Near Fire Wood the winter wheat fields still have Woodlarks, with a flock of nine this afternoon scurrying around like mice and not detected until they called. There have been lots of winter thrushes, Starlings and Chaffinches in these fields too, which for some reason are attracting many more birds than usual this winter.

Having given my talk on Hawfinches, Goshawks and Honey-buzzards to the very friendly and welcoming Eastbourne SWT group yesterday, I was able to see two of these three species near Fire Wood today (no prizes for guessing which one was absent), including six Hawfinches between 14:10 and 15:10.

Warned by Matt Eade of winds (SE 3-4) favourable for a seawatch yesterday, he joined me from 08.10 until 09.40, and I stayed until 10.10. We saw (all flying east): Diver sp. 1, Red-throated Diver 14. Great Crested Grebe 3 o.s., Fulmar 4, Gannet 6, Brent Goose 2, Pintail 3, Common Scoter 1, Kittiwake ca.20, Guillemot 2, Razorbill 13, and Auk sp. 10. Common and Great Black-backed Gulls were seen but not counted.

I've recently volunteered to replace Luke as the current photo editor for the annual Sussex Bird Report. The report relies wholly on voluntary submissions so I would encourage everyone who took great photographs of any birds (common, scarce or rare!) in Sussex during 2019 to send them in for consideration. Please ensure the images are uncropped and of the highest possible resolution. Also include location and date in the file name, alternatively include those details in the email. You can either send them to the email on this post but I would encourage people to use wetransfer (https://wetransfer.com/), a simple to use online portal for sending and receiving images. Looking forward to receiving your photo's and thank you all in advance.

Great Northern Diver seen from West Beach car park, Newhaven, photo taken today (Friday) at 1.30pm.

The 4 Blue Snow Geese I reported yesterday are apparently hybrid Barnacle x Emperor Geese! Sorry!

Black-throated Diver at Bewl Water again between jetties and Beauman's Point at 10:30.

Flock of 12 Redwings on the top of the tree in Lancing.

At Brooklands this morning, around the stream a very confiding Cetti's Warbler (see attached photo by BFF), a single Chiffchaff and a pair of Coal Tit. Also noted 20 Goldfinch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Highlights on the lake a single male Pochard and 17 Teal plus the usual gulls bathing. At Shoreham Harbour the 4 Purple Sandpipers were doing their best
to hide amongst the weed on the base of the jetty. Henfield Levels from the Downslink I took the path that runs for a short time west of the old railway track.The brooks had more water, still a few Teal and Wigeon and 5 Shoveler. Five Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat and a single Bullfinch.No sign of the Glossy Ibis. See Tim Holter's posting on the SDOS usergroup, it has moved to near the Woods Mill Stream where the pylons cross the path.

Please consider signing this petition to save the Turtle Doves at Rye Station https://www.change.org/p/jonathan-vine-chair-of-planning-at-rother-save-rye-station-woods-the-last-known-nesting-site-for-turtle-doves-in-rye? Thank-you