Kent

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella ©David Featherbe Website

Birding Kent

Kent’s landscape is well known traditionally by the epithet the Garden of England. Facing mainland Europe, only 25 miles from France, the gleaming chalk White Cliffs of Dover are undoubtedly England’s most famous natural landmark. But, there is more to Kent’s landscape than either agriculture or its chalk backbone. Diverse habitat includes the North Kent Marshes which represent a large proportion of the whole country’s remaining inter-tidal grazing marsh, whilst at Stodmarsh-Grove Ferry the county has one of the country’s largest reed beds adjacent to the Stour River Valley, Dungeness’s almost unique shingle peninsular (it’s the second biggest in the world) supporting countless rare flora and fauna, whilst the whole county is surprisingly well wooded. To enhance these assets the county has no less than 5 RSPB reserves and two dedicated bird observatories (Dungeness & Sandwich Bay). Superb examples of recent habitat management can be found at many locations including; Grove Ferry, Elmley, Dungeness and Oare. All of which bodes well for birding in the county..

Even in a county as well watched as Kent, the sudden prominence in recent years of Bockhill and Kingsdown (St. Margaret’s Bay) as a rarities and visible migration hot-spot, illustrates the counties potential to produce more and more alternative birdwatching locations. Add to the above ingredients the continents proximity and sea-watching sites offering both north and south facing coastlines, and the picture is complete of one of the country’s top birding counties. The birding statistics confirm this premier position: County List – 424; Top Year [1999] List – 263; Top Individual County List – 351 (and 66+ birders over 300); Big Day records – 153; Non-motorised – 121 [2003]; Big sit – 77 (all set in 1999)

