A three day period of SE winds gradually becoming lighter.
Usual fare given the date, the last few days have been characterised by finches moving first thing, overwhelmingly Goldfinch, with much lesser numbers of Linnet, Redpoll, Greenfinch and Siskin mixed in. A Woodlark and a late Swallow were notable on the 13th also singles of Snipe and Golden Plover passed overhead, 3 Chiffchaff, c4 Firecrest and c15 Goldcrest could be found in the wood but the latter not constituting high numbers. 3 to 4 Black Redstart were in the Birling area including a very smart adult male. 4 flocks of Brent Geese were heard passing overland after dark. One thing was very notable, a species emblematic of gorse downland the Stonechat were contextually absent, I think I saw no more than 6 scattered about the headland over the entire weekend. A marked departure of breeding birds and migrants. A low number remain over winter until numbers rise again with early spring migrants.
A stiff NNE wind on the 4th November saw a reasonably busy morning in terms of visible migration including a Woodlark, 9 Ring Ouzel (3 in the bushes and a flock of 6 east), 800 Goldfinch, 15 Redpoll, 10 Siskin, 10 Greenfinch, 8 Reed Bunting, 30 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 30 Skylark and 2000+ Woodpigeon. With the exception of the finches, birds were coming in off the sea.
BEACHY HEAD BIRDER 