Jonathan Dodds

Classic conditions and birds arriving throughout the day at King George Park! Thrushes and Starlings between the showers, Robins spiralling out the sky. Later this tiny Wren flew in-off the sea in awful conditions, looking very lost under the cliff! ebird.org/checklist/S4... #kentbirding #PWC2026

This smart Black Redstart looked right at home between the boulders of Winterstoke Steps at King George Park. A welcome #PWC2026 addition having missed any early spring arrivals ebird.org/checklist/S4... #kentbirding

Back to familiar territory! Decent variety at King George VI Park: the second Yellow-browed Warbler, five Firecrests and Thrushes arriving in-off. Plus first significant push of wildfowl with 687 Brent Geese amongst others ebird.org/checklist/S4... #PWC2026 #kentbirding

The Short-toed Lark is still hanging on around North Light, having picked one of the more exposed places on the island @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Somewhat of a clear out overnight, but nice to see one of the Little Buntings on the island, this one favouring Shirva @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Felt very Fair Isle watching a Radde’s Warbler creep along one of the drystone walls by Setter, superb birds! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Finding shelter absolutely anywhere they could, this summarises the madness of yesterday when Yellow-browed Warblers were turning up in gardens, along walls and down geos! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

South-easterlies and the floodgates opened! Yellow-browed Warblers in every geo, no less than 31 around, 11 being my personal tally! Scarcities all over the island throughout the day, topped off by finding this lovely Red-flanked Bluetail on Ward Hill @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Pink-footed Geese continued southbound today plus few new birds in including a fine Little Bunting briefly in Vaadal @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Superb views of this Corncrake were had skulking across Byrwalls, until it later zoomed across the road! @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

These two Lapland Buntings gave lovely views in the sheltered corners on north census! Two of each Jack Snipes, Willow Warblers and a single Black Redstart was best of the rest @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

American Pipit made for a decent start to some time on Fair Isle. Overhead regular flocks of Pink-footed Geese were heading south @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social

Been a steady start to autumn at King George Park, as ever it’s always livened up by the first Yellow-browed Warbler! Part of an arrival of 46 Robins, 8 Firecrests, 16 Chiffchaffs and some Thrushes to the park #PWC2026 #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Having been talking about the recent discovery in Sussex earlier that night, it was uncanny when we found this singing individual after some late-night ringing! Not a bad end, or start… to the day @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social

Nice morning for Swift movement where 306 steadily flew south alongside 10 Swallows and 6 Sand Martins. Also had my first Willow Warblers of the autumn ebird.org/checklist/S3... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Decent weekend at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social with hints of autumn setting in: the first southbound Redstart amongst three Yellow Wagtails, several Sand Martins, Swifts and a pristine juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on the beach ebird.org/checklist/S3... #kentbirding

King George Park before fog rolled in was quiet for grounded migrants. But a Hobby(!) in-off skimming the clifftop was my first for the patch! As were two #patchgold Mallards on the sea. Otherwise 18 Swallows and 2 Sand Martins in-off #PWC2026 ebird.org/checklist/S3...

Fantastic weekend at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social where the record-breaking Little Gull movement was clearly the highlight of some quality seawatching! #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Don’t see many Goosander locally, so it was nice to have this one feeding just beyond the rock pools under King George Park #PWC2026 @kentishplover.bsky.social

Started off quiet until rain this morning did the trick at King George Park, with 13 Blackcaps, 8 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, 7 Chiffchaffs. Also up to 23 Swallows in-off through the morning #PWC2026 ebird.org/checklist/S3... @kentishplover.bsky.social

Some rain offshore dropped a few birds at King George Park. Of which were 15 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs and 23 Song Thrushes, many of which briefly stopping before continuing inland #PWC2026 #kentbirding ebird.org/checklist/S3... @kentishplover.bsky.social

Good to see this superb Ring Ouzel this morning @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social which quickly returned to hiding in the Moat #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Nice arrival of migrants this morning at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social with Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Wheatears grounded and this cracking male Redstart! Later a Large Tortoiseshell found its way into the Heligoland Trap #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

What a weekend! It was a privilege for Kent to host 2026 @lesserspotnet.bsky.social workshop in the Blean! Interesting discussions had between different regions, good connections made, exciting things ahead. Some Lesser Spots didn’t go a miss either @kentishplover.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Activity is hotting up in the Blean ahead of @lesserspotnet.bsky.social LSW Workshop! Birds clearly becoming more territorial, including this female which was regularly wing-fanning in the company of two males #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Fine conditions produced light Pintail passage offshore, later a Woodlark(!) flew in-off the sea over King George Park #PWC2026 ebird.org/checklist/S3...