Top Sites

Canterbury Ring Woods - Church Woods
Satellite View
An RSPB reserve on the northern outskirts of Canterbury. It still has Nightjar, Tree Pipit, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Nightingale and the occasional Crossbill, although sadly no more redstarts.
Canterbury Ring Woods - Clowes Wood
Information Satellite View
A better bet for nightjar…
Canterbury Ring Woods - Larkey Valley Woods
Satellite View
Previously a good site for Hawfinch, now scarce. Many other woods (Lyminge forest, Hamstreet, Bedgebury, etc) in the county hold similar birds and a good look at an OS map will allow birders to make their own discoveries.
Dover Area - Bockhill
Webpage Satellite View
Between Deal and Dover this site and it's Bockhill Bird Group stalwarts have enjoyed numerous rarities including Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Red-flanked Bluetail, Nutcracker. Pallas's and Radde's Warbler, and Red-breasted Flycatcher. Yellow-browed Warbler and other scarcities are regular in Autumn. As a sea watching spot good numbers of divers, skuas, terns, auks, etc are seen from the beach.
Dover Area - Langden Cliffs
Satellite View
Situated above Dover docks, the docks 24-hour lighting attracts migrants and contributes to making this spot well worth a visit during migration periods.
Dover Area - Samphire Ho
Website Satellite View
To the west of Dover, created from the spoil of the channel tunnel this imaginative development is of growing interest. Spider Orchids are flourishing here.
Dungeness Area - Dengemarsh
Satellite View
At the western extremity of the Dungeness reserve the road overlooks flooded fields that attract waders and a gully by the sea, which can hold migrants.
Dungeness Area - Dungeness Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
The Observatory area is a classic migration hot spot with birds like Firecrest, Ring Ousel and regular rarities (Pallas's, Dusky, Melodious, Icterine, Blyth's Reed, Great-reed & Yellow-browed Warblers, Desert Wheatear, Ring-billed Gull, etc). The warm water patch created by the power station outflow is a draw for terns & gulls notably a Sabine's and a Bonaparte's Gull in 2001, whilst on shore winds in spring and autumn allow seabird passage to be monitored (esp. divers, terns, skuas, shearwaters). In 2001 a magnificent sighting of a Black Browed Albatross was enjoyed by a lucky few birders viewing from the Observatory sea-watch hide situated close-by the patch. Whist an Isabelline Shrike showed well in the area known as the desert.
Dungeness Area - Dungeness RSPB Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
The juxtaposition of the excellent RSPB reserve and the bird observatory makes Dunge one of the best sites in the county. The RSPB reserve regularly attracts wintering Penduline Tit and wildfowl (especially Smew). In summer it attracts nesting terns and regular Mediterranean Gulls. This Reserve is a must see when in Kent, not only is it building up overwintering and breeding bittern but had breeding purple herons too. Great for winter ducks and grebes, divers and rarities at any time.
Folkestone & Hythe Area - Capel-le-Ferne
Information Satellite View
The cliff-top area here is good for visible migration and has produced a string of rarities (including Kent’s first Isabelline Wheatear despite being covered by only a handful of birders.
Folkestone & Hythe Area - Copt Point
Information Satellite View
Near Folkestone has the largest congregation of Mediterranean Gulls in the country; winter is the best period, but birds can be found throughout the year (though very few in mid-summer).
North Kent Marshes - Allhallows Marshes
Satellite View
Follow the seawall east from the village, to choose between sea-watching on the Thames, visible migration along the shoreline, wader watching at the large roost on the shingle beach at Yantlet and on the saltings dotting the creek, or scanning the fields for raptors or over-wintering buntings. The path ends at Stoke Lagoon, excellent for duck in winter, and waders on passage. To the southeast of the village, the footpath to Binney Farm overlooks another small but productive flooded marsh.
North Kent Marshes - Bedlams Bottom (Funton Creek)
Satellite View
Known to many simply as Funton, many waders and duck can be found close to the roadside lay-bys. The over-wintering avocet flock is usually a little more distant, but makes up for this in numbers. Raptors are often seen quartering the shorelines.
North Kent Marshes - Chattenden
Satellite View
A series of woods on the Hoo ridge, with a mix of mature woodland, coppice, scrub and even semi-heath. Some of the more scarce species for the Peninsula can be found with patience, such as Nuthatch, Tawny Owl, and Hawfinch.
North Kent Marshes - Cliffe
Webpage Satellite View
Cliffe Pools is a mosaic of c.230 hectares of saline lagoons, fresh pools, grassland, salt marsh and scrub. These habitats have developed on old Blue Circle clay diggings and river dredgings. The RSPB is working in partnership with Westminster Dredging PLC to create a Flagship nature reserve and the centre point for visitors to the RSPBs NW Kent reserves. Resident - Great crested and little grebe, little egret, Pochard, Shelduck, redshank, lapwing, barn owl, stonechat, reed bunting. Spring/Summer - Breeding and migrant species including; hobby, avocet, black-tailed godwit, greenshank, ruff and rarities. turtle dove, nightingale, Autumn - Noteworthy for passage waders and other migrants; little stint, curlew, green and wood sandpipers, Garganey. Winter - Notable high tide roosts of waders including dunlin, grey plover and lapwing. Wintering duck such as pintail, Shoveler, teal and Pochard, and wintering raptors like hen and marsh harrier, peregrine and merlin. Other wildlife - Cliffe Pools are also home to a range of other wildlife including water vole and harvest mouse plus notable insects such as the scarce emerald damselfly, shrill carder bee and green hairstreak butterfly. Plant species include nationally notable species such as sea barley and annual beard grass.
North Kent Marshes - Grain
Satellite View
The recently created Foreshore Country Park includes a mix of scrub and grassland attractive to migrants, but is under watched. The extensive mudflats hold many wading birds (best viewed some three/four hours before/after high tide). Visible migration is also rewarding here, and sea-watching can provide good, but distant, views of migrating and wintering seabirds. Another easily viewed area is Mosco Pool that can hold a good mix of duck.
North Kent Marshes - Hoo
Satellite View
From the village a series of footpaths lead to the northern bank of the Medway. Inland, pools and floods near Abbott's Court are usually productive, as is scanning the old sewage farm beds there, which can hold Jack Snipe and Water Pipit in late winter.
North Kent Marshes - Horrid Hill
Satellite View
Part of the Riverside Country Park, the Hill (actually a promontory) provides excellent views over the Medway islands, and large numbers of wildfowl and waders. Early birders who beat the dog-walkers might find resting night migrants. Just to the west lies a small sheltered pond attractive to small migrants, as is the scrubland of Eastcourt Meadows, the westernmost part of the park, where Yellow-browed Warbler has been found. To the east of Horrid Hill, the main footpath runs alongside more saltings and creeks that often hold many birds, often close inshore.
North Kent Marshes - Lower Halstow
Satellite View
A little gem of a reserve, consisting of a mix of scrub and reed-bed. The seawall may be followed northwards along the edge of the paddocks and orchards of Ham Green, with good views over the mudflats and islands lying offshore.
North Kent Marshes - Motney
Reserve Website Satellite View
Another promontory on the Medway, giving views over the estuary. Take the footpath along the western edge, to reach a small grassy viewpoint at the northernmost tip, near to a regular wader roost, and the deep channel of Bartlett Creek, often holding diving duck and scarcer grebes in season. Scrub and an extensive reedbed complex dominate the western half.
North Kent Marshes - Murston
Information Satellite View
Located opposite Elmley at the mouth of the Swale and can also attract skuas and petrels. It offers good views over the Swale whilst the old clay pits regularly attract Scaup in winter.
North Kent Marshes - Northward Hill
Information Satellite View
The site of Britain’s largest heronry. To the west there is a recently created small scrape which attracts a good range of waders although only long-range viewing is possible so smaller waders may be missed.
North Kent Marshes - Oare
Satellite View
The reserve at Oare attracts good numbers of waders and, since it is fairly small, these are often closer at hand than elsewhere. It has attracted Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Semi-plamated Sandpiper and, in winter, Shorelark, Snow Bunting and Twite. Great at any time of year with a large percentage of the UKs Black-tailed godwits, regular curlew sandpipers, stints etc.
North Kent Marshes - Seasalter & Graveney Marshes
