A GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen today (per Peter Moon) - flew north from the south end of the reserve, unsure whether it landed back on the reserve or kept going.

Cuckmere Haven: Bar-headed Goose still there among the Canada Geese below the Golden Galleon pub at Exceat. Strange behaviour - my attention was drawn to eight little egrets which appeared to have been disturbed by a fox or they were mobbing it, not sure. Also 1 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 3 Herons, 12 Little Egrets. Dunnock, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Robin and Blue Tit in the hedges.

Was interested that Alan and Miou had seen the Great Crested Grebes on Henfield Levels - I saw them too on Sunday and it's the first time I've recorded them in this area. Roger French also saw two - possibly the same ones - near New Inn Farm on 11th May. Yesterday afternoon I heard a brief snatch of Turtle Dove very nearby, then saw my neighbours who said that while I was away last week they had been visited not just by their customary two birds but by three. They thought the "new" bird was a second male because there was posturing between two of the birds and one then flew off. They then saw the two remaining ones "in flagrante delicto" on the garden fence!

Further to the morning report, I went over late lunch to the west End. Lots of geese have come in, mainly Canada and Greylag, though a pair of Bar-headed are a pretty (though likely also feral) addition. Male Great Spotted Woodpecker still feeding two young in front of the hide, along with families of Great Tits and Blue Tits on the fat balls. At least seven Great Crested Grebes still on nests around the reeds on the far west corner, though many pairs out on the water. Four Common Terns hunting very visibly in front of the hide, no obvious nests though. A Barn Owl also flew down the right side. I didn't see the Osprey(s) or any further BOP this time.

I stepped out of my front door in Ninfield yesterday at around 12.50 and immediately heard the familiar call of a European Bee-eater. I looked up and saw the back-end of a single bird disappearing through a gap in the trees. A few moments later, four birds emerged from the trees, heading out across the field adjacent to my garden. A fifth bird quickly joined them, and all five birds briefly circled quite low over the field before continuing their journey, heading SSW. I waited to see if they would return but had no further sightings. It was not only a brilliant garden tick but a lifer for my British list! Today, Bill Harvey phoned to say he had seen five Bee-eaters over his garden in Blackham, this time heading north. I wonder if anyone else has seen them. The flock kept in close contact during both sightings, perhaps behaving as a family group? Very intriguing.

One large Redshank chick, with a watchful parent, on a ditch fence at Southease, just south of the bridge.

Driving to a job this morning on the A26 near Ringmer, a BOP passed over affording a brief glimpse in silhouette, VERY long slender wings and tail very much suggested Montagu's Harrier to me. This at 11.30. This in turn reminded me of another BOP seen again from the van Saturday late afternoon some time; looking up at the expected Buzzard passing over I was surprised to see the cuckoo-like head of a Honey Buzzard. Have been unable to turn any of the many Kestrels into redfoots, sadly.

At 12.45 today I was unpacking my car boot when I heard the familiar purping call of a EUROPEAN BEE-EATER. I looked up and saw one flying purposefully north over my Home field, about 30m away and 15m above the ground. Further calls focussed my attention and in all I counted five, each about 5m apart but clearly in a single party keeping in constant touch by calling. Pound Farm is directly north of the Seaford-Beachy Head area so it would be interesting to hear if there were any sightings there today. It is also about 7 miles directly south of Bough Beech reservoir, a possible feeding site.

(Five BEE-EATERS over Ninfield yesterday early afternoon seen by Nigel Redman per Richard Fairbank - Ed).

After some frustrating visits when stories of Osprey encounters by fishermen were told to me, today my luck was in. I visited for a few hours today and had five sightings. They were perched for much of the time in trees along the south bank, but also seen fishing at the west end. Other birds included 34 Pied and two Grey Wagtails, all juv's on the dam. The Little Ringed Plovers seem to have moved on. A very smart male Kestrel showed well here as did a juv' Green Woodpecker. Plenty of House Martins and Swallows were hunting over the dam. A fair number of gulls were passing over headed NW. They included 168 Herring, 11 Lesser Black-backed and four Common Gulls surprisingly. Three Common Buzzards were also noted. At the west end five very showy and vocal Common Terns seemed to be occupying two rafts although breeding doesn't seem to be going on. Seven Stock Doves were dashing around as were two juv' Great Spotted Woodpeckers that were being fed by the male parent. Several Great Crested Grebes were on nests again, at least seven being active; whilst looking at these the Mandarin female and her eight chicks swam past. The car park area was rather quiet but this was more than compensated for by a superb Red Kite that circled over the car park and drifted south. Lastly the heronry is still busy and at times rather entertaining with lots of bickering going on, I can't be sure of the number of fledged birds but they seem to be everywhere at present. Sadly at 11.00 I had to leave for work, back tomorrow though.

