Red-throated Diver 6E, 18W
Brent c.10E
Red-breasted Merganser 5E
Scoter 4E
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 1-2
Mediterannean Gull 2 adults on sea with c.80 Black-headed Gulls
Stonechat 3
Robin 6
Blackbird 6
Song Thrush 4
Redwing 6
Fieldfare 2
Meadow Pipit 68N
Rock Pipit 2
Alba Wagtail 30N handful identified were all Pied
Chiffchaff 3
Starling 50
Corn Bunting 5
Reed Bunting 1
Chaffinch 6
Goldfinch 50
Linnet 7
Raven 1
Male Stonechat at Birling
A striking individual showing an extensive white belly extending to the centre of its lower breast, white flanks and large flared white neck patches all of which are considered characters of Continental Stonechat S.t. rubicola (Walker 2001). More here: http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/07/12/continental-stonechats/
Male Chaffinch at Birling
Song Thrush at Birling
A real pea-souper greeted us at Beachy today but was presumably responsible for grounding some Thrushes
Same image as above after editing - amazing what can be salvaged in digital photography!
Fieldfare at Birling
Blue Tit and Great Tit at Birling
Three small mixed parties of Blue and Great Tits seen early in the foggy conditions today incuding this flock that departed high into the sky being lost to view into the fog.
Chiffchaff at Birling
Being the first, a welcome sight in the fog.
Redwings over Cornish Farm
As summer visitors start to arrive, winter visitors are departing.
Female Kestrel at Birling
Mediterranean Gull amongst Black-headed Gulls off Birling
Adult summer Mediterranean Gull off Birling
Two amongst c.80 Black-headed Gulls were constantly vocalising having previously been heard in the thick fog when it was impossible to see the sea from the top of the cliff!
Moulting Scandinavian Rock Pipit still present at Birling
With this birds moult progressing to now include its crown further clues as to its subspecific identity are appearing. Its now clearly sporting a grey cast to its crown, nape and scapulars. Its supercilia appear both pale and strong especially when viewed head-on. It is developing peachy tones to its throat and wash across its breast. Its underparts are taking on a spotted appearance against a whitish ground colour. It has virtually lost its malar stripes. Additional support for its identification as littoralis are provided by the extensive yellow base to its lower mandible, broad white tips to its median and greater coverts and more importantly its white outer tail feathers - even the grey outer webs can be determined in the image second from top. Here is a rather similar-looking transitional individual taken from http://www.manchesterbirding.com/littoralisdocument.htm
Scandinavian Rock Pipit at Brockholes Quarry, Lancs 14/3/06 (Bill Aspin)
94K Colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull at Newhaven Harbour
Gilles le Guillou kindly informed us that this probably female bird hatched in an urban environment in Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France on 21/5/12 and was ringed as a chick on 21/6/12. The Newhaven sighting is the first subsequent sighting.