Satellite View
The walk along the Swale from the Sportsman at Seasalter is often very good for waders and in season, passing skuas. In recent years the area has attracted its own share of rarities - Sociable Plover, White-tailed Eagle & Blyth's Pipit included. Graveney Marshes are now managed by RSPB.
North Kent Marshes - Stoke Saltings
Satellite View
Although the area is extensively shot over, birding can still be rewarding here. It is probably the most regular site for Twite on the Hoo Peninsula. Walk the seawall from Lower Stoke village towards Grain to view marshland, reed-fringed pools and a myriad of creeks and islands.
Reculver - Bishopstone Glen
Website Satellite View
The bushes at Chambers Wall and Shuart Lane provide useful shelter for migrants (rarities in this general area have included Booted, Yellow-browed, Greenish, Arctic & Pallas's Warbler, Woodchat Shrike & Desert Wheatear). In 2001, Dusky Warbler was recorded here. A popular spot for sea-watching, especially when North/North Easterlies prevail.
Reculver - Chambers Wall
Website Satellite View
Excellent during migration periods with the long hedges full of warblers or thrushes and the reedy ditches good for waders and ducks.
Reculver - Reculver Towers
Website Satellite View
Good numbers of skuas, regular Leach's Petrel, Sooty Shearwaters & Sabine's Gull. A popular spot for sea-watching, especially when North/North Easterlies prevail.
Reculver - Shuart Lane
Website Satellite View
A regular trapping so well watched area turns up a lot of good birds on passage. A farm pull-in is a great place to scope across Reculver marshes for raptors.
Sandwich - Monk's Wall
Information Satellite View
A shadow of its rarity attracting past as it barely floods but can turn up some interesting birds.
Sandwich - Pegwell Bay
Information Satellite View
A little further north of Sandwich this is a site where a telescope is vital and knowledge of the tides is very useful. For optimum viewing try to arrive an hour either side of high tide. Rare and scarce waders are regularly found (e.g. Kentish Plover) along with good passing birds (Bluethroat, Osprey, Red Kite amongst others). A hide and a public car-park are amongst it's assets.
Sandwich - Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
Once one of Kent's premier spots for rarities. Amongst much else, it has produced Isabelline & Lesser Grey Shrikes, Radde's, Dusky, Pallas's, Greenish and Yellow-browed Warblers, Olive-backed Pipit, Short-toed Lark & Tawny Pipit. (Note that there is a toll for entry to Sandwich Bay estate – unless you become a member of the Obs). Recently revamped with substantial redevelopment moneys, the new Observatory buildings including an observation tower plus comfortable accommodation, it is a must visit when in the area.
Seaton Gravel Pits
Satellite View
Provides habitat for diving duck lacking elsewhere in the valley - regular species include wintering Smew, Goosander and Goldeneye. It also attracts Bittern. Recent rarities have included Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck & Iberian Chiffchaff. The stream holds Grey Wagtail and the surrounding trees Siskin, Redpoll etc.
Sevenoaks Area - Bough Beech
Webpage Satellite View
South of Sevenoaks this is the largest reservoir in Kent (Bewl Water is larger, but straddles county borders and is mainly in Sussex). It attracts wintering wildfowl, regular Osprey in spring, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover and the odd rarity (most famously a Little Crake in 1998).
Sevenoaks Area - Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
Good for: Little Ringed Plover, Egyptian Geese, winter finches,
Sheppey - Capel Fleet & Raptor Watchpoint
Satellite View
At the eastern end of the island Capel Fleet is the best area for raptors - Marsh & Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are regular with Red Kite & Rough-legged Buzzard recorded in recent years and increasing numbers of Common Buzzard. Short-eared and barn Owls are regular with Little Owl seen around Sayes Court Farm. There is now a raptor watchpoint (see map) so one can scan the fields and look along the fleet. It is also a good place to see wintering White-fronted Geese and the flock has included Pinkfeet, Bean, Barnacle and even Lesser White-fronted Geese.
Sheppey - Elmey
Website Satellite View
The national nature reserve at Elmley attracts a wide variety of waders and wildfowl throughout the year, including a fair proportion of rarities. It is of national importance holding a significant percentage of breeding lapwing as well as an increasing number of waders. Winter is excellent for all 5 owls and raptors as well as wildfowl and waders. It is uniquely the only privately owned national nature reserve - fortunately for us all the owners are very committed to conservation and access.
Sheppey - Swale National Nature Reserve
Satellite View
At the eastern extremity of the island is hampered by hides, which are too distant from the wader pools. The wader roost on the nearby shingle beach can be good (though care needs to be exercised here) and the autumn sea watching from the beach at Shellness (GR 023663) in NW winds can be excellent. The walk from Church (GR 055679) to Shellness can be good, though retracing one’s steps is a chore.
Sheppey - Warden Point
Satellite View
Has potential as a migration hot spot - Pallas's & Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-breasted Flycatcher have been noted.
Snodland - New Hythe
Satellite View
With Dungeness the gravel pits at Snodland are excellent for wintering Smew and other ducks. Recent rarities have included Ferruginous Duck, Purple Heron & Penduline Tit. It is also a good wintering site for Long-eared Owl and Bittern
Stour Valley - Grove Ferry
Satellite View
Here the conversion of the old turf fields on the eastern edge of the reserve has created a superb wetland habitat that has already attracted impressive numbers of Garganey, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Hobby and rarities including; Collared Pratincole, Long-billed Dowitcher, Slender-billed Gull, Baillon's Crake, Blue-winged Teal. Splendid species seen here in 2001 included Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Spotted Crake and Pectoral Sandpiper.
Stour Valley - Stodmarsh
Information Satellite View
The traditional hot spot in the valley, but has recently been outshone by the new extension to the reserve at Grove Ferry. The Stodmarsh ‘end’ remains one of the best places in the county to witness winter roost of Hen Harriers, glimpse the odd wintering Bittern and catch up with Bearded Tit. On fine calm evenings in late March at (or just after sunset) can be a good time for picking up departing Bitterns (sometimes in double figures) as they rise out from the reedbeds and fly back to the continent grunting as they do so. It's also a good time to see Woodcock on the path. The elm trees can be good for Treecreeper, Redpolls & Siskin and occasionally has held wintering Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warblers.For sightings see: http://www.kentos.org.uk/blogs-sightings/stour-valley/
Stour Valley - Westbere
Satellite View
Towards Canterbury has suffered from the proximity of Stodmarsh - it holds similar birds to Stodmarsh, but being much less well watched has produced fewer surprises. Odonata fans are well served with Norfolk Hawker now found here.
Thanet - Foreness Point
Satellite View
Sea watching off Foreness Point can also be productive. In winter this coast holds numbers of Purple Sandpiper and Rock Pipit which can be found at any of the bays with careful searching, as can black redstart and the less sure horned (shore) lark.
Thanet - Margate Cemetery
BLOG Satellite View
Turns up plenty of scarcities, the odd rarity and several megas!
Thanet - Minnis Bay
Satellite View
The mudflats extending from here to reculver are always good for a variety of waders and the sea wall sometimes has Snow Buntings in winter but the real attraction here is seawatching. The handily placed shelter on the cliff keeps out the worst weather and anything can and does turn up, stormy weather in the right season can have anything from Leach's Petrel to Sabines Gulls and all the Skuas as well as auks, divers and shearwaters. Great place too for viz mig.
Thanet - North Foreland
Satellite View
Sea-watching here can produce skuas, alcids, divers, etc. in winter and waders between here and the beach at Joss Bay include purple sandpiper and rarities on passage. The area around the sewage pumping station (regular horned lark) and cabbage fields may turn up anything during migration and local patch birders see good numbers of ring-ousels, wryneck, etc.
Thanet - Northdown Park
Satellite View
Northdown Park whilst much busier than the cemetery has had some notable rarities which includes regular Pallas's and yellow-browed warbler, firecrest etc. It was one of the first places in the UK to have a population of ring-necked parakeets and a morning's visit will often produce 100 or more screaming overhead. Early mornings in passage times can produce good numbers of migrants or even a view of the Fatbirder in its nesting habitat.

