21 Oct 2012 Beachy Head Overcast with light drizzle, cool.NE 3-4

We met up with RJF & JK at Birling and covered most of the usual sites on the Headland. A fair number of other birders were present twitching the Siberian Stonechat which was still present on the roadside fence near the sewage farm at Birling. A good diurnal Easterly passage of Goldfinches and Linnets with smaller numbers of hirundines and still several Ring Ouzels were seen also Short Eared Owl,  Black Redstart and a late Whinchat.


Met Office view
High pressure dominates much of the UK, with light winds and clear skies leading to areas of mist and fog. Low pressure and associated fronts developing near eastern Spain are expected to bring further heavy rain and frequent thunderstorms to the Pyrenees and surrounding regions.

Little Egret 1
Grey Heron 1 over the Top Fields
Kestrel 1
Stock Dove 4
Woodpigeon 300
Short Eared Owl 1 S then W along the cliffs at Belle Tout
Swallow 120 E
House Martin 160 E
Meadow Pipit 50 E
Grey Wagtail 4 E
Alba Wagtail 84 (74 E)
Black Redstart 1 Birling
Whinchat 1 Birling
Siberian Stonechat 1 Birling
Wheatear 2
Ring Ouzel 5
Redwing 5
Song Thrush 2
Blackcap 1
Chiffchaff 6
Goldcrest 2 with others heard calling
Firecrest 1
Chaffinch 40 E
Goldfinch 1,700 E
Linnet 680 (480 E)
Lesser Redpoll 3 W
Reed Bunting 2

Short Eared Owl over Birling

Further pictures taken by DC yesterday of the Siberian Stonechat

Today's Siberian Stonechat twitch