The BTO will be running a Winter Gull Survey (WinGS) over this winter and next winter (2023-24 and 2024-25) with the primary aim of obtaining new population estimates for the principal species that winter in the UK and assessing how populations have changed since the last survey in 2003/04–2005/06. The results of this survey will also help to assess the impact of the ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on gull populations. The survey will involve coordinated visits to key roost sites and additional visits to sample stretches of coastline and sample squares inland, with visits to key sites prioritised for January 2024. Visits to sample sites and outstanding key sites will then be prioritised for January 2025, with supplementary counts also proposed for the autumn in 2024. Further information about taking part can be found at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/winter-gull-survey/taking-part.
The date for surveys this winter is 21 January 2024 with surveys acceptable a few days either side of this date.
Key sites in Sussex for which volunteers are needed are listed below (updated 11/1/2024); please contact the organisers listed below for more information. Sites can also be selected online after registering at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/winter-gull-survey.
Chichester Harbour: please contact Peter Hughes at peter.hughes@conservancy.co.uk.
Coastal Sussex: please contact Dave Boddington at davebodds@yahoo.co.uk.
Pagham Harbour
Aldwick
Climping
Littlehampton ALLOCATED
Rustington
East Preston
Ferring
Goring-by-Sea
West Worthing
East Worthing
Lancing
Shoreham Beach ALLOCATED
Southwick Beach ALLOCATED
Hove ALLOCATED
Brighton Marina ALLOCATED
Newhaven Harbour ALLOCATED
Newhaven Tidemills ALLOCATED
Seven Sisters/Birling Gap
Pevensey Bay ALLOCATED
Bexhill-on-Sea
St. Leonards
Inland Sussex: please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.
Ardingly Reservoir ALLOCATED
Weirwood Reservoir ALLOCATED
Barcombe Reservoir ALLOCATED
Arlington Reservoir ALLOCATED
Darwell Reservoir ALLOCATED
Bewl Water ALLOCATED
