THIS SURVEY HAS BEEN CANCELLED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE SURVEY WILL TAKE PLACE IN 2021

In 2020 the BTO and RSPB are jointly running a national survey of breeding waders in wet meadows. This will be a repeat of the 2002 survey, requiring visits to the sites surveyed in 2002 and with the inclusion of any new wet grassland sites that have been identified. In addition, a sample of farmland sites with specific agri-environment scheme options in place (wet grassland management and lapwing plots) will also be surveyed. This survey will primarily be organised in Sussex by Helen Crabtree (BTO Regional Representative for Sussex); surveys of RSPB sites will be organised by RSPB staff.

In Sussex the wet grassland sites to be surveyed for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 19/3/20) are as follows:

Coultershaw Bridge to Shopham Bridge
Snow Hill (East Head)
North Stoke to Houghton
Arundel to Offham
Offham to South Stoke
Adur Levels
Upper Cuckmere Valley
Pevensey (Hooe Level West)
Pevensey (Waller’s Haven South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Wet Level (Wittersham)

The first-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 19/3/20) are as follows (most of these sites are not entire 1-km squares but very small areas and in some cases just individual fields):

SU7800 nr West Itchenor
SU8302 Dell Quay
SU9816 Sutton End
SU9915 Bignor Park
TQ0629 nr Billingshurst
TQ2110 Upper Beeding
TQ2118 Shermanbury
TQ2714 nr Hurstpierpoint
TQ3407 Bevendean
TQ3930 nr Horsted Keynes
TQ4418 nr Isfield
TQ4519 nr Isfield
TQ9719 Camber

Lower-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 19/3/20) are as follows (most of these sites are not entire 1-km squares but very small areas and in some cases just individual fields):

SU7409 nr Emsworth
SU7909 nr Funtington
SU8017 Beacon Hill
SU8116 North Marden
SU8314 Chilgrove
SU9312 Upwaltham Hill
SU9420 Selham
SU9429 Northchapel
TQ0008 nr Arundel
TQ0306 nr Warningcamp
TQ0508 nr Burpham
TQ0627 nr Billingshurst
TQ0705 nr Angmering
TQ0807 Patching Hill
TQ0909 Blackpatch Hill
TQ1210 nr Findon
TQ1209 nr Findon
TQ1609 Steyning Bowl
TQ2107 Mill Hill
TQ2412 nr Fulking
TQ3507 Newmarket Hill
TQ3608 nr Kingston
TQ3909 nr Lewes
TQ4004 nr Telscombe
TQ4306 nr Rodmell
TQ4501 Newhaven
TQ4738 nr Hartfield
TQ5033 nr Friar’s Gate
TQ6712 nr Boreham Street
TQ7624 nr Bodiam
TQ8325 Northiam
TQ8719 Udimore

The survey will require three visits between the middle of April and the end of June to map the locations of displaying or breeding waders. Simple habitat and land management measures will also be recorded during the fieldwork. Surveyors will need to be able to identify common wader species by sight and sound, and also to be familiar with display and territorial behaviour. Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer to survey one of the sites listed above or would like more information.

The society apologises for the incorrect headings in the table showing the results from the recent three seasons for the Sussex Winter Bird Survey in the 2018 Sussex Bird Report (pages 205-208). The three columns for each season should be headed:

Column 1 (% of squares): is the percentage of 1-km squares (to the nearest whole number) in which that species was recorded.

Column 2 (Av Enc/Occ Sq): is the average number of encounters to one decimal place that have been noted during both the early and late survey for any square in which that species was detected (please note this may be the same bird encountered in both the early and the late survey).

Column 3 (total encountered): represents the total encounters recorded of that species during SWBS for that winter period. In all cases, this represents the sum of the early survey plus the late survey and may include two recordings of the same bird.

An empty cell indicates the species was not recorded during either survey period for that specific winter.

Now is the ideal time to sign up to take part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) for this breeding season and to arrange to come along to an informal practice session with other volunteers.

This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report.

Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 150 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions are planned for late March 2020, to which new volunteers will be invited.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2020 breeding season (updated 19/3/2020) are:

SU7802 Cobnor Point
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2631 Tilgate Forest*
TQ2828 Staplefield*
TQ3304 Brighton Whitehawk
TQ3916 near South Chailey*
TQ4002 Telscombe*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4800 Seaford*
TQ4817 near Isfield*
TQ4900 Seaford*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ7028 near Hurst Green
TQ7311 near Bexhill*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh*

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree, 01444 441687, hcrabtree@gmail.com.

The International Swan Census 2020 takes place over the weekend of 11-12 January and will gather information on numbers of Bewick’s and whooper swans as well as information on breeding success and habitat use. In Sussex the following sites will ideally be checked during or near the census weekend:

Knepp Millpond
River Arun (Arundel to Littlehampton)
Adur Levels
Henfield Brooks
Amberley Wild Brooks
Pulborough Brooks (north and south)
River Arun (Houghton to Offham)
Bury Brooks
River Ouse (Southease to Lewes Brooks)

Most of these sites will be covered by existing WeBS volunteers who should conduct their WeBS counts in the usual way and simply record some additional information if Bewick’s or whooper swans are present (information will be sent to these volunteers).

