Best of Luck to everyone who is taking part in the New Year Bird Race - all money raised will go towards the provision of more Swift nest boxes. Wishing you good New Year birding.

A beautiful, freezing cold morning at Old Lodge with everything covered in rime. One each of Kestrel, Raven, Green Woodpecker and Dartford Warbler seen (photo attached) plus two Treecreepers.

At Widewater today still one Black Redstart on the beach west of the beach huts and associating (loosely) with two Stonechats; the Water Rail still on show. In the harbour 3 Purple Sandpipers. Yesterday at Coldwaltham Sewage Works at least one Water Pipit and 10 or so Chiffchaffs.

It seemed to me that some birds have been responding to bright sunlight and high air pressure. Coal Tits were singing in five or more territories. Nuthatch and Blue Tits also, while Collared dove has been giving - admittedly rather brief - display flights over the street where I live. Also there is quite a bit of territorial chasing among the Blackbirds here. The Herring Gulls are spending a lot more time about their rooftop nest sites than earlier in the month but they seem quieter since the return of low temperatures. Long-tailed Tit parties have survived well and glean food from bare branches and twigs in roadside trees.

On Beeding Brooks this morning: Little Egret, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail (h), Common Snipe (3), Kingfisher, Stonechat (pair), Cetti's Warbler, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

The GREAT GREY SHRIKE showing brilliantly on Glynde Levels E of the village. Observed catching a vole from a ditch, which was taken by a bold Magpie, before narrowly avoiding the wrath of 2 Peregrines that came to mob it. First seen in field on E side of the river, about half a mile from Glynde, then seen roughly 500m further along in bush by river on W side of river. Other birds seen were 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Reed Buntings, Bullfinch and a Kingfisher, with hundreds of Lapwing around.

Single Marsh Tit on feeders behind information centre building, Buchan Park. Single Reed Bunting at dipping ponds, Warnham Mill Pond.

The high tide was receding as we arrived at Goring Gap in the late afternoon. Many birds were assembling at the water's edge including: Great and Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls, Redshank, Golden and Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Turnstones and Sanderling. Mixed among all these were many Jackdaws and Crows. A few small groups of Cormorants flew westward and all the birds moved from one area to another as people strolled by. The birds were not greatly disturbed by close human presence. Most noticeable was the number of Black-headed Gulls moulting into breeding plumage. I spotted one with a completely black head.

At 10am I came across 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming within several yards of each other. it seemed obvious they were rivals. It was interesting to note the different resonance between the bird on a sweet chestnut tree which gave off a much fuller sound than his rival close by at the higher section in a horse chestnut. When I was heading for home at 3.30pm they were at it again in the same area. It seems very early for territorial behavour particularly given the cold weather we have at present.

My wife and I spent a few hours at Pulborough Brooks, but most of the water frozen so not much close, lots of Wigeon plus Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Canada Geese, Grey Heron, about 40+ Snipe and a few hundred Lapwing. We then went on to Greatham Bridge hoping to see a Barn or Short-eared Owl, no luck with them but a female Hen Harrier was hunting over the marsh. After we drove over the bridge back towards Pulborough we had a Barn Owl flying along beside the car for 100yds - a very good end to the day.

Single Barn Owl flying roughly north/south across the A272 at Buckbarn Crossroads towards the petrol station and fast food restaurant at 07.30 today. Height above the road, approx 15 ft.

Although not a member, I feel I have to inform you that on 28th December in Sunningdale Road, Worthing there were at least 12 WAXWINGS sat on the telephone wires. I managed to capture a short video of this. (Keith Griggs).

A circular walk from Coates via Burton and Chingford Ponds, Sutton End and Lords Piece produced 4 Little Egrets (3 at Crouch Farm and 1 at Sutton End), a flushed Woodcock at Sutton End, Grey Wagtail at Chingford Pond, 2 Marsh Tits in the alders at the back of Burton Pond, a mixed and fairly mobile flock of Redpolls and Siskins near Crouch Farm and Crossbills heard calling but not seen at Lords Piece. Later a ringtail Hen Harrier seen three times hunting over the strip of game cover that runs parallel to the road up on to the Downs from North Stoke towards The Burgh.

Good views of Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders at the south side car park this morning - also Treecreeper and Nuthatch.

Another reasonable day after a very quiet Christmas period. I visited the reservoir three times today, early and late morning plus late afternoon to dusk. Firstly ca. 100 gulls remained at the dam well into the morning, adult Great Black-backed was a good record, adult Lesser Black-backed too. A few Common and a Herring Gull were also in with the Black-headeds. The Ruddy Duck was still present and still asleep most of the time, whilst 6 Wigeon, 7 Gadwall, 11 Pochard and several Teal were noted. Again Jays could be described as numerous as were Goldfinches and to a lesser extent Linnets. A few Redpolls were at the feeders in the evening. Four Great spotted Woodpeckers were seen and several Grey Wagtails. Of note too are the Rooks, they are already taking their places on the nests here. In the evening at the west end two Mediterranean Gulls joined the ca. 200 Black-headed Gulls which were roosting on the ice which remained all day, lastly the prize of the day was a Bittern flying along Pintail bank at 4.05pm disappearing in the small bay there. A marvellous way to end the day.

Plenty of birds over the whole of the area, seemingly dispersed evenly throughout. Lapwing are building up in numbers, 100+ Linnets in one flock, 80+ Corn Buntings, a small flock of 10 Skylarks feeding very close, Reed Buntings in good numbers and also Yellowhammers. A Peregrine hunting off the pylons kept everything on its toes and most probably accounts for the absence of the Merlin. Two Kestrels and 1 Common Buzzard summed up the raptors. Thrushes everywhere including a few Redwing. Two of the 3 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE were seen before being disturbed by something I could not locate.

The GREAT GREY SHRIKE still present this afternoon at approx 1pm in hedgerows east of bridge/station at Glynde. Thanks to the two BTO guys who pointed it out. After they left in didn't show for half an hour or so, so I made my way back to the car, only to find it perched 10ft away on the otherside of the river in a small rowan tree. Photos attached (unfortunately only have 100mm lens so close as I could get!).

The bright sunshine tempted Mum and I out for a very cold but lovely walk at Burton Mill Pond. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to locate the reported Lesser Redpolls or Siskins, nor was there any sign of the Bittern on either Burton or Chingford Ponds. On a brighter note however, we saw a Water Rail and Kingfisher on Burton Pond and a very cheeky Robin tried to convince us that we had to pay a toll of sandwich crumbs to be allowed to walk the rest of the path! Other birds we saw included: Coots, Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Goldcrests, Blackbirds, more Robins (they were everywhere!), and a Grey Wagtail. Chingford Pond held about 20 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck many Tufted Duck, Coot and Mallard and a few Teal. On the way back we saw a female Bullfinch, a couple of Goldfinches, Goldcrests feeding in birch trees and a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the car park.

At least 13 Gannets off East Wittering between 09.30 and 09.50, 1 appeared to head towards the Solent the others went E towards Selsey.