Contributors

John Cantelo
| johncantelo@gmail.com

County Recorder

Barry Wright
6 Hatton Close, Northfleet, Kent DA11 8SD
umbrellabirds66@gmail.com
01474 320918 or 07789 710555
Rarities - Stephen Wood
4 Jubilee Cottages, Throwley Forstal, Faversham ME13 0PJ
doctorstevewood@gmail.com
01795 890485

Number of Species

Number of bird species: 424

County Bird - Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
[Sandwich being in the county]
The Kent List is composed of all of those species that have been reported in Kent, and accepted by both the Kent Ornithological Society Records Committee (KOSRC) and the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), and are included on the official British kept by the British Ornithological Union Records Committee (BOURC).

Checklist

Official Kent List
Annotated List

Useful Reading

Bird-Watching on the North Kent Marshes

| By Peter Oliver | Peter Oliver | 1991 | Hardback | 180 pages, Colour frontispiece, 8 b/w photos, 6 figures, 29 tables | ISBN: 9780951839102 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding in Kent

| By Don Taylor | Pica Press | 1996 | Paperback | 168 pages, Line illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9781873403532 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Kent Breeding Birds Atlas 2008-13

| By Rob Clements, Murray Orchard, Norman McCanch & Stephen Wood | Kent Ornithological Society | 2015 | Hardback | 216 pages, colour photos, colour distribution maps, colour tables | ISBN: 9780956567055 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Kent: A Birdwatcher's Site Guide

| By Chris Bradshaw and Simon Busuttil | Shoebill Books | 2007 | Spiralbound | 120 pages | 64 maps | ISBN: 9780952806523 Buy this book from NHBS.com
The Birds of Kent

| By Don Taylor | Meresborough Books | 1984 | Paperback | 440 pages, 1 colour & 44 b/w plates, line illustrations | ISBN: 9780905270807 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Where to Watch Birds Kent, Surrey and Sussex

| By Don Taylor, Jeffrey Wheatley & Paul James | Christopher Helm | 2009 | Paperback | 432 pages, 35 line illustrations, 54 maps | ISBN: 9781408105856 Buy this book from NHBS.com

Useful Information

OS Maps

For the dedicated Kent birder the excellent new Explorer 1:25,000 maps are ideal (Sheets 18, 125, 136, 137, 138, 148, 149, 150 & 163) but the Landranger 1:50,000 are also very useful (Sheets 177, 178, 179, 188 & 189)

Observatories

Dungeness Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
Brilliant new site – launched 20th Feb 2002. Dungeness in Kent, is unique in both its habitat- a dry shingle beach, and also in its location- the most southeasterly point in the UK. Well known in birdwatching circles, it is a renowned hotspot for the unexpected, with rarities. It's also a great location to observe migration, both of land and seabirds, with an interesting breeding population of it's own. New records are now being relayed daily through the website. Rarities and unusual records are supported by photographs whenever possible. There are also full details on the accommodation and services of the Dungeness Bird Observatory including annual reports, contact details, how to find it.David Walker, Dungeness BO, 11 RNSSS Cottages, Dungeness, Kent TN29 9NA. 01797 321309 dungeness.obs@tinyonline.co.uk
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory
Observatory Website Satellite View
Our Field Centre is located on the Kent coastline in the Sandwich and Hacklinge SSSI, the large floodplain of the river Stour that nestles between the White Cliffs of Dover to the south and the Isle of Thanet to the north. It is the base for the ongoing work of Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, which has been recording all aspects of the wildlife of Sandwich Bay for over 50 years.Warden: Ian Hodgson, Sandwich Bay Obs, Guilford Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9PF. 01304 617341 sbbot.t21@btinternet.com

