a good day at beachy. started off with a beachy (minor) celeb tick in the form of the two christines (choccywoccydoodah) driving through. juv red-backed shrike found in shooters and a good show of raptors with honey buzzard (pale male), osprey, 2 marsh harriers, short-eared owl, merlin and hobby. always good to see a mixed kettle of raptors in the uk - in this case osprey, 4 buzzards, sparrowhawk and kestrel. i watched the osprey till it went stratospheric above the hotel. should be a good autumn for siskins - frequently heard going over this morning but the only flocks that i saw were of 10 and 17 birds. amongst the commoner stuff there was a flock of 10 wheatears at the hotel and a trickle of swifts through the day

looks a bit flat winged, i'll just get it in the scope dad