This afternoon, 1 Greenshank, 8 Avocet and 2 Little Ringed Plover on Ferry Pool. One of, or another LRP later flew into the harbour giving territorial call. In the harbour, 1 Little Tern and 2 Common Terns with the Sandwich Terns and numerous Mediterranean Gulls. Along the track from Ferry to Church Norton, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 5 Whitethroat singing. 2 Marsh Frogs making a lot of noise around Long Pool

A circular walk around the southern block at Knepp this morning was very pleasant in the spring sunshine with a good selection of birds including 2 singing Nightingales, single Cuckoo, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Whitethroats, 3 late Fieldfares, 2 Bullfinches, Skylark, the escapee Red-tailed Hawk and 4 White Storks. Also 2 Grass Snakes, 2 Slow-worms, a Fox and several Orange-tips.

Later we had a wander through farmland to the south of Coneyhurst where the highlights were 2 more singing Nightingales, Cuckoo, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warbler and 2 Bullfinches plus another Grass Snake.

Of course no sign of any stilts today at Rye, the pair apparently having moved to Dungeness, but three Spotted Redshanks at Harbour Farm. Few other migrant waders around besides a Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits. Five Lesser Whitethroats in song between Harbour Farm and the main car park.

There were still three pairs of Hawfinches near Netherfield on 12 April and one was seen on 19 April leaving a roost at sunrise. However, these records only count as possible breeding according to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel, so if you are in the area in late May and June, please look out for juveniles and family parties. Penhurst Lane is one option, but Brede High Woods, Darwell Wood and the woodland along Hurst Lane at Sedlescombe would all be worth a look where there is plentiful hornbeam. A longer shot would be Park Wood, one mile east of Burwash, which also has lots of hornbeam. In West Sussex, the far end of the Monkton track at West Dean is a possibility. Early morning is best, but also mid/late afternoon.

Other birds: a Nightingale was singing at dawn on Penhurst Lane on 19 April, the same day as Ann Price heard two at Darwell, which is nearby.

Quick walk up Beachy Head this morning turned up a Red Kite over Horseshoe Plantation which was tagged with two tags with the number and letter 6N one side and 8N the other (record picture attached). Also 30 mins later at Shooters' Bottom another Red Kite which was not tagged. A Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 6 Linnets, 4 Goldfinch and 1 Swallow. Over garden this afternoon another Red Kite and 10 Sandwich Terns.

To avoid the gathering crowds at South Hill Barn I did a rapid look around Harry's Bush. The sheep were congregated near the copse and, possibly mistaking me for one of them, two superb male Yellow Wagtails dropped in very close, fed for a short while and then headed off up the valley. As I headed back to the car park there was a fine male Redstart on the fence line at the top of the slope. I watched it feeding from the fence line and from the trees at the edge of Harry's Bush. A real treat.

Pair of Cranes seen circling overhead, calling loudly , about 11.15am. They headed off in a south westerly direction. These are the first that I’ve spotted here.

It feels as if just a few minutes ago I was anticipating the first Whitethroat and here they are suddenly, here there and everywhere, e.g. along the Monarch's Way from the Steyning Bostal to No Man's Land and beyond eight were seen or heard (pic). Also one Wheatear, several Linnet, two pair of Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting, both Grey and Red-legged Partridge, Skylark and Buzzard.

My first visit to the coast for nearly a month on a delightful spring morning with wall to wall sunshine and NE easterly breeze. Selsey Bill: 8 Eider and dark morph Arctic Skua went east plus a single Red-throated Diver. Offshore, 10 Little Tern and around 8 Sanderling were out on the shingle bar. Full log on the Selsey Birding Blog. In the Bill House garden a chortling Reed Warbler and couple of Willow Warbler.
Church Norton: Large number of Mediterranean Gulls with Sandwich Terns on the island or loafing nearby. Stacks of Black-headed Gulls with smaller numbers of Common plus a single Arctic Tern with 10 Little Terns in the harbour. Waders in short supply with only 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Whimbrel noted. Sidlesham Ferry: 3 Greenshank and 2 Little Ringed Plover with a singing Reed Warbler in the brambles by the hide. (Bernie Forbes & Colin Messer).

Ok, this is a very long shot I realise but I thought I'd put it out there... midday, went up to Hollingbury Fort without my bins... not quite thrush-sized bird on top of small tree in centre of Fort. Flycatching. Flying from perch and returning. Not a flycatcher. Very clear sense of a dark eyestripe and a grey crown. Significant white on rump. Really can't be a Wheatear although getting strong sense of one.... Also a Green Woodpecker pretending to be a small plant, feeding on the ground and freezing with its beak in the air as we went past even slowly moving its head so the red crown was not facing us.