The Kent List
The total number of species on the Kent List according to the Kent Ornithological Society (on their website as of 3 September 2024) is 433. However, this does not include the Soft-plumaged Petrel (accepted by the BOURC as a first for Britain) now split into three species but this individual has not been assigned to any of these split species. It also does not include Isabelline Shrike (of which there have been many seen and accepted by the BBRC) but since the split into Daurian and Turkestan Shrike none have been assigned to either species. For the purposes of Kent Listing, I have included these two as additional species. I have also included the Cliff Swallow at North Foreland last September which is still under consideration by BBRC. This makes a total here of 436.
Eastern Subalpine Warbler is already on the Kent List, courtesy of a ringed bird at Dungeness on… In addition, the other two Subalpine species, Western and Moltoni’s, are under consideration by the BBRC with records from North Foreland in May 2023 and April 2024 respectively.
When the powers to be are not splitting they are lumping. It seems that the three Redpoll species will become one. Also, muted is the re-lumping of Carrion and Hooded Crows and Eurasian and Green-winged Teals. So, don’t assume that the Kent List will always grow. Splitting and lumping can both reduce its size!
(to be continued …
The Kent List has been affected by recent changes to the British List. At the beginning of 2018, the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) aligned itself with the International Ornithologists’ Union’s IOC World List. Changes affecting Kent are:
- the splitting of Bean Goose into Taiga Bean Goose and Tundra Bean Goose
- the splitting of Isabelline Shrike into Daurian Shrike and Turkestan Shrike
- Subalpine Warbler has also been split into three species, Western, Moltoni’s and Eastern Subalpine Warbler.
The Bean Goose split is likely to affect most listers and so will the split for Isabelline Shrike. However, the latter poses problems with the new specific identification. The situation seems, to me at any rate, confused. As far as I know, the only decision that had been made by the BBRC concerns the phoenicuroides at Worth Marshes in 2014 but that has since been retracted. Since then, there have only been two additions to the Kent List: Rufous Turtle Dove at Otford in 2016 and Pine Bunting at Murston in 2017. However, both were long-stayers that most committed listers will have seen. In addition, the Forster’s Tern at Hythe in 2016 and the White-billed Diver at Foreness in 2018 were both required by most listers.
Following a spate of activity towards the end of May with Kent’s first twitchable Caspian Tern this century, a new for Kent Eleonora’s Falcon and the first Sardinian Warbler recorded in Kent since 2001, I have updated the Kent Listers Table (as of 31st May 2022). Although it is far from complete, many listers have taken the opportunity to refresh their lists. More updates, and indeed new lists, would be welcome!