An early evening walk in Sandgate Park ca.6.30-7.00pm in cool and overcast conditions was enlivened by the unexpected sight of up to 10 Sand Martins hawking over the lagoons - most encouraging as the species appeared to have deserted the colony following human disturbance in 2022. In addition, overhead were singles of Red Kite and Buzzard, and singing species included Mistle Thrush and Stock Dove.

Seaford Bay: Brent Geese, Sandwich Tern & Shag. West Beach Promenade, Newhaven: Great Crested Grebe, Lesser Black-backed Gull & Sandwich Tern.

It is not often I enjoy sitting in queuing traffic, but on this occasion it gave me the opportunity to watch a White Stork circling high above the John Lewis store in Horsham. 

My first two Swifts of the year back in Burgess Hill at 7.15 this evening over the rear garden in Park Road despite the cold and gloom!

A Nightingale singing in the open was a lovely sight this morning at Pulborough Brooks, but we were then distracted as a White-tailed Eagle flew low and then above our heads. Having already seen a Greenshank, Mediterranean Gull and Ruff and the Avocets, it proved to be a productive visit.

Around the wildlife hospital at the Colgate end of St Leonards forest a noisy flock of Lesser Redpolls with a few Common Redpolls mixed in on the feeders looking very dapper. Also the Cuckoo appears to be very busy flying around the forest in silence. Presumably there is no one to serenade to yet!

A White Stork at North Barnes Farm, Plumpton Green today.

After a lacklustre two hours this morning watching from Splash Point with Nick P at which the highlight was an incoming Wheatear successfully dodging a young Peregrine over the sea, I decided to wander around Arlington Reservoir in the persistent light rain in the hope of seeing some feeding hirundines. There were at least 50 of the latter comprising the usual three species and giving some nice views from the dam wall. A nice surprise was about five Yellow Wagtails that briefly settled before being disturbed by walkers. A Grey Wagtail, a Common Sandpiper, a Sparrowhawk and, at the small reedbed near the car park, at least three singing Reed Warblers were the other more notable sightings.

Little noted by me recently in this cold weather although I have twice seen single Whimbrels passing over home and there has been an occasional Swallow in. Yesterday a watch between 10.45 and 11.45 after the rain cleared noted three flocks of Brent Geese east totalling 67 along with a Great Crested Grebe. Today at 09.45 there were 2 tired male Wheatears on groynes. I walked to Little Galley Hill where there were ten Wheatears on the beach, mostly males. A male Black Redstart was on the sea wall at Bulverhythe. Four Cetti's Warblers were singing on coastal territories. Eight Whimbrels and 36 Brent Geese passed offshore.

This morning I walked around the heath and saw/heard precious little, but from Hail’s View there were three Great White Egrets striding about, two of which flew up north, later to be seen from the hides. At Westmead there was a male Ruff in largely summer plumage (top two pics), a Greenshank that came in close (bottom left) and Lapwings, Redshanks, Avocets, Tufted Ducks, Black-headed Gulls and Canada Geese with chicks. From Winpenny I saw more Redshanks and Lapwings, a fly-over White-tailed Eagle, complete with white tail, a Hobby or two, a singing Reed Bunting and quite a lot of Sand Martins and some House Martins and Swallows.