Two Firecrests showing well in bushes on path down to the sea (near the footpath sign). Also Spotted Redshank at Church Norton. Sea very quiet only a Great Crested Grebe. Also Merlin on the West Side. Also reported by a visitor two Bearded Tits at the Long Pool.

A crisp sunny morning saw a reunion of the old 'Sunday club' when Chris Janman and I were joined by Eric Soden (Surrey)and ex-Sussex (now Wales) resident Mervyn Jones for an amble around the Downs at Burpham/The Burgh (pic). Our somewhat ageing legs ensured a steady pace, and before long we met Bernie Forbes using the same tactics for the same reason! After an hour the ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD put on a good show near The Burgh (thanks Bernie!) and plenty of Common Buzzards also appeared. Back-up birds included Grey Partridges, a brief presumed Hen Harrier, Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, Linnets and Peregrine. We also missed a couple of Ravens. A great day to be out; good birds and good company.

Newhaven Harbour east pier: two Purple Sandpipers at 11 am.

Don't forget to spare an hour this weekend for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch! I'll be spending time between here and the hide tomorrow to record as much as possible. Recent highlights include a pair of Siskins that have finally arrived back in the Nature Area, a pair of Bullfinches still present, a Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Raven plus 3 Buzzards today. All are welcome to the hide if you want to visit.

In the water works a Grey Wagtail and Water Pipit. Black Redstart on the beach and cliff face. Single Peregrine seen also. On the sea, quite close in, one Razorbill and a few Cormorants. Three Fulmars soaring around cliff face. On the cliff top 2 Stonechats and a Kestrel. Plenty of Rock Pipits on beach and in  water works also.

Not rare but unusual for Widewater - 4 brent geese present. Usual egrets, cormorants, a brace of teal, 3 little grebes and gulls galore (herring, black-headed, lesser black-backed).

A single Raven seen over the Kingfisher course this morning. A pair of Ravens was seen several times one afternoon last week. Sixteen Crossbills in the Norway spruce on the 5th hole.

I was shooting two of the Beeding Brooks Short-eared Owls this afternoon in wonderful sunshine. One caught its third vole and was sitting over it when a female Kestrel swooped in and under the owl. Moments later it flew out with the vole in its talents. Unfortunately only one photo was really usable.

Mixed bag of birding sites today starting off at Apuldram and Fishbourne Creek. The weather like the birds was mixed with a few heavy showers and sunshine. We spent a little time checking out the Yellowhammer flock feeding around the dung heap at the horse paddock - finding no interlopers! Out in the creek the Little Stint was in its usual place although not much else except for 2 Knot and plenty of wildfowl. In the Lavant stream we watched a Water Rail feeding with another calling from the reeds and a Kingfisher sat on sentry duty along the stream. Nearby Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler were heard. Burton Pond: the sun was in the wrong position for any day time Bittern watching but taking the walk through the woods we noted 12 Siskins near the chestnuts. Waltham Brooks and Sewage Works: at least 20 Chiffchaffs and a single Firecrest feeding in the boundary hedgerow and nearby a single Stonechat. Amberley Brooks: no sign of any wild geese although a nice flock of 17 Ruff. (Bernie Forbes & Dave Smith).

Walking out to the end of Newhaven's East Pier this afternoon, I counted six Purple Sandpipers. On the way back I also counted six, but I was not convinced they were all the same six! Then, at the start of the pier, the 2nd-winter ICELAND GULL made several passes close overhead, showing that an inner primary(?) was missing from its right wing. Over 60 Curlew in the field N of the railway line.

A sunshiny afternoon lovely! On the water meadows were 31 Bewick's swans (4 juvs, 27 ads) and I wonder if the additional one (there were 30 here in late Dec) is the loner from Lewes Brooks. On the downs was the rough-legged buzzard from ca. 13.30 to 14.30 going back and forth along Perry Hill as far as Wepham Down and since I was at the Triangle albeit sheltering behind a bush it was forever between one and two km away but in the good light I saw its juv golden eagle-like tail and black belly patch and as it hovered face-on to me could be told from all common buzzards by its white leading "arm" edges and pale head sandwiched between dark "hands". A pic attached is better viewed through a lens!

The ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD still at Burpham this afternoon from the triangle. Also 31 Bewick's swans (inc 4 juvs) nearby on the watermeadows between Burpham and Offham with 24 greylag geese.

At least 3 Purple Sandpipers on the eastern breakwater at Newhaven this am.

This link should take you to the recording on Soundcloud. It is best listened to with headphones or a decent pair of speakers. There is variety in the calls over the recording period - it's not all the same 'cawwing' throughout. They ain't as sweet as the sparkling song of a robin, but a fine voice of winter, nevertheless. The recording point was approximately the point where Tottington Wood meets Longlands Wood. No pictures, I'm afraid, but a recording of the arrival and establishment of the nightly roost. Thanks for the suggestion on this location. I have tried recording at West Dean, also, but all was quiet - more of a rookery for the breeding season than a roost, perhaps, unless the flocks travel around?

Twenty-seven White-fronted Geese, one Pink-footed Goose, two Firecrests and eighteen Crossbills with a few more calling from the Parham side of the minor road.

Another post work visit, to the west end this time. The weather was slightly drizzly and overcast, however it was mild and this seems to have encouraged many birds to feed. Firstly of note were seven Grey Herons that were occupying nests for the first time this year. Several others were also looking interested. Other birds of note included the four Green Sandpipers still and at least 24 Snipe, also in the grass were some 87 Pied Wagtails, eight Stock Doves and 57 Linnets. Around the car park good numbers of Greenfinches with 40 or so here plus two males and a female Reed Bunting, two Marsh Tits and a Great spotted Woodpecker. A few Redwings flew over as did three Redpolls. Lastly with the 90 Black-headed were six Common Gulls, 40 Lapwing, 87 Teal and three Tufted Duck.

Nothing particularly unusual (apart from a group about 30 roe deer which had been "stampeded" by a shoot a couple of fields away). Nice to see a small, noisy flock (ca. 12) of corn buntings and several groups of yellowhammers and goldfinches, a couple of buzzards. Best was a song thrush and numerous dunnocks singing their socks off (metaphorically speaking). Really gave the impression of spring having sprung despite grey drizzle!

Oh, and the water rail's batteries have been replaced and it appears to be working fine again in front of the visitor centre window...

Only 2 Slavonian Grebes to be found offshore and very little else. Also an obliging Spotted Redshank in the creek by the horse field (see attached pic).

North brooks 07.30 - 08.30: 27 white-fronted geese left roost at 07.40, flew south (they returned to south brooks late morning). A kestrel caught a vole right next to Nettley's hide and hen harrier (ringtail) was hunting nr river bank and heading south at 08.15.