The Sussex Bird Report, No. 73, 2020

Fingers crossed this report will prove relatively error-free, but please note the following.

Long-tailed Tit. The last sentence on page 145 should read: ‘During the GBW they were recorded in 61% of gardens surveyed with an average peak count of four. [JA Hobson]’

Northern Treecreeper: the text on page 161 should read: ‘The individual found at Patching on 28 Dec 2019, the first for Sussex, remained until 7 Jan. [M Mallalieu]’

For Long-tailed Tit, we will include in the Winter Newsletter an erratum that can be cut out and inserted at the bottom of page 145. You can also print and cut it out here.

Please email me at breditor@sos.org.uk if you spot any other errors or omissions. Thank you.

Mark Mallalieu

The latest Bird Report will be landing on members’ doormats very shortly! As well as the regular features including, among others, Review of the Year, Systematic List of all the species seen in Sussex in 2020 and Ringing Report there are special papers on:

• The first successful breeding of White Storks in Britain in recent recorded history
• Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns nesting on a factory roof in Chichester
• First breeding records of Cattle Egret in Sussex
• Movements in Sussex of White-tailed Eagles from the Isle of Wight project

It’s a mammoth task to pull everything together so very well done to new Editor Mark Mallalieu and his team, as well as the many writers of accounts and articles.

Non-members can purchase a copy for £13 (includes P & P) from Val Bentley, Lanacre, Blackgate Lane, Henfield BN5 9HA mandpcommittee@sos.org.uk Cheques payable to Sussex Ornithological Society, or contact Val for bank transfer details.

A small number of copies have been cut with a slight flaw between pages 193 and 224. If you receive such a copy and would like it replaced, please let Val know at the email address above and we will immediately send you a new copy.

Surveyor needed urgently from 2022

This long running survey monitors 21 breeding species with emphasis on heathland specialists by the simple method of detecting males holding territory. The core heaths of West Sussex have been surveyed for over 20 years and we are now in need of a surveyor for the important site of Weavers Down SU8130 (centre grid ref)

Directly adjoining the much larger area of Weavers Down in Hampshire the Sussex area is a long tongue of land with a mix of open/ wooded heath and acid grassland. Nightjar, Woodlark, Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipit and Stonechat are the prime targets for the survey; however Redstart, Linnet and Common Whitethroat are also present.

The Survey starts in mid-February, (to find the Woodlark taking up their territories) and carries on until late June. We try to cover the individual sites entirely on at least four occasions, including one early year visit as mentioned, and two visits (more if you have the inclination and the time) about two weeks apart during May when song activity is at its peak. There will be at least one evening visit in May or June to detect Nightjar and Woodcock.

The survey is not particularly demanding but the continuous nature of it over more than 20 years has enabled us to providing excellent data, assisting with management and other conservation issues.

If you are interested please contact Alan Perry for more details on 01798 344417 or email ap@alanperry.uk.com

An updated Sussex List is now available to view here. See also the menu bar at top.

It can also be downloaded as an Excel file, or as a pdf on which you can note the species you have seen.

The SOS is thrilled to announce the winners of its first bird photography competition. Go here for details.

The aim of the group is to ensure ongoing and consistent monitoring of the Sussex Barn Owl population. With circa 90% of Barn Owls now breeding in nest boxes it is vital we maintain and grow the status of this enigmatic bird through effective management of these and other breeding sites.

We are a Sussex based group of bird ringers and nest recorders looking for individuals to support our nest box erecting, monitoring, recording and Barn Owl ringing activities in the county.

If you wish to become involved in assisting us in any way or wish to discover more about Barn Owl conservation, please contact the persons below.  Barrie Watson, who had actively and tirelessly supported the SOS, an enormous number of Avian projects and Barn Owls, passed away in June 2023 at the age of 93.

Terry Hallahan 07768 506126
tdavidhallahan@gmail.com

Stuart Card 07798 725691
stuartcard@hotmail.co.uk

On 12 July Center Parcs announced they had acquired an option to purchase a 553 acre site of woodland off Balcombe Road in Worth, Sussex and that they planned to develop their 6th Centre Parcs in the UK there. The site is bordered by the M23 to the north and by Worth Forest SSSI to the south west. Almost the whole site is plantation ancient woodland (that is an area that has been planted with trees for hundreds of years). As such it is enjoys the conservation protection afforded to all ancient woodland. The site is also wholly in the High Weald AONB. Planning policy states that development should not occur in AONB’s or on Ancient Woodland except in the most exceptional circumstances, and it is not apparent to us that there is any exceptional reason why a large holiday park should be built on such a protected site.

Most of the eastern side of the M23 between junctions 10 and 11 is at present undeveloped, although it is under development threat from the overflow of Crawley. The SOS believes that this development would be wholly at odds with the legal requirements that both the High Weald AONB and ancient woodlands should be protected from inappropriate or excessive development. Further, the site forms part of a large connected area of woodland mixed with farmland which is rich in birdlife, including Red and Amber-listed species of Conservation Concern and Schedule 1 species. We expect to see this whole area remain intact, for the continued benefit of wildlife including birds.

In the coming weeks SOS will be working with partner organisations to see how best we can ensure that this proposal is rejected.