A cold hour at Splash Point this morning had little variety but huge numbers. Thousands (yes) of auks on the sea and moving both east and west. All of the 200+ identified were Razorbills - less than 10% of the total. What appeared to the naked eye to be a line of surf on an otherwise fairly calm sea resolved in the 'scope to be 130+ Gannets, while another 80 to 90 were flying around and dramatically plunging in to feed. Apart from these, just 1 Red-throated Diver flew east and a single Brent Goose flew west. The usual Fulmars were on and around the cliffs, but there were only a couple of Kittiwakes off-shore, in contrast to the 200 or so occupied nests seen last Friday.

Our regular winter flock of Reed Buntings has increased today to a new all time record of 34 individuals in at one time, beating the previous record of 26.

A female/immature Marsh Harrier on Little Deep at 3pm.

3 Purple Sandpipers seen at 4.30pm at the water's edge on the beach at Bulverhythe ca. 200 yards east of the last beach huts at Glyne Gap.

1 Little Egret, 5 Oystercatchers, 3 Cormorants, 1 Curlew.

A great day walking at the Burgh and Rackham hill area in lovely warm sun....we saw 4 kestrels, flock of starlings, flock of fieldfares, 2 peregrines high overhead, 6 common buzzards with 2 displaying, numerous skyslarks, grey partridge, pair of bullfinches, and rounded the day off with lovely barn owl near the Bridge Inn pub. Also 8 hares (2 boxing) and 1 stoat seen. A great day out with my uncle visiting birder from Madrid.

My Worthing garden isn't especially inundated with birds, but I have had 2 Robins and a resident male Blackcap this winter. He was joined by a female yesterday, albeit on a different feeder. Then mid afternoon a pair of Greenfinches arrived - a first for me. Watch this space.

Went to Ambersham Common, Heyshott today, following the report from Matt Eade yesterday and was rewarded with 13 Crossbills, sat low in a leafless tree just preening and resting. Spent half an hour watching, excellent display. A lifer for me and the missus. Many thanks Matt.

A leisurely stroll around the area under dull grey skies produced a total of 10+ Buzzards, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, probably over 350 Chaffinches, 10 Bramblings, 5 Marsh Tits, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush plus several thousand Wood Pigeons. Tawny Owl called and 5 Yellowhammers were also seen. The highlight was a group of four Hawfinches back at the car, thanks to Colin & Mich.

A male Hen Harrier was flying around near the Mound on Rodmell Brooks at 15.30 giving prolonged views. Also in the area - a Water Rail showed very well in the ditch near Rodmell car park, an adult Mediterranean Gull flew south over the Brooks with a large flock of Black-headed Gulls and there was a Common Sandpiper just north of the confluence of the River Ouse and Glynde Reach. On two pylons either side of the River Ouse there were 54 Cormorants roosting at dusk.

In lower Cuckmere, west side, six Dark-bellied Brent Geese (four adults, two juvs) while on Lewes Brooks three Barnacle Geese looked good with 30 Greylag Geese and the Swan Goose.

I walked round the east arm of Brighton Marina this afternoon in the hope of seeing Purple Sandpipers but soon realised that the tide was at its lowest so that the birds would either be not there, or be difficult to see. The good news is they were there! However, very difficult to count as they were popping in front of and behind the rocks and spread out over a wide distance. I counted what I thought was a definite nine of them and this was confirmed when they went up, spooked by a group of Ringed Plovers flying into the marina. However while they were up I saw another one that hadn't flown and three more a bit further on, plus one more when I looked backwards. Definitely 13, possibly 14, but there could easily have been more lurking about. Message to self - go at high tide next time when the water has forced them further up the rocks.

Took a walk from Ovingdean to Brighton Marina then along the east arm. There were 2 curlew on the beach with a grey heron, 20 or more oystercatchers and at least 5 meadow pipits. The cliffs held about 4 pairs of fulmars with another couple circling about. A flock of nine brent geese flew E. At the beginning of the east arm on rocks on the beach was a black redstart calling. There were 4 shags - 3 in the sea and 1 on the end of the west arm. At least 5 purple sandpipers were in there usual spot at the end of the east arm. Out near the horizon there were alot of birds on the sea, some I could id as common scoters the others I assume were gulls.

Not having seen a Green-winged Teal since the one on the North Wall many years ago - the lure of seeing another proved too much for the eagles and hence we escaped over the border to Hampshire. The well marked male did show eventually bobbing around on a settling tank at Bedhampton. Out in Langstone Harbour we counted 18 Black-necked Grebes and a single Velvet Scoter. Time to return to more familiar haunts. West Dean Woods was alive with Chaffinches and we managed to see two Bramblings on top of one of the trees. The spruces donned at least 20 Crossbills - one beautiful male who shone through the greyness of the morning. The Little Owl was in its normal tree but there was a distinct lack of raptors throughout the morning. However, a nearly full house in the finch department was just compensation. (R Ives, D Mason & D Smith)

Near Ebernoe - housebound with children, but productive on the garden front - Lesser-spotted Woodpecker for second day on feeder. Raven flew over garden being mobbed by Jackdaws, supporting cast of Marsh Tits, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch and flock of ca. 60 Redwings on field edge.

Forty-three Bewick's Swans on Burpham brooks at 12.00 today.

About 15.30, we were looking out from the beach by the church, when everything took off, and we looked for the cause. A Merlin then landed on the concrete blocks across the water, admiring the chaos he had caused. He sat there for two or three minutes. We also saw a Slavonian Grebe in the shadow of the metal breakwater.

Two Black Redstarts along the undercliff walk at Peacehaven. Also Little Egret and three Rock Pipits.

The bird previously reported as a Lesser Scaup re-identified as a hybrid this morning. (www.birdguides.com)

A male Lesser Scaup on Burton Mill Pond late afternoon. (www.birdguides.com)