Organisations

Ashford Bird Club
Website
Ashford Birdwatchers Club is a small group of people with an interest in birdwatching in and around Kent. We hold indoor meetings through the winter and also arrange a variety of field meetings thoughout the year. All indoor meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at Kennington WI Hall, Faversham Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 9AN at 7.30 pm. New members are very welcome. There is a £3.00 admission fee which includes tea/coffee and biscuits.
Dartford Ringing Group
BLOG
The Dartford Ringing Group is a collection of amateur ringers (banders) using ringing as a tool to study the population dynamics and migration strategies of birds at several sites in the southeast of England. Apparently the blog is inactive December 2017
Harrison Institute
Website
The Harrison Institute seeks to promote wildlife conservation. It specialises in the study of mammals (recent and fossil) and birds and works alongside in-country scientists. It is currently running a series of projects in the Old World tropics, particularly in Southeast Asia. It welcomes participation in its field studies and expeditions. Volunteers have the opportunity to support and take part in a variety of projects and in doing so visit beautiful and often remote areas of the world
Kent Ornithological Society
Website
Kent is ornithologically one of the most exciting counties in Britain. Habitats as diverse as salt and grazing marshes, extensive reed beds, ancient Wealden woodland, open downland and fertile river valleys are reflected in an equally diverse bird population. In winter flocks of White-fronted Geese from Siberia are a familiar sight on the Isle of Sheppey, while the woodland and scrubland in Kent support Britain's densest population of Nightingales. Rarities such as Yellow-browed and Pallas's Warblers are recorded annually around the Kent coastline which hosts the counties two observatories; Sandwich and Dungeness. KOS contact details: KOS Committee
Kent Wildlife Trust
Website
Kent Wildlife Trust works to secure a better future for the native wildlife of Kent through, among other things, the management of reserves. 50+ nature reserves including woodland, wetland, grassland and coastal sites managed to protect and encourage the native plants and animals Advice available on management of wildlife habitats, from gardens and school grounds to ancient woodland and unimproved farmland
Kentish Stour Countryside Project
Information
Conserving the Stour Valley
RSPB Bromley Members Group
Webpage
The group exists to support the work of the RSPB and to promote conservation and understanding of wild birds, other wildlife and habitats. A wide range of activities is organised, including local walks, car and coach outings, slide shows and participation in local environmental events.
RSPB Canterbury Local Group
Webpage
Welcome to the RSPB Canterbury Local Group website. We are a local group with over 200 members, and some of us meet regularly for evening illustrated talks. The talks are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm from September to April. There are field trips all through the year on a monthly basis…
RSPB Gravesend Local Group
Webpage
Within this site, you will find information about our group, our current programme of indoor and outdoor meetings, extracts from our latest newsletter. Check out our news feed page for our latest announcements…
RSPB Maidstone Members Group
Webpage
Facts about joining the group, indoor & outdoor meetings - The Maidstone RSPB Members Group was formed in the early 1970s by a dedicated few and over the last 27 years membership has steadily grown to approximately 150 members. These include both novice and experienced bird watchers and those with a general wildlife and conservation interest. The aim of the Group is to actively support the work of the RSPB in the local community, our objectives to raise awareness of the Society, recruit new members and raise funds…
RSPB Medway Members Group
Webpage
If you are interested in birdwatching, or other environmental matters, in north Kent this is the place to see the latest news. The Medway RSPB group was founded in 1974, and has always endeavoured to produce an interesting programme of indoor and outdoor events, including various fund-raising activities. We are always happy to see new faces at our illustrated talks, and at our birdwatching walks, where help is always on hand with identifying the birds, plants, insects, etc…
RSPB Sevenoaks Local group
Webpage
This is the website of the Sevenoaks Local Group. RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while learning more about birds and wildlife…
RSPB Thanet Local Group
Webpage
The group's aim is to support actively the work of the RSPB in the local community and to involve RSPB members and the wider public in the Society's conservation, public affairs, education, fundraising and other activities. We offer a programme of bird-watching walks in East Kent. We also have an indoor programme that includes a monthly illustrated talk. So, if you would like to have fun and meet like minded people contact us and help make a difference for birds and wildlife.
RSPB Tonbridge Group
Webpage
This is the website of the Tonbridge Local Group. RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area while learning more about birds and wildlife…
Thames Estuary Partnership
Website
One of the capital’s largest and most important wildlife areas stretches along the Thames Estuary. The range of habitats in the estuary supports diverse species of wildlife. TEP has worked with its partners to enhance these riparian habitats by implementing a range of local biodiversity initiatives. Plans to restore natural floodplains include the London Rivers Action Plan, the London Action Plan and the Water Framework Directive.

