28th October, 2019 Beachy Head Early frost, Sunny becoming warm E 2-3

We spent almost 2 hours at Birling with LP, mainly trying to photograph the Blythi Lesser Whitethroat. We then covered Birling lane, and Belle Tout wood. Met up with KH, RKH, RES, RB who had covered the Radio mast bushes, Hotel Garden, Icky Ridge, and Shooters Bottom. Margaret and Rufous were also covering a number of sites on the Headland. Several of these observers went onto Birling to try to see the Blythi Lesser Whitethroat. Two members of the BHRG were ringing in Whitbread Hollow.
Still around 60 Goldcrests in the area, 21 Redpolls, 4 Black Redstarts, also 2 Ring Ouzels were still present in Shooters Bottom. Another passage of 425 Wood Pigeons and 75 Stock Doves but the surprise was a large flock of 66 Magpies W over the cliffs at Birling. Still several Swallows and House Martins passed through the area.
Combined totals:

Sparrow Hawk 2
Kestrel 2
Stock Dove 75 E
Wood Pigeon 425 E or SE
Swallow 40
House Martin 6
Rock Pipit 1 Birling
Pied Wagtail 10 Headland
Black Redstart 4 (2 Birling, 2 Radio mast bushes)
Ring Ouzels 2 still in Shooters Bottom.
Lesser Whitethroat (belonging to the Eastern race Blythi) 1 at Birling.
Blackcap 2 Headland
Chiffchaff 5 (3 Headland, 2 Hollow)
Goldcrest 60 (30 Hollow, 30 Headland)
Magpie Flock of 66 moved W over the cliffs at Birling.
Brambling 2 over Birling
Siskin 7 (2 Hollow, 5 Headland)
Redoll 14 (1 Headland, 13 Hollow)

 Lesser Whitethroat of the Eastern race blythi

photos taken from early morning to mid-morning

in various lights.

For comparison, picture of Blythi Lesser Whitethroat taken

by myself on Unst, Shetland Islands Oct, 2016

Two Black Redstarts at Birling

Goldcrest at Birling