An early start produced a Little Stint and Green Sandpiper at Fishbourne Creek but we were not lucky enough to see Whimbrel, Spotted Redshank or Greenshank. At Church Norton some distant Avocet put in an appearance along with up to 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, several Razorbills, 3 Red-throated Divers and 2 Slavonian Grebes with a debatable distant view of a very unobliging Red-necked Grebe. Finally succumbed to the well-reported and photographed great Crossbill chase at Blackdown where we enjoyed excellent views of around 40 [?] Common Crossbills along with the female Parrot Crossbill and - in some ways more impressive - a large accompanying flock of magnificent Bramblings and Siskins along with one Lesser Redpoll and a Linnet. For Matthias, as a resident of Finland, and rather more familiar with Parrot Crossbill, the afternoon was apparently rather more notable for the opportunity of ticking an even more obliging Lee Evans of his 'world birders' list. (Matthias Deschyvere & Katie Hoff).

Excellent day at Pulborough with 39 species including: Barn Owl (river), Firecrest, Crossbill (flock of around 10 on the heath), Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit (8), Kestrel, Nuthatch, Lapwing (huge numbers). Ducks: Wigeon (huge numbers), Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Shelduck, Teal. Geese: Canada (huge numbers) & Greylag (large numbers), 10 Brent Geese among the Canadas and around 10 White-fronted Geese among the Greylags. Others reported, not seen: Water Rail, Hen Harrier, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Buzzard. Strange not to see: Redwing, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Tits. Extra: There were several sighting of red admiral butterflies..in January!!

At least 70 Red-breasted Mergansers were off Goring Gap this morning, along with a smaller number of Great Crested Grebes. A single Mediterranean Gull was the only other bird of note. At Widewater the two Snow Buntings were very flighty for some time before finally settling down to feed at about 11.00 and giving superb views. They were still present when I left at about 11.30. Good numbers of Little Grebes and 3 Little Egrets were on the lagoon.

A reminder to birdwatchers visiting The Burgh to keep to the public footpaths. It was disappointing this afternoon to see two birders well off the public footpath as this could potentially jeopardise the existing good relationship between birders and the Norfolk Estate. There was no sign of the rough-legged buzzard this afternoon though 1-2 red kites and a short-eared owl there. Water rail still showing exceptionally well from the Visitor Centre at Pulborough Brooks.

Click here to see photos of the Blackdown Parrot Crossbill on Dave Cooper's blog

There was a Great White Egret at the western end of Thorney Great Deep this morning at 09.15. It flew off in an easterly direction after about 30 minutes.

In the field behind our garden in Storrington, having estimated a flock 100, I counted at least 80 Yellowhammers in the far hedgerow after a noisy neighbour spooked them up. On Wiggonholt Common Crossbills giving some stunning close-up views this afternoon.

I went to Glynde to see Jon and Liam's GREAT GREY SHRIKE and without delay at 09.50 it was pointed out to me by Jake and I liked it so much that I went back early afternoon for a second dose and now watched it with his dad Phil (pic attached). Further up the Reach I saw a short-eared owl high-flying on stiff cricket-bat wings and a green sandpiper there and another with Phil at Glynde itself and, while I have yet to see it in 2012, he did see a kingfisher. Late afternoon in Firle Park some 700 fieldfares were foraging.

The Newhaven ICELAND GULL showed very well today at halftide amongst Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. There where also 5 Razorbills showing well just offshore. At the East Docks we viewed a Black Redstart feeding. Also a lone Brent Goose on the river. On the way back we saw two Rock Pipits below the cliffs.

Did any of the sea-watchers further west see this bird, which flew NE past Winchelsea Beach in a flock of 12 at 13.25 on Saturday? It was a pale grey-brown, darker on the neck and head, lighter on the wings.

We've topped the £1000 sponsorship already - with £1012.35 already received, which is brilliant. If possible I would like sponsorship money by 14th February please .. though of course it will not be turned away after that date! Please send to SOS Secretary, Chetsford, London Road, Henfield, BN5 9JJ - and don't forget to indicate on the sponsor form if gift aid can be claimed. I was pleased to find 18 different species in my garden in the RSPB Garden Birdwatch hour this morning - inluding Song Thrush, Coal Tit and Goldcrest, and 4 pairs of rather frisky House Sparrows!

I was driving down Kerves Lane, about a mile from the Horsham end this morning around 10am and was surprised to see a large bird of prey on verge by the road, withing about 3 feet of the car as I passed. It had a very pale streaked head and breast, with a pronounced light brown v shape on its otherwise pale chest. Half an hour later on my run I saw it again on a nearby power line about 30 feet from the same place in the road and then again as I drove home on branch right above the road. I had excellent close views of it on all three occasions. I rushed back home to pick up my camera and long lens and went back. Luckily I managed to get the attached photo but unfortunately only of its back before it flew off. Minutes later two other buzzards circled high overhead (photo available but could only attach one). I guess the most likely ID for the bird is a young common buzzard but I can't be sure it was much lighter in colour than I have seen before, maybe an outside chance it was a Rough-Legged Buzzard. Anyway hopefully other birdwatchers in the area will see it.