A sunday trip to Rye Harbour in rather blustery conditions. The usual Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's Warblers singing in the bushes by the Canal Lock was a good start. A rather moth-eaten buzzard sp chased by a Herring Gull looked interesting but was too high and flying into the sun for me to get a proper view. At the Viewpoint, 2 female Marsh Harriers, a Hobby and a female Sparrowhawk. At Flat Beach, it seems to me there are far fewer Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers nesting which I hope is just because of the extended habitat has given them more choice. A pair of Little Terns appeared to be nesting there away from the main colony. It was good to see a family of Redshank on the new saltmarsh (2 fledged youngsters with still vigilant parents) and several displaying Ringed Plovers. I noticed that the two Sandwich Tern colonies have desertedthe long ridged island and are now nesting on two of the new round shingle islands on Ternery Pool, I wonder whether the heavy rains washed away the previous colonies? Let's hope these are more successful. The new Wader Pool fields held 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 pairs of Shovelers, a Yellow Wagtail, 1+ Little Ringed Plover, 2 large Redshank chicks (probably 2 of the 3 newly hatched chicks I saw several weeks ago) and a fledged Redshank with adult and several fledged Lapwing chicks. These fields are looking great and the success of the breeding waders must be a source of great pride for Barry and team. A Turtle Dove was purring from the telegraph wire in the scrub at the end of Long Water (my first of the year), a Bullfinch flew over and a Cuckoo was still calling. From Castle Water hide a 1st Summer Little Gull, a distant hunting Barn Owl, 6 Teal and a drake Shoveler. A Gadwall brood of four ducklings was stalked by a Heron which was very nearly successful in snatching one until the plucky duck launched itself at the surprised Heron which flew off in shock! A post breeding flock of 100 Lapwings dropped on to the islands and considering that there are at least 4 pairs of Lapwings still incubating on the reserve, it goes to show what a mixed up season it is this year.

Water levels remain high with little edge habitat for waders but a plethora of gulls including 5 Meds that are generally very scarce here. Only other birds of note were Egyptian Geese, Hobby and a Spotted Flycatcher.

Osprey seen flying low over Horam Manor fisheries at 13.50 this afternoon, excellent views as it drifted off in the direction of Arlington Reservoir.

For those who haven't seen one before, there is a bar-headed goose (of feral origin - Ed) swimming with a large flock of Canada geese on the water at Cuckmere just down from the Golden Galleon.

During a two hour walk at Bullock Hill, Woodingdean large numbers of Linnets and Yellowhammers were noted amongst the usual Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Chiffchaff, also Common and Lesser Whitethroat.

Spent most of the day around the harbour, and the most notable things present were the terns. There are still plenty of Little Terns about, carrying fish back to the spit, and the mixed Sandwich Tern and Common Tern colony is still busy on Tern Island. Otherwise, the highlight was a Barn Owl this evening on the horses' field (the first I've seen here this year) and about 10 Mediterranean Gulls loafing on the beach (pic of one attached).

11.00-14.30: Walk from Underhill Lane, up to Keymer Post and on down to Lower Standean and back. Counted at least 7 Yellowhammers singing on and around N scarp and along top of downs near SDW. Singing Blackcaps and Whitethroats also in evidence. Three Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Kestrel. Several parties of Swifts often low over standing crops on top of downs, possibly around 50 in total. But best of all, around 10 singing Corn Buntings on fenceposts and in growing barley field, and a taller field of ripening ?oilseed rape. Several years since I have encountered even a single Corn Bunting in this area, hope they are breeding and are successful!

We did Newbridge and Horse Eye and saw one hobby, a flock of 70 lapwings and just one pair still in breeding mode, no redshanks at all, a brood of seven quite big shelducks with parent, two separate male yellow wagtails one of which perched on a dock among buttercups as in a John Reaney painting (pic attached); otherwise reed warblers and reed buntings were common and two each of sedge warblers and Cetti's warblers and 10 small tortoishells.

An early start this morning at 05.35 but very little was passing. What did pass the shelter, however, was quite good with the highlight being a BALEARIC SHEARWATER passing extremely close in to the shore and offering some of the best land-based views I have ever had. In addition, there were also 2 Manx Shearwaters (1E at 05.49 & 1W at 06.08), 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Sandwich Terns, 3 Commic Terns, 1 Razorbill and 4 Common Scoter. All in all, not without interest, but the written record sounds better than the experience actually was in practice - particularly when these few birds were spread over an hour and a half!

We had great views of a male and a female Stonechat near Kingstanding on Ashdown Forest today.

The weather was better than forecast with sun rather than rain but horribly accurate with regards to the strong and gusty southwesterly for the group of nine clustered on the lee side of the visitors' hut before being bravely lead out by Chris Bentley. The wind snatched away every other word and occasionally the occasional 'scope' or birder BUT a good selection of birds were seen! Avocets were always vigilant of their offspring but perhaps the Little Terns (around 20 easily counted) took pride of place swirling up and down from their nesting colony whenever other birds strayed into the area. From the viewpoint of 'holding on as a local breeding bird' the Wheatear deserves a mention with at least 2 juveniles seen. Perhaps a surprise for a number was the paucity of Mediterranean Gulls (only 1 or 2 spotted) though the same area had the usual large and noisy Black-headed Gull colony; Sandwich and Common Terns were also well represented. Unexpected sightings included a solitary Brent Goose and a distant small line of small waders, one of which could be identified as a Dunlin in breeding plumage and the others were eventually agreed as Sanderling in similar summer plumage. Other waders included Redshank, Ringed Plover and an obliging Little Ringed Plover. A Cuckoo, called and appeared close to the Narrow Pits, Swifts hurtled by affording good view and finally House Martins at the housing estate. In total around 30 species would have been seen by most providing a firm grip was kept on bins at all times!