Bird of the Week should probably go to a Red-necked Grebe found on Monday on the Southwick Canal; it wasn’t always easy to locate but many people got to see it during its four day stay (it was not reported after 11th). A decent back-up bird in the same place was a Great Northern Diver which was still present on 14th.

Slavonian Grebes were seen daily at Selsey Bill with as many as seven noted on 13th. On that day there were also two reported at Church Norton and another at Thorney Island. A Black-necked Grebe was present all week on Pagham Lagoon.

On the 12th a Black-throated Diver flew west past Fairlight and two were noted eastbound off Selsey Bill. The Long-tailed Duck at Selsey was seen again on 13th and 14th. Two Velvet Scoters were reported on 14th from both Selsey Bill and St Leonards.

There was good news from Eastbourne on 13th when the recent Black Guillemot reappeared in the outer harbour; where it had been hiding is anyone’s guess. It was there again on 14th.

More good news (for some) is an increase in Caspian Gulls: there was one adult in the gull roost at Cuckmere Haven on 10th with two there the following day; another was reported on 14th. Two 1st winters were on the lake together at West Rise Marsh on 12th (photo attached). An inland Little Gull at Piddinghoe Pond during the afternoon of 13th must have been a delight to those lucky enough to see it.

The Glossy Ibis at Arundel WWT was seen again on four dates.

A Snow Bunting was on the west side of the dunes at East Head (West Wittering) on 12th and 13th and a Hawfinch was noted at Fairmile Bottom (Arundel) on 11th.

On a pleasant winter's day 10 joined me at the ARC car park for the Dungeness outing. From Hanson's we had the expected birds including 2 Cattle Egret which eventually flew off together and were probably the ones we saw flying later at the main reserve. Great White Egret were also much in evidence (but we didn't see its small brethren until we reached Burrowes). A single female Marsh Harrier was a good spot perched on a bare tree not far from a similarly perched Grey Heron (there were at least 3 Grey Heron). On the water were a good sprinkling of Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted, Teal, Wigeon and a single Shelduck. Apart from, inevitably, Cormorant, Lapwing were the main most numerous species (in one section I estimated 170 so there were likely much more). Gulls were mainly represented by Black-headed Gull but amongst them there was one Common Gull). A few managed views of a Bittern flying low over the reeds near the viewing screen but most of us missed so I suggested we headed in that direction. The loop towards Axell provided views of busy Reed Bunting (plus a few Blue Tit) and as with our walk to Hanson's earlier at least one Cetti's shouted at us. From the car park Chaffinch and Goldfinch showed before we continued round to the viewing screen. A distant dark raptor perched on a tree towards the airport was spotted before we got to the ARC viewing screen which sparked much ID discussion. (This morning I looked at a photo I had taken and one that Simon had kindly sent me and concluded it was a Common Buzzard.). No brown Ardeidid showed so we headed to our vehicles and headed to the main reserve stopping at the new scrapings neat Boulderwall Farm where we added Pied Wagtail (a group of 6) and at least 30 Canada Geese, 2 Magpie and 3 Buzzard. We gathered at Dennis and added a few more gulls: Great Black-backed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and 1 or 2 Yellow-legged Gull which again made for much ID discussion and mention of clades (Yellow-legged had been seen during the week and a couple fitted). After lunch everyone joined me in the visitors centre from where we could see a Pintail asleep, more Lapwing and a Moorhen. From Firth we eventually saw an active female Goldeneye and the missing Little Egret. Continuing our circuit and advised that there were Snipe at Christmas Dell we eventually located the camouflaged waders and once we had realised that we were not on the same Snipe we reached a total of 6. We made our way to Denge Marsh and added 2 Egyptian Goose to our list and a very obliging Kingfisher to our tally - at the end of the walk I had noted 43. Thanks as ever for good company and birding. As a footnote 3 of us headed home via Walland Marsh hoping to add the reported Bewick's Swan and located 5 near Swamp Crossing.

A large flock of Lapwings feeding in the field, accompanied by two adult male Ruff.

Photo of the Black Guillemot at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne this morning at 9.00 am.

At the third attempt I managed to find the Black Guillemot at the Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne. I believe it hadn't been seen for a while but I was informed yesterday that it had returned

A good start to the day , with 52 Red-throated Divers W, apparently flushed by an angling boat; in the evening, 80 Kittiwakes were rafting on the sea below our house before dispersing unseen.

The male into roost at 1610 in front of the Scape Hide, Arundel WWT, plenty of great flight views before it dropped in, also 5+ Marsh Harrier.
Also seen Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite and Peregrine.

A lovely day at Pagham yesterday morning, where l saw a Black-necked Grebe for the first time in the Lagoon. There were also 6 Little Grebes and a Great Crested Grebe. A Kingfisher flew past me as l arrived and l caught a glimpse of an elusive Cetti's Warbler. There were two Pochards, two Tufted Ducks and about 30 Coot, and with about 25 Black-headed Gulls and 8 Mallards. In the harbour l saw 8 Curlew, 10 Redshank, 120 Turnstone, 20 Ringed Plover, 60 Great Black-backed Gulls, 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Mute Swans, 4 Grey Plover, 2 Dunlin and 2 grey seals. There were also about 300 Brent Geese moving about and at least 2000 Lapwings in the air at one point. A flock of 30 Redpoll were around and another of 30 Linnets. A flock of about 150 Starlings chose some telegraph wires as a perch.

A good selection of birds heading W this morning :70 auks, 35 Gannets, a Black-throated Diver and 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and 8 Kittiwakes in 2 hrs; 3 Brent Geese and 8 Common Scoters went the other way.

A quite successful annual trip to the forest, with plenty of sightings of Redwings, and also some more interesting ones like a lone Raven, Redpolls, Marsh Tits and Coal Tits. Nineteen species counted in all throughout the afternoon.