18th October 2015 Beachy Calm & Overcast

Little Egret 3
Swallow c.50
House Martin c.500
Wheatear 1
Pied Wagtail 35E
Tree Pipit 1
Ring Ouzel 2
Song Thrush 2
Skylark c.25E, c.30 in field
Dartford Warbler 6+
Chiffchaff 12
Goldcrest 8
Goldfinch c.350 E
Siskin 10 + h
Redpoll 1 + h

Wheatear at Birling

Dartford Warblers at Beachy



17th October 2015 Beachy NE3 Overcast

Common Buzzard 1
Kestrel 4
Peregrine 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Swallow 40
House Martin 100
Ring Ouzel 10
Fieldfare 10
Song Thrush 6
Dartford Warbler h
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 12
Goldcrest 3
Brambling 2h
Goldfinch 100
Redpoll 5h
Siskin 2 plus others heard
Reed Bunting

Jackdaw at Beachy



The narrow pale collar on its lower neck and its slightly paler grey mantle and underparts contrasting with its deep black crown, throat and wings are features associated with 'Nordic' Jackdaw C.m. monedula. However, for a discussion of  'Eastern' Jackdaws and the difficulties posed by the intergrade issue see:
http://calidris.home.xs4all.nl/jackdaw.htm

http://birdingfrontiers.com/2011/04/10/eastern-jackdaws/

10th October 2015 Skaw, Lamba Ness, Haroldswick & Cullivoe

Whooper Swan c.10
Pink-footed Goose 2
Wigeon 4
Tufted Duck 1
Kestrel 1
Golden Plover c.200
Willow Warbler 1
Blackcap c.10
Redwing c.40
Wheatear 2

Haroldswick



9th October 2015 Baltasound & Norwick

Teal 4
Goldcrest 6
Swallow 1
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 6
Redwing c.30
Robin 1
Brambling 4
Twite c.10
Reed Bunting 1
Little Bunting 1

Brambling at Vaylie



8th October 2015 Cove

Sooty Shearwater 1
Pink-footed Goose c.400 S
Wigeon 1
Bonxie 1
Coal Tit 4
Goldcrest 10
Yellow-browed Warbler 1
Ring Ouzel 1 male
Brambling 1
Siskin h
Redpoll h

Coal Tit at Cove

Yellow-browed Warbler at Cove

Pinkfeet over Cove

Girdleness allotments

Evening aboard the ferry of dreams!



4th October 2015 Beachy SE1 Clear

Golden Plover 1W
Swallow c.100
Sand Martin 1
Skylark 34W
Pied Wagtail 45E
Song Thrush 1
Blackcap 3
Chiffchaff 40
Goldcrest 20
Blue Tit c.40 with small parties moving off high inland
Continental Coal Tit 2
Siskin h

 

 

Continental Coal Tit at Birling

Whilst finding a Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday was nice, I was no less pleased that these Continental Coal Tits had remained in situ since my parents found them on Tuesday 29th September. Whilst that might reflect my own interest in scarce forms, it probably also reflects there having been three times the number of Yellow-browed Warblers than Continental Coal Tits seen at Beachy since 2000 and these being the first Continental Coal Tits I've seen since 2008 - there have only been two seen at Beachy in the intervening period. Whilst ageing and sexing in the field would appear  difficult, the pointed tail feathers just about visible above would indicate a first year and the glossy black cap, jet-black throat and broad white nape-patch are all consistent with it being a male.

3rd October 2015 Beachy SE1 Hazy

Sparrowhawk 1
Peregrine 2
Golden Plover h
Swallow c.800
House Martin c.300
Pied Wagtail 12 E
Wren 8
Robin c.20
Black Redstart 1 
Wheatear 2
Common Whitethroat 3
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Blackcap 6
Yellow-browed Warbler 1 
Chiffchaff 30
Goldcrest 16
Firecrest 1
Continental Coal Tit 1 
Raven 2
Goldfinch 50

Clouded Yellow 1
Bottlenosed Dolphin party of 6-8 off Birling

 

Continental Coal Tit at Birling

Lesser Whitethroat at Beachy Head (JFC)

First seen by my parents yesterday it sports an obvious contrast between its white throat and buff-dusted sullied underparts, a brown-tinged crown, sandy upperparts and has only poorly contrasting ear-coverts so would seem likely a blythi. More on blythi here: http://birdsdk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/central-asian-desert-lesser-whitethroat.html