My first in the home county, so was pleased the American Wigeon remained faithful to Scotney Gravel Pits. Scaup and three Whooper Swans nearby were nice #kentbirding ebird.org/checklist/S3...

And we’re off! With conditions less than favourable so far, it was good to get out to the Blean. Between 5-6 birds, including drumming and two territorial females ‘chittering’ started the LSW season off nicely #kentbirding @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Woodcock in-off the sea this morning on the back of easterly winds, desperately trying to find cover at the base of the cliffs under King George Park. Trickle of birds past including Pintail, seven Little Gull and 12 Teal #PWC2026 #kentbirding ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Plenty of Kittiwakes have been flying past King George Park lately, many of which giving beautiful views as they hug the shoreline #PWC2026 @kentishplover.bsky.social

Seawatching from King George Park got that more lively when this brute of a Glaucous Gull(!) materialised from the melee of gulls. Meanwhile two of each Little Gulls and Red-breasted Mergansers were highlights between hundreds of birds #PWC2026 ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Recent conditions made for productive seawatching from King George Park. Hundreds of Auks, Kittiwakes and Red-throated Divers passing offshore. Six Velvet Scoter were a welcome sight #PWC2026 ebird.org/checklist/S2... ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Some birds still escaping colder conditions, it was nice to have six White-fronted Geese arrive in-off with a Greylag Goose this morning over King George Park! Otherwise a couple of wintering Firecrest about #PWC2026 #KentBirding ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Amongst the Goldcrests there’s been decent numbers of Firecrests at King George Park, where no less than nine(!) was the peak count this autumn ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Census of Ramsgate Harbour following strong northerlies produced three of each Shag and Great Crested Grebe, plus a Little Grebe. Woodcock flew in-off the sea ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Variety over numbers during this morning’s seawatch from King George Park. Woodcock in-off and a Great Northern Diver were best ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Was nice to get my first Lapland Bunting(!) flying over King George Park this morning. Otherwise, still some Blackbirds, Goldcrests and Firecrests forming the grounded migrants ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Flocks of Starlings were streaming in-off the sea @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social throughout the day, including this single flock of 1,300! #kentbirding

Some excellent few days in Kent, with a classic November suite of species to be seen across the county recently! #kentbirding #ukrarebirds @kentishplover.bsky.social

With arrivals across the county, it was nice to find the second PALLAS’ WARBLER of the autumn for King George Park, superb birds! Supported by good numbers of Firecrest ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding #ukrarebirds @kentishplover.bsky.social

Excellent time enjoying my first Pallid Swift at Whiteness Point. Some good migration between including 2 Short-eared Owl in-off, 3 Black Redstart, 260 Starling, 6 Little Gull ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding #ukrarebirds @kentishplover.bsky.social

Some decent VisMig @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social this week included Serin, six Twite, several Whooper Swan and Woodpigeon, with Redwing and Fieldfare in-off against the headwinds! #spurnbirds #ukbirding ebird.org/checklist/S2... ebird.org/checklist/S2...

Lovely way to start the day at @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social with this Black-faced Bunting showing exceptionally well down the peninsula #spurnbirds #ukrarebirds #yorkshirebirding

Another superb day at King George Park when this PALLAS’ WARBLER appeared from the Goldcrest flock in front of us and Mark (visiting birder) called out “Pallas!”, another memorable morning. Up to 3 Yellow-browed Warblers were calling ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

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

King George Park delivers again! Three (!) Yellow-browed Warblers this morning, including this vocal individual. Building numbers of Goldcrests and 4 Firecrest were nice, with some VisMig overhead ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Birds still arriving throughout the day @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social with big flocks of Starlings streaming past. Merlin and Jack Snipe also in-off, plenty more Thrushes dropping out the sky ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Conditions dropped lots of Thrushes this morning @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social including several Ring Ouzel. A smart Pied Flycatcher, Woodcock and a few Firecrests and Bramblings added some variety ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Brilliant day at @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social where 231 (!) Crossbills flew over the recording area. Decent VisMig produced a Serin and thousands of Brent Geese offshore. A smart Yellow-browed Warbler was in the Trapping Area #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Overnight arrivals made for nice variety at Dungeness this morning, with a notable increase in Robins across the peninsula ebird.org/checklist/S2... #kentbirding @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social