The RSPB has reported a significant increase in Western Capercaillie numbers at its Abernethy Forest reserve in the Scottish Highlands, providing a rare piece of positive news for a species facing extinction in the UK:
Today is World Wetlands Day celebrating the more than 2500 areas of international importance. Some of these are in Kent such as the Thames Estuary and Swale. Wetlands represent 6% of Earth but are home to 40% of all plant and animal species. #kentbirding #WorldWetlandsDay2026
The Red-flanked Bluetail and Pallas’s Warbler remained into this week, while a Black Guillemot flew past Dungeness and a Glaucous Gull offered close-up views in Margate. Full details on kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
KOS species of the month – January
Kittiwake – No longer a breeding species within Kent these medium sized gulls are best identified off the coast in winter by their yellow bill, grey wash over the back of the neck, black wing tips and black legs. #kentosbirding #kentbirding
Winter Aconites peeping through the leaf litter - a week ahead of themselves!
A nice week of winter birding with Black Guillemot, winter swans and ducks, the Hume’s Warbler again and an increase in Caspian Gulls. For all weekly highlights in Kent see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
The third Hume’s Warbler of the autumn was finally more cooperative and could be seen one and off at Sandwich Bay. Sandwich Bay also hosted a Shore Lark and four Snow Bunting. For full weekly highlights in Kent birding see kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Good stint Ian - congratulations.
Lessons from extinction?
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#ornithology
Heatwaves are already killing Pallid Swifts in Spain
“You would walk down the street and there would be 100 chicks, lying at the foot of a building, some dying and some barely alive,”
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/j...
Moths have evolved many way of hiding in plain sight - or looking like something else. Here a December Moth trying to pretend it’s a Musk Ox.
The weekly update is again available on the KOS website, with Pallid Swift, Pallas Warbler, good seawatching and an update on the Kent year list at the end of October. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
www.theguardian.com/environment/... Abject, craven, weak- utterly shameful failure of leadership by a government failing to tackle the biggest threat we face.
🙏 💚
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
“one of the true conservation giants of our time”
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
So sad to hear of the loss of the inspirational Jane Goodall - a brief meeting in 2017 was special. Another light had gone out in the dark times.
The most unusual sighting in Kent this week was an unseasonal Jack Snipe at Worth while the Bonaparte’s remained at Oare and juvenile Yellow-legged Gulls were at Dungeness. Full highlights on Kentos.org.uk #kentbirding #birdguides
A second rare American gull visiting the county, another Caspian Tern and a large group of Cattle Egrets were among the highlights in Kent birding this week. See kentos.org.uk. #kentbirding #birdguides
Here’s looking at yer! Large Emerald and Black Arches - two favourite moth faces.
Mine chased me across the garden as I was putting the lure out!
Orange-tailed Clearwing - fifth clearwing species for the garden.
The weekly birding highlights in Kent included Golden Oriole, Black Kite and Bee-eater. See full details on kentos.org.uk #kentbirding
The distinctive female Four-spotted Footman.
An egg box of loveliness
I’m being judged.
4th clearwing for the garden - Lunar Hornet Moth - yes it’s a moth!
