Kent Highlights for October 2026

                                                3rd

                                              DUNGENESS  RSPB 

                                                                           

Pectoral Sandpiper

A trip to Dungeness RSPB on the 3rd was rewarded with reasonable views of the Pectoral Sandpiper from the Firth view point.

Pectoral Sandpiper.

These are pretty smart looking waders, it never came really close but good views through the scope.

There was also a couple of Great white Egrets which are always good to see.

Great white Egret.

From here i stuck my toe into East Sussex and had distant views of the American Golden Plover that had been seen on & off at Jury's Gap among the  Golden Plover flock.

American Golden Plover (on the right)

Also on the  3rd

RECULVER

News of a possible Semipalmated  Sandpiper at Reculver came through the grapevine so i decided to head there instead of a seawatch at Dungeness in the afternoon.

On reaching Reculver (picking up AE on route) the news had changed  from being a possible Semip Sandpiper to being a Bairds Sandpiper !!! 

We got out of the car and AE instantly said he could hear a Yellow-browed Warbler and no sooner had he said that then YBW appeared right in front of us giving some great views.

Yellow-browed Warbler

We bumped into Reculver regular MH who had walked the length & breath of Reculver without a sight of anything unusual, we did the same and meet up with MW, MC & Arne and despite a lengthy search we had no joy.

15th

OARE  MARSHES

Flock of Chaffinch

A walk up to Uplees produced a stunning male Yellowhammer & 2 Corn Buntings, there was the usual Water Rail at Dan's Dock.

Water Rail.

A look in Faversham Creek produced a decent sized flock of Redshank plus a superb Spotted Redshank was with them.

Spotted Redshank with Redshank.

There was a steady overhead movement of Chaffinch, our final count was 1008 !!!

There was also a smaller movement of Skylark when AE shouted he had got a WOODLARK !!!

I managed to get on it in my scope and had some decent views as it flew over the top fields towards the church and then out of sight.

We have been reliably informed that this is the first record of Woodlark for Oare Marshes, well done AE .

18th

PUMP HOUSE  &  SOUTH SWALE NR

I joined Chiddy & Jeremy for an early morning seawatch from the Pump House at Seasalter on the 18th.

A strong NNE was blowing and although the tide was on the turn conditions looked good for something to come past, i was checking the Swale to see if anything had already gone down when i picked up on a Leach's Petrel coming out of the Swale at approx 07.32

Once again decent scope views of this cracking bird , several Kittiwakes & a juv Little Gull were all seen well .

My main target was Leach's Petrel which i saw really well through the scope and as the tide had gone far out i decided to head home for a warm up, Chiddy went onto the seawall at Graveney and found a Pied Wheatear !!!

Unfortunately by the time i got there it had moved on, in fact only Chiddy managed to see it, congrats to him on a superb find.

My only consolation was picking up on another Leach's Petrel (10.32) flying over the mudflats into the Swale !!!

29th

JOSS BAY  THANET

Long tailed Duck

A trip to Joss Bay in Thanet for the Long tailed Duck was successful with distant scope views , i also saw a single Red throated Diver and a Gannet.

31st

OARE   MARSHES

Digi scope photo of  1 of 2 Jack Snipe

MW had found a superb Jack Snipe on the East Flood on the 31st , really good scope views of this cracking wader, unfortunately photos were not so good , however whilst we watching this bird AE announced he had found a 2nd Jack Snipe !!!

Well done to both MW & AE for finding these superb birds.

There was also approx. 20 Common Snipe & 4 Water Pipits.

Barn Owl

From the slipway we saw a Barn Owl hunting on the Sheppey side of the Swale, at least 3 Rock Pipits were near the slipway and there was a Red throated Diver still showing a little bit of red on it's throat at the end of the slipway.

A distant Merlin flew past Uplees and alighted on a very distant bush plus there were still 2 Water Rails in Dan's Dock.