Sunday 10th January 2010

These maps include all SOS, TTV, Birdtrack and roving records from the first two winter Atlas periods, November 2007-February 2008 and November 2008-February 2009, with the exception of most SOS records for 2009. Garden BirdWatch records only from the period November/December 2007 are included. These maps do not incorporate any records from this winter (November 2009 to date).

FIRECREST – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

Click here to open a larger map in a new window.

Firecrest was recorded in 6.2% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. Whereas breeding birds are usually found in conifer or mixed woodlands, wintering birds (most of which are migrants from north-east Europe) favour scrubby wetlands, and deciduous as well as coniferous woodlands, especially sheltered ones. Firecrests will often associate with flocks of Goldcrests and Tits.

GOLDENEYE – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

Click here to open a larger map in a new window.

Goldeneye was recorded in 2.8% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. This is a late departing winter visitor (the latest recorded departure date is 23 May), but the majority of birds are seen in the county in December through to February. They frequent inland waterbodies, coastal harbours and other coastal areas.  Numbers are usually higher in harsh winters, so now is a good time to look out for them.

STONECHAT – First two winter seasons provisional distribution map.

Click here to open a larger map in a new window.

Stonechat was recorded in 27.1% of the county’s tetrads during the first two winter seasons. This species favours coastal scrub and lowland heath, and can often be found prominently perched on a gorse bush.  During winter there has been evidence of Sussex birds moving from exposed inland breeding territories towards warmer coastal areas and river valleys.  This may be particularly true this winter as they do suffer in harsh winters.