The highlights of a short outing here today included a flock of seven Woodlarks with two Yellowhammers in winter wheat, c.35 Crossbills flying around and perching on treetops, 1-2 Goshawks, and two noisy Marsh Tits. With most of the haws eaten there were just two Fieldfares and 1-2 Redwings. Mark Mallalieu and David Thorns

Just had a massive bird of prey fly over Haywards Heath. Characteristic long fingers on the end of the wings. Quite dark except white shoulders, clearly visible as it was circling. Came from the west over the railway station and carried on eastwards. The seagulls were really not happy! I've been bird watching 40+ years and never seen anything like it in the UK.

Its been very quiet at sea lately, but things livened up today with a very early movement of several flocks of Brent Geese totaling 220 east first thing, 29 Red-throated Divers E [my best so far during a very poor winter] and 35 Gannets E. in 2 hrs.

Lunchtime visit to Southwick Canal after hearing the Red-necked Grebe was still present. It was ranging between the lock gates and Barrett Steel. Whilst it was a little tricky to track down three of us saw a grebe-like bird distantly and tracking it down showed the yellow on the bill, dark lores and the dark front. A Great Northern Diver was also present eating local crabs. One Kingfisher was seen in the dock.

After three weeks away and a lot of rain since my return I've been a bit slow to get back to local birding, so a Kingfisher in flight at the Norfolk Bridge, seen from the upper deck of a 700 service to Worthing, was of note and probably the first I've ever seen from a bus, though I did once see one in Scotland from a train. There were clearly a good number of Teal in the same area, though I wasn't in a position to count them accurately.

An afternoon visit to the Arun Valley with 43 Cattle Egret in one flock on the water meadows south of Burpham. At the Burpham WTW only 4 Chiffchaffs and not much else. With heavy rain we cut our losses and drove back to Southwick to checkout the Red-necked Grebe on the Canal. We soon found it opposite Barrett Steel giving decent views in fading light, no sign of the Great Northern Diver seen earlier although a 1st winter Shag on the quayside and a male Stonechat in the bushes.

Bernie Forbes & Steve Lawless

A probable dead Barn Owl on the road immediately south west of the Broadbridge Heath roundabout (outside the garden centre), initially seen early afternoon.

I thought I was going to be on my own, but five intrepid members joined me for a morning’s soaking. The best bird on our way to West Mead was a Goldcrest that was showing off its hovering prowess. Snipe and Marsh Harrier could be made out in the gloom, and much discussion was had about what appeared to be a small wader among the distant Lapwing. Unfortunately, it turned out to be our wishful thinking. Winpenny had good close views of Snipe but the viewing conditions were terrible.

The North Brooks from Little Hanger Hide provided more sheltered conditions and good views of a close flock of mainly Redwing with smaller numbers of Fieldfare and Linnet. Black-tailed Godwits, Pintail, Shoveler, Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal made up most of the others on view. The way back to the visitor centre was rather soggy but at least we added Long-tailed Tit to the list that in the circumstances was more than I expected. Total species for the morning was 35. Thanks to everyone for their spotting skills, and making it an enjoyable time, despite the weather.

Rather a quiet week with more of the same, and alas no exciting new arrivals. Although the recent Slavonian Grebe at Widewater was not seen again there were still a few of them around at Selsey Bill with birds seen on the sea daily and at least five noted on 5th. There were two Black-necked Grebes at Scotney GP on 2nd and another there on 6th. Red-necked Grebes reported at Selsey usually refer to long-staying individuals, so one flying west on 6th probably refers to the bird found on 29th November.

The 1st winter female Scaup at Scotney GP was present all week on the main pit (photo taken by Martin Casemore on 5th attached). There was a group of six Velvet Scoter offshore at Hastings on 1st and a single flew west past St Leonards on 6th.

The Glossy Ibis at Arundel WWT was seen again on 2nd.

The Black Guillemot at Sovereign Hbr (Eastbourne) was faithful to the outer harbour during the week and was accompanied by a Great Northern Diver on 3rd. However there were no reports of the guillemot over the weekend. Remarkably another Black Guillemot was noted this week off Selsey Bill: a bird was photographed flying west on 2nd which might well have been the same as one sighted at Southsea, Hampshire, some 90 minutes later. It is only the fifth recorded off the Selsey peninsula this century and the first since 2019.

Two Water Pipits were at Amberley Wild Brooks on 1st and another was reported at Pagham Hbr on 4th. Two Hawfinches were noted at Sherwood Rough (Arundel) on 2nd.

Sorry about the very late posting.
On December 4th I took a SOS Mid Week walk to the Chidham Peninsular in Chichester Harbour, with 5 intrepid Sussex members met in the car park. Heavy rain overnight which was predicted to clear later in the morning. We started our walk in light rain that soon gave way to a blustery morning the tide was high with many 100s of Brent Geese in the channels with a Common Buzzard over the woods to the east. In the pools on the landside we found several Common Snipe with small groups of  Teal. In the channel 3 wintering Sandwich Terns flew past the group heading south slightly incongruous sight on a cool December morning.  In the fields near Cobnor Farm we had Goldfinch with calling Greenfinch, 2 Mistle Thrush  a few Song Thrush with a flyby Great Spotted Woodpecker plus a calling Green Woodpecker. A lone Treecreeper showed briefly with a couple of Goldcrest around the sailing centre.  Also out on the open water good numbers of Teal with  Little Grebe and a few Great Crested Grebe all noted. We found a fairly close Great Northern Diver in the Bosham Deeps giving good views. On the salt marsh approaching Cobnor Point 3 Greenshank were a welcome sight with many Brent Geese calling to each other. On reaching the hide at the point we all managed to squeeze inside where it was several degrees warmer. Offshore the open water toward East Head and Thorney Island was very choppy making finding any unusual grebes or sea duck not easy. Roosting on Stakes Island we found plenty of Grey Plover with Dunlin in their thousands, plus lots of Curlew and  Oystercatchers. On the return walk we saw at least 2 Buzzards and heard a calling wintering Whimbrel that failed to show itself. Lyn found a superb adult Peregrine sitting in the rigging of a yacht basking in the late afternoon sunshine, our last sighting a tidy flock of 20 Skylarks that zipped by.
Thanks to the few that turned out we enjoyed the day in good company.
Bernie Forbes