Adult Mediterranean gull in full summer plumage in gull flock in front of the beach huts (low tide) at Goring beach.

Very little evidence of much migration on Seaford Head this morning (or for the past week) with only a few of the usual warblers present - unlike Beachy Head where Whinchat, Wheatear and several Willow Warblers have already been recorded. Walking along the western bank of the lower Cuckmere, however, I saw at least six (probably eight) Green Sandpipers, one Greenshank and two Dunlin. The most surprising sighting was of a Cockatoo flying across just inland from the beach coming from the east (given the dark grey-blue bill probably a Sulphur-crested). The bird then flew into the tree most favoured by the Little Egrets near the Coastgaurds Cottage pillbox where it joined four Little Egrets. After a few minutes suffering their complete indifference it then flew off west.

This morning on Steyning Roundhill a female common redstart (which was pretty camera shy but a pic attached anyway). Yesterday afternoon at Mannings Farm, Edburton a turtle dove sang. The day before at about 18.15, while driving E along the Shoreham bypass a male peregrine raced over N to S and caught a pigeon.

Seen at about 3pm, an osprey circled the reservoir for some minutes before splashing down and then struggling aloft with large fish in its talons. Once it had made enough height, it disappeared northward. In two visits , six weeks apart, we have seen an osprey twice. Could this become a regular thing in Sussex?

Relaxing in our garden in Frant this afternoon and delighted to hear a Turtle Dove singing from dense and very tall laurel on our neighbours' side of the fence. Unfortunately couldn't see it.

The Grasshopper Warbler was again present between 06.30 - 08.00 along the path behind the stables, often singing and occasionally perched up on the dead hogweed. On the flooded field pool were a Greenshank, and Green Sandpipers were heard calling, while a trip of four Snipe did a flypast. In the harbour, a Spotted Redshank in the main channel and a Whimbrel, 21 Med Gulls and nine Yellow-legged Gulls.

West Rise Lake, Eastbourne: a great view of a male Bearded Tit. 

Fifteen Swifts over Portslade Old Village this morning, it seems there must have bred successfully.

Driving down Avis Road towards the roundabout junction with the A259 (Seaford Road) at 16.30 this afternoon I was astonished to see a harrier sp. being mobbed vigorously by gulls and corvids immediately over the roundabout only 10-12 metres above the ground. The bird flew immediately over our heads pursued by its attackers. Those unfortunate enough to have been driven by me to a twitch will know that I have a notoriously 'singular' style behind the wheel and the guy who I cut so dramatically across to go round the roundabout will no doubt attest to my unsullied reputation in this respect! Alas, despite driving back down Avis Road the bird was not re-located. The very close but extremely brief view suggested a distinctly lightly built harrier perhaps just conceivably more reminiscent of a Monty's than a Hen Harrier - but that is probably just wishful thinking. Whatever it was, it was an exciting few minutes - not least for the drivers around me!

With the eventual arrival of summer, there has been an upsurge of butterfly sightings reported to this website. Please consider reporting your butterfly sightings to the Sussex Branch of Butterfly Conservation www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html so they can be included in the forthcoming Sussex Butterfly Atlas.

A single Wood Sandpiper at Bewl Water this evening (record shot attached) and at least 2 Common Sandpipers.

An adult TEREK SANDPIPER on the River Adur at Shoreham for about 30 mins this evening. It was found by Chris Corrigan just before 8pm who then went home to get his scope to confirm the identification. We joined him at about 8.20pm and had excellent views of the bird for about 5 mins feeding on the water's edge on the west side of the river just south of the Tollbridge. As I was in the process of putting the news out, it started calling, took off, flew down river and then departed high NE not to be seen again. Sadly there was not even time for other Shoreham locals to get there and see it. (Chris Corrigan, Paul & Bridget James).

Twelve lovely house sparrows in the garden, they spend all day with the bantams. Twenty-five swifts above Hurstpierpoint today.

During my walk at Ardingly Reservoir which I posted about on Sunday, I saw a butterfly which i wasn't sure about. Subsequent research has convinced me it was a female purple emperor. Don't know if this is of interest, it was at the woodland on the path at the furthest point from the dam as you start to climb up the hill towards the road.

Not much to report but was just nice to be out in this nice weather. Two Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and the water voles which were showing well down the Mill Stream. A few butterflies: 4 red admirals, 5 meadow browns and a small skipper.

In the heat today we did a circular walk from Burpham via the "Stokes" and The Burgh. The birding was very slow, infact we didn't see or hear any Skylarks, Corn Buntings or partridges. However we did see two Red Kites, five Buzzards, a single Yellowhammer and loads of Goldfinches and Linnets all around the walk. On a different note we saw something we have never seen before, about 24 chalkhill blues on some sheep dung (see attached photo). It wasn't an isolated occurance, perhaps someone out there can explain, not sure is they were feeding or laying eggs maybe. We also saw a marbled white and a painted lady.

Over the border into Surrey today, surveying mainly for butterflies, hoverflies and dragonfies in Tugley Wood, a Forestry Commission woodland a couple of miles east of Chiddingfold and within half a mile or so of the Sussex Border Path. While so doing, my wife and I, and two friends, were amazed to hear a short phrase of song from a Nightingale, followed by the typical out-of-season churring.

Few birds in the heat and only one Redshank and two Green Sandpipers making use of all the newly-uncovered mud early today. A bunch of very distant and hazy blobs on the pools nearest the riverbank, as seen through the 'big bins', may have been some of Pete's Garganey; then again just as likely to be Mallards! A single Purple Hairstreak and a few other common butterfly species. Better for Odonata with Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Emperor, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Black Darter, a probable Black-tailed Skimmer, possible Migrant Hawker, Azure, Blue-tailed, Large Red and Emerald Damselfly. Oh! and Grass Snake and single Spotted Flycatcher.

Grasshopper Warbler showing well at Pagham Harbour North Wall this morning, although distant. Almost continuous reeling between 06.15 and 07.15. Follow path behind stables until just past the six poplar trees. Bird in scrub but perches on top regularly (record shot attached).

Evening visit to Arlington Reservoir, plenty of gull activity, mostly Black-headed flycatching, two Common Sandpipers, Yellowhammer, Green Woodpecker, 4 Linnets, singing Reed Warbler and 12+ Pied Wagtails.