A trip to West Dean and it was the busiest I've ever seen it..not with birders unfortunately..there were, deep breath... at least three shooting parties including at least twelve 4x4s and three tractors and trailers with more dogs than I cared to count and a smattering of beaters, a mini tractor mowing a lawn, a log splitting machine, two boy racers, hordes of cyclists and Portsmouth Water digging up the track to Monkton Farm!! No wonder the Little Owl didn't show! Consolation was a flighty Hawfinch (or two?) in the trees on the sharp bend near Yew Tree Cottage but apart from that fairly quiet if you see what I mean...