Reserves

Abbreviations Key

Accessable Reserves
BFA Assessed Reserves in Kent Satellite View
Each of the following links lead to a BFA assessment of the reserve by BFA members and others, using the BFA form. ALL types of mobility problem are assumed so there are details of path surfaces, gradients and distances as well as benches and hide details.
Bedgebury Pinetum
Website Satellite View
Not a reserves specifically for fauna but a collection of trees - the pines of the world. However, this is an excellent place in the winter for finding crossbills and hawfinches as well as more common birds such as finches, tits and woodpeckers.
Betteshanger Country Park (formerly Fowlmead)
Reserve Website Satellite View
Betteshanger Sustainable Parks is a unique and ambitious project, or rather a series of exemplary environmentally sustainable projects, which is being built on the 121 hectare site of the former Betteshanger colliery in East Kent.
Blean Woods National Nature Reserve
Webpage Satellite View
Blean Woods National Nature Reserve (NNR) is situated to the north of Canterbury on the London Clay in the North Kent Plain Natural Area. The reserve is part of an extensive block of woodland, including reserves owned by the RSPB and the Woodland Trust, which comprise part of the wider forest for which the area is famous. The reserve is an ancient woodland with a well documented history. The visitor can see many archaeological features, such as mediaeval ditch and bank systems and disused charcoal kilns.
Buckland Lake Reserve
Website Satellite View
Our long term aim is to achieve a blend that preserves, enhances and promotes the interests of wildfowl while at the same time, offers a secure, relaxed and comfortable environment for people, with something for all visitors. From a simple cup of tea and a pleasant stroll to fully hands on wildlife courses…
Dungeness National Nature Reserve
Website Satellite View
Dungeness is unique – no boundaries, a desolate landscape with wooden houses, power stations, lighthouses and expansive gravel pits. Yet it possesses a rich and diverse wildlife within the National Nature Reserve in one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world.
Elmley National Nature Reserve
Website Satellite View
Elmley National Nature Reserve (NNR) is the only privately owned and run National Nature Reserve. It consists largely of flat, open grazing marsh at or below sea level but protected from the sea by clay walls. The grazing marsh is divided by brackish ditches and fleets which act as wet fences for stock control. In winter and spring there is extensive shallow surface flooding. Many scrapes have been created and a predator-proof fence helps to ensure increasing numbers of ground nesting birds.The wet grassland at Elmley Marshes attracts thousands of ducks, geese and wading birds in the winter. Hen harriers, merlins, peregrines and short-eared owls can also be seen during the winter. In the summer, many wading birds, including the elegant avocet, breed on the reserve.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve
Information Satellite View
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve is a spectacular ancient woodland and the perfect place to take relaxing, tranquil woodland walks. Ham Street Woods is home to rare moths and butterflies, breeding birds, including rare ones such as the nightingale and hawfinch; and also to 2 protected species: the great crested newt and the dormouse. There are 3 way-marked trails (varying between 2.5 and 5 kilometres) through the reserve.
High Halstow National Nature Reserve
Information Satellite View
High Halstow National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a complex mosaic of scrub and woodland habitat, dominated by hawthorn scrub and ancient oak woodlands, with regenerating elm woodland. It is managed by the RSPB along with Northward Hill reserve which it abuts.
Kent Wildlife Trust Reserves
Information Satellite View
There are currently 55 wildlife reserves in Kent being managed by Natural England and the Kent Wildlife Trust. A-Z list of Trust reserves
Knole Park
Webpage Satellite View
Deer park surrounding an historic mansion... beech woods are (were?) the last refuge of redstart in Kent, great for woodland birds, woodpeckers, nuthatch, treecreeeper etc.
Leybourne Lakes Country Park
Information Satellite View
New Hythe is an area of old gravel and sand workings sandwiched between Snodland and Larkfield in mid Kent. Bordered by the tidal River Medway to the east and a dual carriageway to the west, the area has an interesting mix of habitats including several large areas of open water. Surrounding the lakes is a variety of habitats including reed beds, grazing marsh, scrub and pockets of mixed woodland. To the north and south are Paper Mills, housing estates and a superstore.
Monkton Nature Reserve
Facebook Page Satellite View
Monkton Nature Reserve is a 16 acre wildlife oasis reclaimed from a former chalk quarry in East Kent, and it is now home to many protected and endangered species of fauna and flora.
RSPB Blean Woods
Webpage Satellite View
Blean Woods is one of the largest areas of ancient broadleaved woodland in southern Britain. Woodpeckers are plentiful, while in the summer there are about 30 pairs of nightingales and several nightjars. The reserve is one of the few places in Britain where you can find the heath fritillary butterfly…
RSPB Capel Fleet
Webpage Satellite View
Located in the heart of the Isle of Sheppey farmland, this small vantage point offers a commanding view from where, with optical equipment, a multitude of raptors may be seen depending on the time of year and the weather conditions. It is a place to learn your birds of prey and pick out rarities. During the winter it is an excellent place to watch or photograph short-eared owls.
RSPB Cliffe Pools
Webpage Satellite View
A wide variety of birds can be found at the reserve including 60 pairs of avocets. Great crested grebes, shelducks, lapwings and little egrets are all resident. During the autumn wading birds pass through on migration. Some remain in the winter and are joined by pintails, shovelers, teals and other ducks. In spring and summer look out for hobbies and nightingales…
RSPB Dungeness
Webpage Satellite View
Dungeness has one of south-east England`s most important breeding colonies of gulls and terns…
RSPB Nor Marsh and Motney Hill
Webpage Satellite View
Nor Marsh is a saltmarsh island in the Medway Estuary and Motney Hill is a narrow peninsula surrounded by mudflats that juts into the estuary from the southern shore. We provide safe areas for birds to feed and breed in an increasingly developed estuary.
RSPB Northward Hill
Webpage Satellite View
As well as nightingales and turtle doves, the wood has the largest heronry in the UK, with over 150 pairs of grey herons nesting in the treetops. On the grazing marshes below the woods, wading birds such as lapwings and redshanks breed. In the winter, wading birds and wildfowl including wigeons and teals can be seen, along with buzzards, hen harriers and merlins…
RSPB Tudeley Woods
Webpage Satellite View
Get away from it all with a walk in the woods and through the newly restored heathland. In some areas there are grand old trees; in others the trees have been coppiced to open up the woodland floor and allow the woodland flowers and butterflies to flourish.
Reculver Country Park
Information Satellite View
Reculver Country Park consists of 37 hectares of coastal land stretching from Reculver to Bishopstone Glen. Part of the Country Park is a Local Nature Reserve and much of it is designated SSSI. It is site of geological, historical and wildlife interest.
Romney Marsh Countryside Project
Website Satellite View
The Romney Marsh Countryside Project was set up in June 1996, a sister project to the White Cliffs Countryside Project. The project aims to care for the special landscape and wildlife of the Romney Marsh and Dungeness. We aim to encourage people to enjoy and understand the countryside through guided walks, cycle rides, countryside events and children's activities…
Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve
Information Satellite View
The reserve is composed of a mixture of natural, semi-natural and artificial habitats. The natural habitats include; eroding chalk cliffs and wave cut platforms to the north of Pegwell Bay, intertidal mudflats, developing beaches, sand dunes and saltmarsh. The semi-natural habitats include; ancient dune pasture and coastal scrubland. The re-created grassland of the Pegwell Bay Country Park, along with ponds, dykes and ditches make up the recent artificial habitats.
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre
Webpage Satellite View
A pioneering nature reserve which has a roughly equal proportions of water and land. It includes five lakes and a mixed habitat of ponds, seasonal flooded pools, reedbed and woodlands.
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve
Information Satellite View
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (NNR) is situated in the lower regions of the north Kent plain within the Stour valley. The reserve developed when coal mining subsidence formed marshland with large reedbeds, lakes, ditches, meadows and wet woodland.
The Swale National Nature Reserve
Observatory Website Satellite View
The Swale National Nature Reserve (NNR) is predominantly grazing marsh with significant wintering populations of waterfowl. It is also a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. The saltings are of historical importance. The reserve has a nature trail with three bird hides, including a tower hide. An elaborate bunding scheme enables water to be retained in certain areas throughout the summer. (Now managed by Elmley)
Wildwood Discovery Park
Website Satellite View
Wildwood is a unique woodland discovery park. It occupies 30 acres of ancient woodland, with easy access and loads to do and to find out… Where Beavers are being introduced into an English landscape to monitor their progress…
Wye National Nature Reserve
PDF Brochure Satellite View
Wye National Nature Reserve (NNR) comprises chalk grassland and woodland on steep coombes.

