A late-afternoon, early evening walk through Broomham Woods, Catsfield today proved rewarding with four or five Swallows and a single House Martin around the buildings and over the Horse Pond as a starter. A Chiffchaff seen in the coppicing was the first of several calling and a Common Whitethroat was nearby. Farther up the track was a solitary Buzzard low over a field of sheep and lambs with a Red Kite quite high but unmistakeable. A Nightingale was heard and then appeared briefly in a patch of re-growing coppice. The walk was made even better by beautiful weather and masses of Primroses, Wood Anemones and Bluebells and rounded off by a Tawny Owl calling nearby though not seen.

Seen earlier this afternoon before flying into neighbours garden.

3 Swallows in Firle today and
recent regular sighting of a Barn Owl near Hurstpierpoint

A Red Kite (possibly a pair) was just above the road midway between Handcross and Staplefield about 5pm.

Two pairs of Ring Ouzels on slope above Long Man of Wilmington at 10.15.

A look early morning then later this afternoon found Warblers everywhere, including 4 Garden Warblers, 7 Common Whitethroats, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Reed Warblers and countless Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.Two Common Sandpipers were on the Dam, while earlier a Redstart was seen. Four Common Terns are now back. Mid afternoon a Red Kite flew high west.

This morning during a walk at Old Lodge a Swift was seen high over Pippingford, my earliest ever.

8 members joined Jim Weston on a walk from Dell Quay to Fishbourne and return on a lovely sunny morning. A total of 49 species were seen or heard. Along the main channel were 12 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel and an early Common Sandpiper and on the return trip a party of 7 Great Crested Grebes were seen flying south. At least 8 Mediterranean Gulls were also observed. Migrants were scarce on the ground but Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were seen and a Reed Warbler was heard but declined to show. Raptors were represented by a Kestrel, Peregrine and 2 distant Buzzards. Jim Weston

If anyone wants to see pics of this weekend's treble at Beachy Head you can find them here

Details of today's sightings including the Alpine Swift and pictures of today's Little Bunting can be seen here