A very windy morning early on. Waders were taking advantage of the wet fields - 310 lapwing, 177 curlew, 55 black-tailed godwits and 11 snipe. The Pagham Rife had flooded north of Honer Farm and most wigeon had moved to this area. A flock of 160 brent geese close to the North Wall, the first I have recorded in this area this winter. There has been an influx of starlings. I recorded approximately 1400 birds. The largest flock of around 600 birds were feeding with corvids at Owl Point. Two other substantial flocks in the Marsh Farm area. Still well over a 1000 wood pigeons in the area. Other species included 32 magpies, 18 little egrets, 2 common buzzards, 2 stonechats, and singles of little owl, green and great spotted woodpecker, kestrel, sparrowhawk and rock pipit. There were still a few red admirals on the wing.

Looking out at the garden whilst having breakfast this morning and saw a single Grey Partridge on our lawn. It proceeded to feed under our birdfeeders, occassionally retreating to cover and was still there when I left for work. Our garden is a standard size urban garden in the Tarring area of Worthing, so I imagine it got a bit blown off course in the wind and rain overnight.

I have been participating in the BTO Garden Birdwatch for the past 3 years. During that time I have only seen a Goldcrest in my garden in Three Bridges, Crawley, on one occasion. However every Tuesday morning for the past 3 weeks at 7.30am I have watched a Goldcrest in my apple tree for over 20 minutes. I do the garden birdwatch each day at the same time and the Goldcrest is only appearing on a Tuesday.

A Continental Coal Tit in my Bognor Regis garden today at about 14.30, it kindly stayed put on a nut feeder close to the house for about a minute, allowing me a very good view of it. Thanks to David Cooper and his excellent article on The Birds of Sussex website for helping to clinch the i.d. This is a first for my garden in 12 years of observations.

Ca. 75 pintail on North Brooks this morning, amongst several hundred each of wigeon and teal - also present 6 black-tailed godwits. A peregrine was chasing teal unsuccessfully over the South Brooks at 07.45.

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls on the playing fields in Stanmer Park this morning.

No sign on Pagham Lagoon of Scaup, Goldeneye or Red-breasted Merganser seen earlier in the day although the Black-necked Grebeeastern end. In Pagham Harbour no sign of the was showing at the Goosanders and the Long-tailed Duck wasn't seen although Short-eared Owl on Church Norton spit was good compensation and BLACK BRANT by the harbour mouth of some note. Single Swallows were seen over Church Norton spit, The Severals and Pagham Lagoon although they might all have been the same. At least 32 Mediterranean Gulls were around the harbour entrance, all but one or two adults. (Martin Casemore & Richard Fairbank).

Little Stint with Dunlin - recommended viewing as easy to find and see with a scope in North Brooks area. Also Peregrine, Bar-tailed Godwit, lots ducks, Bullfinch and Common Gull.

A large, buzzard-sized raptor disappeared elegantly off the edge of Lullington Heath into Friston Forest, suggesting female Goshawk. Previously a Merlin failed to take a Skylark north of the heath, and a male Peregrine gave two close sightings near Litlington. A Ring Ouzel was present in Charleston Bottom feeding on hawthorn berries.

Two ringtail Hen Harriers at Thorney Deeps this afternoon. (Barry & Margaret Collins).

The Black-necked Grebe was on Pagham Lagoon this morning along with a Goldeneye, Scaup and a Red-breasted Merganser. The Goosanders were no where to be found but a female Long-tailed Duck was present in the main channel. A total of 6 Avocets was recorded and a late Swallow was seen moving east. (Richard Ives, Dorian Mason & Dave Smith).

On west side of lower Cuckmere this morning I didn't see much but returning to my car at Exceat Bridge a Hawfinch flew from the hawthorn hedge about 100m south of there, circled in front of the Golden Galleon twice, made as if to settle in a hedge there then flew east across the river towards Living World at 12.10, a big surprise for me especially since as many as 100 walkers had probably passed here already today including me on the outward trek.

A GREY PHALAROPE on Flat Beach flood, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. (From www.rxwildlife.org.uk).

In darkness and light rain, at 21.00, I heard the trilling call of a WAXWING as it passed overhead as I walked back to the car in Donnington (on the edge of Chichester) this evening.

First ever Goldcrest I have seen in my garden in Crawley this morning. Flitting around with a group of Blue Tits.

A great day spent on Thorney Island saw us witness a beautiful rainbow in the harbour followed by plenty of waders including Curlews, Greenshanks and plenty of Oystercatchers. Brent Geese were busy. The highlights for us were the close sighting of a male Kestrel (see photo) close to the security gate, a Marsh Harrier around the south of the island and on our return two Short-eared Owls flying/quartering and generally showing off near to the landing lights. Good viewing of one perching on a thorny bush near the Deeps as we came back through the security gate. (Dave Frohock & Ian Sparkes).