Forums & Mailing Lists

Folkestone & Hythe Birds Latest Sightings

Sightings
KOS Sightings

Sightings from some hotspots
Kent Birding
Facebook Page
Facebook page used as a forum and to post sightings including photos
Kent-Birders
Mailing Group
Sightings & discussion group for and about birding in Kent, UK. Members can post sightings of scarce birds or unusual behaviour or can invite other members to discus issues of concern to birders.
RX Wildlife

This website features all the latest wildlife sightings, news and events from the coast covered by the RX fishing boat registration - which can be seen on the shore at Hastings and Dungeness and in the Harbour of Rye. RX comes from Rye - susseX.

Guides & Tour Operators

Click on WAND for tours, guides, lodges and more…

Bargain Birding in Kent
Website
Value for money bird watching trips for birders on a budget”
Birding Pal
Information
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area
Grove Ferry River Trips
Website
Birdwatching trips can be organised for groups up to 12
Plovers -Dungeness & Romney Marsh Birdwatching Breaks
Website
This website is designed to allow you to see the services available at 'Plovers', Lydd-on-Sea. Pat & Paul Trodd, Plovers, 1 Toby Road, Lydd-on-Sea, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29 9PG Phone 01797 366935 & 07920 197535 Email: troddy@plovers.co.uk
Sandwich Bird Tours
Tour Company
…Local areas of interest include the Nature Reserve at Stodmarsh where in winter many species of wildfowl, waders and specialities such as Bittern, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Kingfisher, Water Rail and many more species can be found. Cettis' Warblers first established themselves here when they arrived from the continent in the 1970's and it is one of the best places in the country to see Bearded Tits. In spring and autumn the place is alive with warblers in particular Reed and Sedge Warblers and in spring Nightingales can be heard in the adjoining woodlands…
Swallow Birding
Tour Company
On Swallow Birding trips we are enthusiastic, relaxed, friendly and fun. Small groups mean Leader Steve Grimwade can give the time and attention necessary to make your trip a great birding experience!

