This bird is a frequent visitor to our garden, can you confirm what it is for us please

QThis bird has visited to feed on a mahonia bush and suet balls in our Pembrokeshire garden in recent weeks. It fits the description of a Lesser Whitethroat: slightly bigger than a Blue Tit, greyish-black legs, plain brown to grey across the back and head, and creamy white underneath, more white around the throat. It has moved from flower head to flower head, using its pointed, warblertype beak to get right inside each one. Could it be a Lesser Whitethroat at this time of year? M&I Nicholas

AWe think you’ve answered your own question, superbly, identifying all the key characteristics of a Lesser Whitethroat. Although these birds usually migrate to Africa in winter (like most of our warblers), very occasionally one or two remain in Britain or elsewhere in northern Europe, and the UK also gets occasional vagrants of the eastern races of Lesser Whitethroat. It’s impossible to figure out the subspecies of this one, but presumably the fact you’re in one of the warmer parts of the country (and your garden feeding efforts) is making it easier for it to find food.