I returned to Waltham Brooks, failed to find my duck of yesterday which I assume to have been a hybrid male pochard X female tufted duck rather than a lesser scaup and saw a grass snake (pic attached).

Swifts are known to be breeding in the Broadfields area of Crawley. Can I have volunteers to cover certain roads in this area please. For more details contact me at swifts@sos.org.uk 

A Red Kite passed over the garden this morning at 10.50, travelling in an easterly direction.

A few weeks ago I observed a bird at Swanbourne Lake, Arundel. On first inspection the shape of head etc did suggest a lesser scaup, however on closer observation there was a lack of vermiculation on the back (as in this bird) and as the light caught the head there was clearly a rust tinge rather than iridescent green. I also have a number of photo's that show a red eye. On further investigation I am 100% sure it was a tufted duck x pochard hybrid and in fact this bird has been seen around the area for the last couple of years. I think the bird that was observed at Waltham Brooks was this bird.

Possible Hen Harrier gaining very high altitude over Manor Park, Uckfield mid-afternoon today (08/05). Although not 100% sure, definitely wasn't one of the larger raptors, and long tail and strikingly white breast and underparts seemed reminiscent of Hen Harrier. Can't rule out Pallid either (keeping the dream alive haha)....

Unusual for Rosemary and I to come across a lone Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit stalking around with each (!) on the western lagoon at Widewater.

Two Whimbrel, an immature Cormorant and many Mute Swans at the Toll Bridge in Shoreham.

Arrived at the large shelter in the pouring rain at 06.05 to find Kris Gillam already seawatching and having seen some Black Terns. Kris departed at 08.05 and I followed at 09.00. Geoff Gowlett then took up the baton from 09.20 until 10.20 by which time the passage appeared to have dried up. During this period of almost four hours we recorded: Arctic Skua (light phase) 1E; Pomarine Skua (light phase) 1E at 07.28; Great Skua 1E; Commic Tern, 408E (mostly during the last half hour of my watch and during Geoff's session); Common Tern 117E; Sandwich Tern, 105E, 21W; Common Scoter 127E, 10W; Gannet 41E plus several fishing in bay; Whimbrel 37E; Bar-tailed Godwit 25E; Knot 12E; Grey Plover 3E; Curlew 1E; Razorbill 3E and 1 o/s; Brent Goose 3E; Teal 1E; Diver sp. 1E.

On my way to the cinema at Chichester Gate there appeared to be Swifts everywhere as I drove past Ivy lake this afternoon.

Drake Garganey at Cuckmere Haven, on the second meander down from the A259.

I was approaching the A283/A2037 roundabout at 9.00 am today when a white bird was flying parallel to the road and to my left. Were it not for the rain and poor conditions I might have considered a Barn Owl. A few weeks ago when we were in the Algarve I mentioned to my wife how similar Barn Owl and Cattle Egret seem to be in flight. That is to say both birds white/whitish, broad wings for fairly short bodies and last but not least a wingbeat frequency that must be very similar (within 10-15% of each other). Anyway, at a point when I could reasonably look at the bird without bumping into the car in front of me it was clearly a Cattle Egret. It was only 30 or so yards away and ID was 100% certain.

There have been a few comments recently about reduced numbers of singing migrants, and I would encourage anybody interested in this to take a look at the BirdTrack results available to everybody at http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack/main/data-home.jsp. It is possible to view the reporting rate this year for any chosen species compared with the long-term average reporting rate for that species. These results show, for example, that chiffchaffs were late arriving this year but that their current numbers are normal. If anybody feels that their own observations are contrary to the BirdTrack results, then they should submit their observations to BirdTrack and influence the results! The published BirdTrack reporting rates are of course derived from records from across the whole of the UK and may not accurately reflect the situation in Sussex.

Another morning visit started once again at the dam, the concrete was completely empty, however over the dam many hirundines were seen, mostly Swallows with up to 280 plus 100 or more House Martins and 40 Swifts mixed in. The paddock area was very productive, a Spotted Flycatcher being the first bird noted as I walked up the slope. It sat patiently on the fence waiting for one of the many flying insects to pass by close enough to feed on. After a look around the first part of the north bank, I returned to the paddock, to my delight a stunning looking male Redstart was sitting quietly in the bushes next to the pumping station. Whereas the sandpipers had left with the change in weather, these had probably just arrived. Having had my fill of the Redstart I left for the west end. Many more hirundines were here too, most of which being House Martins, some 150 were flying low over the water along the opposite bank with 25 Swallows. At least one Common Tern was here, however other than a busy heronry little else was noted. Lastly at Whillett's two Reed Warblers, Whitethroat, two Willow Warblers and four young Canada Goose goslings. Better than I first thought.

Great Skua E past Selsey Bill at 09.05. Also Great Northern Diver, three Red-throated Divers, 27 Common Scoter and loads of Gannets.

Hoopoe seen from public footpath at Charleston Bottom, Friston Forest, reported to BirdTrack by the observer (not me). Image supplied 2013-05-08 and passed to SOS recorder.

Picture attached taken at Waltham Brooks at 12.30 today (from main path lookinf E onto main body of water). Just about always asleep and only awoke to swim off with some ten tufted ducks out of sight behind vegetagtion to N. Head shape and size are perfect for lesser scaup, but perhaps should be bolder vermiculations on the mantle and bill tip, while with less black than on tufties, may be too much for pure lesser although I myself think at this stage (13.30 at home) that it might be one.

Popped in to Weir Wood Reservoir yesterday at about 5.30pm. Nice to see two  pairs of Common Terns in eveidence. One pair particularly interested in the middle raft.

Late in the day 8.30pm sighting of a fantastic Hobby constantly feeding in the large field to the east of the Bull pub between Henfield and Partridge Green along A281.

Two Buzzards and two Red Kites over sunny Knepp Estate at 3.30pm. Bluebells and Early Purple Orchids showing well too.

The last two days (6th and 7th) produced beautiful, very warm conditions here. The birds on the 6th included just a single Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail on the dam. In the car park Garden and Willow Warbler together with several Blackcaps causing a fair din, oddly no crests were heard at all, however a Cuckoo was heard here. Overhead six Common Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk female and best of all an Osprey seen twice over the middle of the reservoir, where three Common Terns were also seen. Yesterday the 7th, at 09.30 a Barn Owl was hunting along the north bank, seen at close quarters when I made my way up past the paddock. Nine Common Sandpipers were noted spread fairly evenly along the dam, among them were a pair of Little Ringed Plovers, plus two Grey Wagtails. Again both Cuckoo and three Common Terns were seen, the Cuckoo perched up calling briefly. There are now Blackcaps and Whitethroats aplenty, whilst a couple of Willow Warblers were also in song in the car park where two noisy Jays were also making their presence known. Back again today.