Trip Reports

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2001 [12 December] - Gavin Edmondstone
Trip Report
While Sue and I have been contemplating our first birding trip to the UK for some time, December was certainly not a time of year that we had considered. However, a business trip came up and December it was. Since we are still planning to do a dedicated spring birding visit we particularly wanted to see winter birds that would be lifers for us…

Places to Stay

Click on WAND for tours, guides, lodges and more…

Castaways B&B Dungeness
Accommodation
Delphine, Simon, Jessica and Fleur (our extremely friendly spaniel) warmly welcome you to Castaways B&B and Guest House. Fully refurbished in 2012, we offer 6 en-suite guest bedrooms sleeping up to 11 guests. Relax in our comfortable guest lounge and enjoy magnificent sea views over the English Channel with the white cliffs of Dover to the east and the lighthouses of Dungeness to the west. France is visible on a clear day as are the lights of Calais and Boulogne at night.
Churchgates B&B - Cranbrook
Website
Close to world renowned Sissinghurst and Great Dixter Gardens our newly opened historic house is in the heart of the beautiful Kent and Sussex Weald - designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town and countryside provide ideal country walks. Church Gates itself is on the High Weald Landscape Trail.
Coastguard Lookout Cotage
Accommodation
Stay at Coastguard Lookout and discover a fascinating landscape full of myth and legend, surrounded by the haunting vastness of Romney Marsh, a flat, open landscape of wide skies with a backdrop of the eerie and majestic Nuclear Power station.
Hallwood Farm Oast
Website
Hallwood Farm Oast is situated at the end of a long private lane on a fruit, arable and sheep farm, close to the Kent and Sussex border and just one mile from the small wealden town of Cranbrook.
Pigeonwood House B&B
Website
Pigeonwood House is set in rural tranquillity in the North Downs above Folkestone and is the original farmhouse of the local area. The house dates from 1769 and the surrounding landscape has barely changed since then. Being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the views are spectacular, covering the surrounding countryside then across the sea to France. Although only seven minutes from the Channel Tunnel and fifteen minutes from Dover, we are able to show visitors a few aspects of the pervading beauty of East Kent. We are ideally situated for walkers, being only 300 yards from the North Downs Way and the Saxon Shore Way; visiting the Garden Coast, Canterbury (20 minutes) and all the gardens and castles in the vicinity.
The Ferry House Inn
Website
The Ferry House Inn is a beautiful 16th Century Country Public House situated at the edge of the Swale Estuary on the peaceful Isle of Sheppey. It is set in three acres of terraced lawns and offers a superb panoramic view over the water. The Inn also has three double bedrooms and one twin bedroom, all beautifully furnished with en-suite facilities and offering visitors all the comfort needed for a perfect nights sleep
The Watch Tower Dungeness
Accommodation
We warmly welcome you to our lovely, three-room, B&B suite at the Watch Tower, Dungeness. The suite is private and completely for your own use (no other guests). Also you may come and go as you please, day and night, as the accommodation has its own entrance and key. We live in the other half of the house, with our own entrance.
White Horses Cottage B&B Dungeness
Accommodation
We offer the most beautiful Bed and Breakfast accommodation rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor for those seeking a holiday by the sea, a relaxing weekend break, or even a peaceful interlude from your travels.

Kent

Birding Kent

Canterbury Ring Woods - Church Woods

Canterbury Ring Woods - Clowes Wood

Canterbury Ring Woods - Larkey Valley Woods

Dover Area - Bockhill

Dover Area - Langden Cliffs

Dover Area - Samphire Ho

Dungeness Area - Dengemarsh

Dungeness Area - Dungeness Bird Observatory

Dungeness Area - Dungeness RSPB Reserve

Folkestone & Hythe Area - Capel-le-Ferne

Folkestone & Hythe Area - Copt Point

North Kent Marshes - Allhallows Marshes

North Kent Marshes - Bedlams Bottom (Funton Creek)

North Kent Marshes - Chattenden

North Kent Marshes - Cliffe

North Kent Marshes - Grain

North Kent Marshes - Hoo

North Kent Marshes - Horrid Hill

North Kent Marshes - Lower Halstow

North Kent Marshes - Motney

North Kent Marshes - Murston

North Kent Marshes - Northward Hill

North Kent Marshes - Oare

North Kent Marshes - Seasalter & Graveney Marshes

North Kent Marshes - Stoke Saltings

Reculver - Bishopstone Glen

Reculver - Chambers Wall

Reculver - Reculver Towers

Reculver - Shuart Lane

Sandwich - Monk's Wall

Sandwich - Pegwell Bay

Sandwich - Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

Seaton Gravel Pits

Sevenoaks Area - Bough Beech

Sevenoaks Area - Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

Sheppey - Capel Fleet & Raptor Watchpoint

Sheppey - Elmey

Sheppey - Swale National Nature Reserve

Sheppey - Warden Point

Snodland - New Hythe

Stour Valley - Grove Ferry

Stour Valley - Stodmarsh

Stour Valley - Westbere

Thanet - Foreness Point

Thanet - Margate Cemetery

Thanet - Minnis Bay

Thanet - North Foreland

Thanet - Northdown Park

John Cantelo

Barry Wright

Rarities - Stephen Wood

Number of bird species: 424

Official Kent List

Bird-Watching on the North Kent Marshes

Birding in Kent

Kent Breeding Birds Atlas 2008-13

Kent: A Birdwatcher's Site Guide

The Birds of Kent

Where to Watch Birds Kent, Surrey and Sussex

OS Maps

Dungeness Bird Observatory

Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory

Ashford Bird Club

Dartford Ringing Group

Harrison Institute

Kent Ornithological Society

Kent Wildlife Trust

Kentish Stour Countryside Project

RSPB Bromley Members Group

RSPB Canterbury Local Group

RSPB Gravesend Local Group

RSPB Maidstone Members Group

RSPB Medway Members Group

RSPB Sevenoaks Local group

RSPB Thanet Local Group

RSPB Tonbridge Group

Thames Estuary Partnership

Accessable Reserves