I resisted going to Pagham Harbour this morning and looking for the Paddyfield Warbler. Instead I had a pleasant walk along the west side of Thorney Deeps, where I was rewarded with a GREAT WHITE EGRET roosting with seven Little Egrets on the Great Deeps.

Group of six Redwings feeding on ivy berries by the garage block at the end of Mill Road, Three Bridges at 8.30am. Third morning that they have been there.

The PADDYFIELD WARBLER still along Pagham Harbour North Wall this morning from 07.50 - 08.00 when it flew towards the Breech Pool and was lost from view. No further sightings in the next hour. Also marsh harrier, water rail and Cetti's warbler there. The two whooper swans seen by others in the field behind the Breech Pool at dawn with Canada geese.

The PARROT CROSSBILL still at Blackdown this morning. Click here to see more photos.

Goldcrest in garden at Climping, nr Ford Airfield.

I have just seen Bernie Forbes entry. The two Snow Buntings were at Widewater at 10.00 this morning (see pic). They were disturbed by a dog walker and they flew off a short distance.

Took a walk along Lancing seafront this pm looking for the Snow Buntings, it was absolutely freezing in the north easterly wind! Had no luck with buntings or anything else for that matter although I did restock the seed pile so hopefully the buntings might still be in the area.

The ICELAND GULL flew in to land on the sandy beach below the car park at approximately 1.45pm allowing good close views. Here it rested, though at times was harrassed by other gulls until taking to the air and flying over the west arm and out of view at approximately 2.15pm.

We arrived at Blackdown at about 10 o'clock as other happy birders returned to their cars. Alas the bird was not seen again during the day. However we had great views of a good number of Common Crossbills, along with a Chiffchaff, a Red Kite and a good handful of Bullfinches.

Despite the sunshine, a biting wind at Pulborough today made viewing the North Brooks a real challenge. Still a dozen or so White-fronted Geese amongst the Canadas and the adult Peregrine on the ground. On the South Brooks at least 30 Snipe showing very well close to the hides and a good variety of duck on Westmead pool. A juvenile Peregrine on the ground. Some sparring activity amongst the fallow deer bucks was entertaining. At Fattingates the 2 Firecrests still. On the heathland cracking views of 25+ Crossbills, some drinking in company with Siskins in wonderful light.Tomorrow is World Wetlands D and will be 'celebrated' at PB over the next 4 days.The sub-zero temperatures over the next few days should keep the Snipe on show. All so much better than a trip to Blackdown or the Breech Pool!!!

Large flocks of Redwings at Lavington Common car park (30+) and at Pulborough Brooks (40+), adjacent to the overflow car park. In each case birds noisily rooting in the woodland litter (pic attached). Also if anyone has lost the eyepiece cover for a pair of Leica binoculars at Greatham Bridge/Waltham Brooks then please contact me via the moderator and I will return it.

Second poor shot of the Paddyfield Warbler.

Record shot of the Paddyfield Warbler from this morning attached.

After a dawn start at Pagham I couldn't return home without going via the reservoir. At the west end the sunshine had clearly enticed the birds out. Today still the four Green Sandpipers, also 18 Snipe, 28 Lapwing and three Dunlin that have just appeared. Also 89 Teal, nine Gadwall, two each Pochard and Tufted Duck and three Mandarin. Still good numbers of Greenfinches and a few Goldfinches, plus two Marsh Tits again at the feeders.

The PADDYFIELD WARBLER still at Pagham Harbour this morning just west of the Breech Pool showing up until about 10.00 (OM et al). No further sign by mid-afternoon in increasingly windy conditions. Nearby the two adult whooper swans still near South Mundham at grid ref SZ884997. Park in South Mundham and walk south along Honer Lane to view. Please do not drive down Honer Lane which is a private road.

Thank you for the excellent birding company in beautiful Sussex. Best regards from Helsinki.

Firecrest at Charleston Reedbed this morning.

Lesser redpoll (male and female) on a feeder this morning at Nutley.

I was interested to see the report of 12 Bullfinches at Eartham, for yesterday we saw a flock of at least 14 near Beckley Woods. They were feeding on guelder rose berries, like group of 9 seen this week by Alan Parker in the Brede Valley. We saw additional pairs in the 10 miles between Beckley and Pett, the total coming into the mid 20s. Other birds of interest on a very still, cold and generally birdless day were ca. 100 Redpolls in Beckley Woods, 300+ Fieldfares in orchards at Udimore and Icklesham, Water Pipit, Barn Owl, several Marsh Harriers, Bittern and the usual fancy geese (now 42 White-fronts) at Pett Level.

Thanks to David Sneller for further insight into the wanderings of this distinctive individual. I have also heard from Essex birder Paul Brayshaw, who wrote: "...this sounds like the bird seen flying south past Landguard and my patch at Frinton-on-Sea (NE Essex) on 9th October as part of a huge Brent movement (I logged 11,793 that day - puts my best Sussex movements at Worthing in the late 80s and 90s to shame!). Landguard noted it as "all white" whereas I felt it was a dirty white, darker on the neck but very pale on the wings - almost as you described it." - and then yesterday: "Surprise, surprise a very similarly plumaged Brent seen heading south past Frinton today in a small cold weather movement - also noted at Landguard. If it is the same bird it must have reached Holland as the cold weather arrived and decided to head back again! I've put a note out to Essex birders to see if there have been any other sightings this winter."