ' , well done Andrew .

We also had some great views of Turtle Dove & Bearded Tits.

Bearded Tit

Turtle Dove.  Photo from 2024

11th

OARE  MARSHES

Bonaparte's Gull

Another visit to Oare Marshes on the 11th produced more great views of the Bonaparte's Gull & the Savi's Warbler was still 'Reeling away', i could hear it better this time thankfully.

GODMERSHAM

It was fairly quiet at Oare Marshes so we decided to check out Godmersham, a walk up & down the road didn't produce the hoped for Spotted Flycatcher and a look over the river , which was quite low not surprisingly didn't produce any Banded Demoiselle.

So we headed to the cemetery and heard a Firecrest which showed briefly, then AE picked out 2 Spotted Flycatchers !!

Spotted Flycatcher

13th

STODMARSH

Garganey ♀ 

A brief visit to Stodmarsh and the Reedbed hide in particular was rewarded with a reasonable view of the ♀ Garganey that had been lingering in the area for sometime.
  

14th

OARE MARSHES

American Golden Plover

MW messaged me to say Geoff.B. has just found a full summer plumaged 

American Golden Plover on the East Flood.

Quick arrangments were made and i picked up MW and headed straight there, there was already a small group of birders on site on our arrival, we didn't waste time and soon had this superb wader in our scopes.

Great find GB, i believe this is only the 3rd record for the site ??!!

Here are some photos i took :

American Golden Plover & Bonaparte's Gull

Bold markings

American Golden Plover.

29th  &  30th

OARE  MARSHES

Our third American visitor of the year was this time found by Murray .W.  on the 29th July.

MW had  a tantalising view of a small wader on the 28th which he only saw briefly and couldn't quite confirm his thoughts on what it could be, however on the morning of the 29th said wader had reappeared giving MW much better , longer views and he could confirm that indeed he had found Oare Marshes 7th ever record of a 

White Rumped Sandpiper !!!

I grabbed all my birding gear and headed straight over there, unfortunately by the time i reached MW the WRS had frustratingly walked out of sight, after a tense 15 minutes or so the WRS walked back into view.

Great find Murray and thanks for the heads up !!!

The White rumped Sandpiper stayed loyal to the reedy area in the middle of the flood and was very tricky to see most of the time, however on the 30th it showed much better out in the open most of the time but still remained distant.

Here are a small selection of photos ;

White Rumped Sandpiper.

The Bonaparte's Gull is beginning to moult around the base of it's bill plus there were 16 Cattle Egret's including plenty of young birds.

Good numbers of Butterflies were around including both  Clouded Yellow &  Painted Lady.

Moulting Bonaparte's Gull

Adult Cattle Egret

Juv Cattle Egret

Clouded Yellow

Painted Lady