I have witnessed a small scale Starling spectacular for the last three late afternoons from the river bank at South Heighton. The flock at a guess numbers from the high hundreds up to a thousand birds and begins to form on the Pylons and power cables nearby. Its very enjoyable viewing as the birds twist and turn,mass together and stretch out in swirling waves. Yesterday the aerial display lasted for about 30 minutes ( from 4 p.m.) before the birds all dropped into reeds, which fringe a short section of the old River Ouse  course between the river bank and railway line, squabbling and jostling for position as they vied for the best roost perches and were quite vocal. This afternoon they were already in the reeds when I walked past but occasionally a few birds would fly up and move to another spot.

A Short-eared Owl reported today by Barrie Norman at Bo Peep, Alciston (from Firle Birds).

Yesterday, a Woodcock at Frog Firle (Alfriston) seen by Bob Eade, who also had two Firecrests in his garden in Seaford (via SOS).

The first Brambling of the winter seen at Firle yesterday morning, with a group of Chaffinches at Place Farm.

Walk up through the village, past the church and onto the Old Coach Road, then view the yard with the straw bales and metal barn on the left, opposite the horse paddocks and just before the track turns sharply left.

Plenty of other common bits and bobs at this spot too recently, including Grey Wagtail, Fieldfare and Little Owl.

Also Lesser Redpoll heard daily around the cricket pitch in recent mornings.

A 1st winter Red breasted Flycatcher found by Jon Curson in Harry`s bush at Seaford Head/west side of lower Cuckmere valley late morning  proved quite flighty and difficult to follow as it flitted up, down and through the branches of a couple of sycamore trees mostly in the shade, only occasionally standing still to give good views, therefore only a rather poor ` record shot` was obtained. An excellent find though.

A late afternoon walk  yesterday turned up few surprises, two distant Buzzard north west of Piddinghoe, single Curlew, Lapwing, Little Egret & Kingfisher along the river also a pair of Grey Wagtail. Two Cetti`s Warblers heard. Best of all was a Peregrine which gave an all too brief fly past between pylons 17 & 18.

A beautiful afternoon up the river from the station produced 2 Cetti’s (1 on either side of the river)only 2 Snipe(the main Snipe fields are still fairly dry) a flock of about 20 Corn Buntings feeding on the reed heads along with Reed Bunting ,Skylark,Meadow pipits and usual what have you.

A late-afternoon visit to my old patch at Alciston made me happy – in the tiny reedbed I used to keep an eye on, a single Common Snipe, at least a dozen Reed Buntings going to roost, and half a dozen Yellowhammers in the nearby hedgerows (with perhaps twice that number in surrounding fields). Good to see that it’s still, in relative terms, a prime spot.

Elsewhere around the fields to the east of the village, quite a few Common Gulls, plenty of Pheasants, and not much else.

On The Street, near where it meets the Old Coach Road, our car disturbed a Sparrowhawk which had been busy disembowelling a Woodpigeon.

A latish Osprey reported in the lower Cuckmere on Friday (23rd), by Mike Unwin (via SOS).

Today in Firle, both Swallow and Fieldfare near the Church.

A brief wander up to my favourite piece of the escarpment at Alciston revealed:

Swallow 2
Yellowhammer 4+
Lesser Redpoll 1
Chiffchaff 2+
Blackbird c. 12
Song Thrush c. 8
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Common + BH Gull c.200

The concentration of thrushes, many of which were flighty and vocal, seemed to indicate migrants rather than local birds.

Several moths and butterflies active, including a Red Admiral.

A Little Stint in the company of two Dunlin at Arlington Reservoir today is a good record (Alan Kitson, per SOS).

Earlier in the week, reports of a couple of Goldeneye there among a selection of commoner ducks.