Three Chiffchaffs at Steyning Sewage Works at 10am, first I've seen this winter - usually noted a few in past winters before this date; two were the typical darkish olive types; however, one was a strikingly washed out individual. The supercilium and dark eye were particularly eye-catching. At 11am on Beeding Brooks, a pair of Short-eared Owls  were squabbling but then joined forces to see off a Common Buzzard. Another sat quietly in a hedgerow. Further up the River Adur, four more SEOs were tucked into their usual hedgerow spot. For the record, three Stonechats and two Little Egrets.

Selsey Bill, 07.30 - 10.00, N2 cloudy: Sandwich Tern - 2os, Slavonian Grebe - 1E, 4os, Great Northern Diver - 4os, Red-breasted Merganser - 25os, Mediterranean Gull - 4os, Red-throated Diver - 2E, 3W, 3os, Sanderling - 5W, Shag - 2os, Gannet - 3E, 3W, Razorbill - 3E, Common Scoter - 8E, 1W, Auk sp - 1E, 2W, Great Crested Grebe - 1os, Shelduck - 2W, Brent Goose - 3E, 2W, Wigeon - 2E and Kittiwake - 1E. ( J. Atkinson, S. Hill, I. Pitts & P. Bowley).

A dawn start found me at the dam where it was dull with a thin mist also the temperature didn't rise above 35f the whole time I was here. On the water a pair of Pochards and three Gadwall were about at mid-reservoir and to be honest there wasn't much more. Thankfully the footpath along the north bank produced a better selection with many active and vocal Blue and Great Tits, these were joined by a Marsh Tit, several Coal Tits and a smart flock of 16 Long-tailed Tits. Other birds included Chiffchaff, male Bullfinch, Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, 50+ Linnets, a few Goldcrests and 12 Goldfinches. Back at the dam 24 Cormorants included a rather smart summer plumage adult, also here a Grey Wagtail appeared with a few Pied Wagtails. In the paddock a mixed flock of 45 to 50 thrushes included 20 Fieldfares, 20 Redwings at least, two Mistle Thrushes and a Song Thrush. At the west end it was much the same as usual for this time of year. There were the four Green Sandpipers, these were seen together with no less than 36 Snipe, also 98 Teal with 34 Lapwing scattered around. Among the Teal were two more pairs of Gadwall, two male Wigeon plus 14 Moorhens. Around the car park four Wrens were in full song as were Dunnock and a Reed Bunting, if you can call that a song. Ten Siskins were with six Goldfinches, however the pick of the bunch at the feeders being Marsh Tit and Great spotted Woodpecker. Lastly the gull flock was rather small although 12 Common Gulls were present with the 55 Black-headed Gulls. Not bad and all before 9.30am.

There is a female PARROT CROSSBILL with the Common Crossbills at Blackdown, just south of Haslemere. The birds range widely and unpredictably around the Boarden Door Bottom Valley area, but the scattered pines at ca. SU916303, just north of the Sussex Border Path, seems to be a favoured area. There is a small pond to the west of the track that runs north from this point, and the crossbill flock often gathers in the rowans and whitebeams here before and after drinking, providing excellent views of the birds. Some of the male crossbills also have tentative wing-bars. Supporting cast includes 5+ woodlarks, stonechat, 30+ (maybe many more) bramblings, redpoll, siskin, bullfinch and up to three ravens. Please park in the National Trust car parks at the southeast end of Tennyson’s Lane at SU921309.

(The only previous parrot crossbill recorded in Sussex was as long ago as March 1870 in St Leoanrds Forest - Ed).

Short-eared owls seen at Southease. I went there at dusk looking for herons and saw two short-eared owls by the riverside. Absolutely chuffed when one of them flew in a zig zag towards me and then very low (4m) over me going north. Going back to take some photos.

Two Short-eared Owls showed well next to the main track across the brooks from mid-afternoon until dusk. Also present were a Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier, Green Sandpiper and Water Rail.

West Dean Estate today produced a few species of bird including 30+ Crossbills and a number of Siskins high above the conifers amongst the Crossbiils.We also had 1 Goldcrest and 4 Marsh Tits and a single Coal Tit. Continued on to Monkton Farm where we saw a single Hawfinch showing well at a greater distance. A flock of Chaffinches 100 or so, no Brambling sighted amounst them though. In addition 60+ Fieldfares in the tree tops. On the way back from Monkton Farm there was a single Firecrest showing well and giving close views.

On the rising tide at Newhaven West Beach, Friar's Bay and Portobello about 200 auks whizzing about, swimming and diving including 40 razorbills and one guillemot, six red-throated divers and seven great crested grebes and at the last site the grey wagtail, black redstart and water pipit (pic attached).