If you know of any other site where Bewick’s or whooper swans are possible during January and would like to make a visit during or near the census weekend, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com for further instructions.

In addition, any sightings of Bewick’s or whooper swans at these or any other sites in Sussex on any date in January should be reported.

In 2020 the BTO and RSPB will jointly be running a national survey of breeding waders in wet meadows. This will be a repeat of the 2002 survey, requiring visits to the sites surveyed in 2002 and with the addition of any new wet grassland sites that are identified. It is possible that the survey will be extended to include lapwing breeding sites in farmland. This survey will be organised in Sussex by Helen Crabtree (BTO Regional Representative for Sussex).

In Sussex the planned list of wet grassland sites to be surveyed during April, May and June 2020 for breeding waders is as follows:

Rye Harbour SSSI
Wet Level
Brede Levels
River Rother (upstream of Newenden)
Pevensey (Hooe Level East)
Pevensey (Waller’s Haven North)
Pevensey (Hooe Level West)
Pevensey (Star Inn)
Pevensey (Waller’s Haven South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Hankham Level)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Whelpley Level East)
Pevensey (Horse Eye Level)
Pevensey (Whelpley Level West)
Pevensey (Down Level)
Arlington Reservoir
Cuckmere Valley
Glynde Levels
Lower Ouse Valley
Ouse Valley (Hamsey to Lewes)
Adur Levels
Pulborough N.& S. Brooks
Amberley Wild Brooks
Offham to South Stoke
Arundel to Offham
North Stoke to Houghton
Lower Fittleworth
Church Norton
Sidlesham Ferry
Snow Hill
Shopham Bridge to Coates
Coultershaw Bridge to Shopham Bridge

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you can help with any of the following:

1. You would like to volunteer to survey one of the sites listed above;
2. You know of another lowland wet grassland site in Sussex suitable for breeding waders;
3. You know of any other site in any habitat in Sussex where lapwings are likely to breed or have bred in recent years.

Now is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), because if you take on a BBS square you will also have the option to take part in the Sussex Winter Bird Survey (SWBS) by surveying the same square over the coming winter.

The BBS is a national monitoring scheme administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced annually. Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 150 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed. Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions will be planned for March 2020 to which new volunteers will be invited.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2020 breeding season (updated 17/12/19) are:

SU7802 Cobnor Point
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9127 near Fernhurst*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9618 Coultershaw Bridge* (Waterways BBS: River Rother)
SU9705 Walberton*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8696 Pagham Harbour*
SZ8698 near Sidlesham*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0819 near West Chiltington*
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2122 Cowfold*
TQ2631 Tilgate Forest*
TQ2721 near Goddard’s Green*
TQ2828 Staplefield*
TQ3304 Brighton Whitehawk
TQ4002 Telscombe*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4800 Seaford*
TQ4806 Firle Beacon*
TQ4900 Seaford*
TQ5226 near Crowborough*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6727 near Stonegate*
TQ7028 near Hurst Green
TQ7311 near Bexhill*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh*

For further information about the BBS, please contact:
Helen Crabtree
BTO Representative for Sussex
Phone: 01444 441687
Email: hcrabtree@gmail.com

For further information about the Sussex Winter Bird Survey, please contact:
Christine George
Email: sussex.wbs@gmail.com

New volunteers in Sussex are being sought to help to monitor national breeding woodcock numbers. Annual monitoring of roding woodcocks has taken place at a number of sites across the UK each year since 2003; a summary of the results can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey/results.

Three visits to a site are required between 1st May and 30th June, commencing 15 minutes before sunset and lasting a total of 75 minutes. For each visit a volunteer remains at a designated point and counts the number of times that roding birds are seen or heard. Full details, including survey methods, can be found at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/woodcock-survey.

Listed below (updated 5/5/19) are sites that have been surveyed previously and where roding woodcocks are likely to be encountered; if you are interested in conducting surveys at one of these sites please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com. Also listed are sites that are already being monitored by existing volunteers. Sites not listed below can also be monitored if they are thought to hold breeding woodcocks; please contact Helen Crabtree with a grid reference and a site name if you are interested in conducting surveys at another site. Although the surveys are conducted at designated points, the sites are 1-km squares, and counting points should be separated by at least 1 km to avoid double-counting of roding birds.

