Unusual visitor to Littlehampton garden 5 mins from sea

[Anty Patty]

Two days ago I was having my usual scan of the garden from the comfort of the kitchen and I thought I saw the usual female sparrow on one of the feeders - hang on a minute! that's not a sparrow- bins out quick - have a really long look at it and take in all the details. creamy/yellowy line above AND below the black eye, pale underneath, beigey on breast, back looked stripey brown from head to tail. Tail had round ends with a notch. I scoured the books and some photo websites including BirdGuides picture page - found it! - a reed bunting - did any one see one recently in this area?

[Dogghound]

Reed buntings are relatively common in the correct habitat throughout the UK, they will occasionally come to feed in gardens especially if food is hard to come by.