I heard at least 2 churring Nightjars in St Leonard's Forest, around 21.45. Two were then seen at close range, including one male which constantly flew around me and also several times landed on the track a few yards from me (behaviour I have not seen before). There were also several sightings of roding Woodcock, and as I was leaving 3 flew fast and low right overhead calling loudly in some sort of aerial spat. Tawny Owls were calling (1 sounded like a juvenile), and, to round off a successful evening, in the road on the way home, near Horsham Rugby Club, were 2 very pale/white Roe Deer.

A female Swallow had been sitting on her nest in our stable for some 3 weeks, with the male keeping her company. Yesterday I found three fledglings dead on the stable floor and a male demonstrating unusually bold behaviour guarding the entrance to the stable and staying very close despite my presence. Tonight there is a pair of Swallows roosting in the stable - I presume this is a new male who has ousted the first male, killed the fledglings and claimed the female.

A morning walk in Old Lodge today produced lots of young birds, including Carrion Crow (looking a bit bemused), Redstart, Mistle Thrush, both woodpeckers, Dunnock, Robin, and lots of Blue and Great Tits. Cuckoo, Redpoll, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, Stock Dove, Whitethroat, Goldcrest and Tree Pipits were singing, and we saw Wood Lark, Treecreeper, Stonechat, Swifts, Swallows and Kestrel, too. Bird of the day was Spotted Flycatcher - we were very pleased to find two of these, both showing well. (Richard Mann & Sue Phillips).

A Hobby over Singing Hills Golf Course (near Albourne) today was another nice surprise during an Atlas survey. Also still present on the golf course is the adult Whooper Swan that I have recorded there on BBS visits for several years.

Whilst walking along Worthing seafront at the Dome toilets I noticed a large flock of Herring Gulls, one of the gulls however had a sooty back, sooty neck and black legs and feet. It seemed larger than the Herring Gulls and much more aggressive. It had a red spot on the lower mandible, and sounded like a Herring Gull. Its tail was a wreck. I wondered if it was a Herring Gull that had been oiled and held in captivity? The markings were very regular though. I would be grateful if anybody else has seen it and could comment. 

A dearth of sightings for today so far though the male RED-BACKED SHRIKE is still at Shopham Bridge, nr Byworth this afternoon. (From www.birdguides.com). A Little Ringed Plover on Sidlesham Ferry. (Beryl James).

A possible Great White Egret halfway down track to the Ouse from Rodmell flew West towards Northease about 200 m N of the track at 18.45. Noticeable were larger size, slower wing beat, longer legs, with black not yellow feet. Immediately before and afterwards I was watching Little Egrets flying on the S. side of the track which was a useful comparison. I hope someone else can confirm.

A group of eight Crossbills today on Stedham Common, around midday.

While doing my BBS in my Ridgewood, Uckfield square this morning I saw a Hobby over Ridgewood Rec. It flew around for a bit, then flew off to the west.

A Red Kite over Cuckfield today was a nice surprise during an Atlas survey.

Nothing too exciting this morning, but a nice selection of birds around the West Fields - a pair of Grey Partridge flushed off the path behind the beach, 4 summer-plumaged Sanderling on the beach, a singing Stonechat, the semi-resident Avocet on the creek and still plenty of Redshank, Lapwing and Shelducks around, though too distant to see if there were young with any of them.

A calling Quail at an undisclosed downland site in West Sussex; came close to investigate my brief attempt at mimicking its 'song'. Also 3 singing Corn Buntings.

The male RED-BACKED SHRIKE still showing well at Shopham Bridge, near Byworth from 07.45 - 08.30, using five distinct perches. A Kestrel picked a fight with it - Kestrel lost...

One, possibly two, Nightjars churring/wing clapping and displaying well from just above the ranger's house in Darwell Wood, Brightling.

The male RED-BACKED SHRIKE was still showing well in the afternoon and evening at Shopham Bridge.

Having just rifled through over 1700 messages on your recent sightings board I was surprised to find that there was no mention of anywhere north of Rye or east of Bodiam. Does anybody visit the Blackwall Bridge or the area there known as the Wet Levels? It is at Peasmarsh on the boundary with Kent and seems to be ignored by both counties. The Rother from the junction with the Royal Military Canal westwards to beyond Northiam forms the boundary with Kent. For the first time, at springtime, in 30 years I spent two hours there on 18 May, walking the banks of the Rother and the Otter Channel. Much has changed since I first went there over 60 years ago. I didn't see or hear a Redshank, Yellow Wagtail or Reed Bunting and only half-a-dozen forlorn looking Lapwings, which is the depressing part of the visit. However, I did see a Marsh Harrier and a Hobby and found a Kestrel's nest. Other birds worth mentioning were a pair of Common Terns, two Swallows (long ago there was always several pairs at the bridge), and only four singing Reed Warblers. The best areas were always on the Sussex side of the river and I think that my memory serves me correctly it was here, for example, that the first Bewick's Swans occurred when they were expanding their range many years ago.

A thrush sized yellow and black bird flying across meadow near Westerham towards a wooded area. The only bird that matches the sighting is a Golden Oriole.

Two Red Kites circling together over my house in Crowborough at 14.30 this afternoon – the first I have seen here in 15 years. They were clearly using a good thermal, and after 5 mins or so had got so high that that it was impossible to see them without bins. They slowly drifted away SW.