SU8128 Chapel Common
SU8516 Westdean Woods ALLOCATED
SU8529 Stanley Common
SU8626 Woolbeding Common ALLOCATED
SU9119 Ambersham Common
SU9129 Blackdown ALLOCATED
SU9418 Lavington Common ALLOCATED
SU9518 Duncton Common
SU9807 Rewell Wood ALLOCATED
TQ0615 Northpark Wood ALLOCATED
TQ2130 St Leonard’s Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3034 Worthlodge Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3327 River’s Wood (Balcombe) ALLOCATED
TQ4230 Chelwood ALLOCATED
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4332 Ashdown Park
TQ4432 Asdown Ridge ALLOCATED
TQ4528 Marlpits
TQ4530 Pippingford Park ALLOCATED
TQ4627 Duddleswell ALLOCATED
TQ4630 Old Lodge
TQ4828 Poundgate ALLOCATED
TQ5223 Waste Wood (Hadlow Down)
TQ5431 Hornshurst Wood (Rotherfield) ALLOCATED
TQ5536 Broadwater Warren ALLOCATED
TQ5736 Hargate Forest ALLOCATED

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you have questions about this survey or would like more information.

Now is the ideal time to sign up to take part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and to come along to an informal practice session along with other volunteers.

This national monitoring scheme is administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced and published in the Sussex Bird Report.

Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 150 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed.

Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions are planned for late March 2019, to which new volunteers will be invited.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2019 breeding season (updated 29/3/2019) are:

SU7802 Cobnor Point
SU8027 near Rake*
SU8029 near Liss Forest*
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8696 near Pagham Harbour*
TQ0111 Houghton*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2122 Cowfold*
TQ2721 near Goddard’s Green*
TQ2828 Staplefield*
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ2904 Hove*
TQ3304 Brighton Whitehawk
TQ3916 near South Chailey*
TQ4002 Telscombe*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4800 Seaford*
TQ4806 Firle Beacon*
TQ4817 near Isfield*
TQ5231 Crowborough*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5707 Abbot’s Wood
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6521 Dallington Forest*
TQ6727 near Stonegate*
TQ7028 near Hurst Green
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree, 01444 441687, hcrabtree@gmail.com.

The BTO English Winter Bird Survey (EWBS) this winter will involve survey visits to randomly-selected squares that are dominated by farmland, and will assess bird populations using farmland and will also monitor the availability of food resources throughout the winter, providing national-scale monitoring of the effects of agri-environment scheme management on birds in winter (see www.bto.org/ewbs). The survey period will run from the beginning of December to the end of March, and between two and four visits are required during this period to count birds and also brown hares.

Existing BBS volunteers are able to sign up to take part in this survey in their own BBS squares, but there are plenty of available squares for other new volunteers (see below for just a selection); taking part in this survey this winter does not commit you to the BBS or to any breeding season surveys. Please contact me at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you are interested in taking part in this survey or would like more information, or register your interest using the availability map at www.bto.org/ewbs. The only requirements are that you can recognise common farmland birds by sight and sound, can record habitat details including crop types, and can commit to the required number of surveys this winter.

Please note that this survey will be running alongside the long-term Sussex Winter Bird Survey for this winter.

Helen Crabtree (BTO Representative for Sussex)

Selection of available squares (updated 3/12/2018):

SU7800 West Itchenor
SU7802 Chidham
SU9017 Heyshott
SU9113 West Dean
SU9228 near Blackdown
TQ0111 Houghton
TQ0124 near Kirdford
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill
TQ1606 near Sompting
TQ1904 Lancing
TQ2719 near Hickstead
TQ2916 Hurstpierpoint
TQ4716 near Isfield
TQ4806 Firle Beacon
TQ4938 near Blackham
TQ5435 near Eridge Station
TQ5511 Lower Dicker
TQ6419 Earls Down
TQ8722 Peasmarsh

Now is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), because if you take on a BBS square you will also have the option to take part in the Sussex Winter Bird Survey (SWBS) by surveying the same square over the coming winter.

The BBS is a national monitoring scheme administered by the BTO and jointly funded by the BTO, JNCC and RSPB. It has been running since 1994 and its primary aim is to provide population trends for common and widespread bird species in the UK. Population trends for Sussex are also produced annually. Survey plots are randomly-selected 1-km squares of the National Grid, and the same squares are surveyed each year. Volunteers visit their squares three times each year during the breeding season, once to record simple habitat data, and twice to walk a fixed route, recording birds seen and heard. There are more than 150 BBS squares across Sussex, covering every type of habitat, and new volunteers are always needed. Volunteers must be able to recognise common and widespread birds, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required, and some informal group practice sessions will be planned for March 2019 to which new volunteers will be invited.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2019 breeding season (updated 18/1/19) are:

SU7802 Cobnor Point
SU8027 near Rake*
SU8029 near Liss Forest*
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9618 Coultershaw Bridge* (Waterways BBS: River Rother)
SZ7996 East Wittering*
TQ0111 Houghton*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1114 Washington Common
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2506 Portslade*
TQ2721 near Goddard’s Green*
TQ2828 Staplefield*
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ3304 Brighton Whitehawk
TQ3916 near South Chailey*
TQ4002 Telscombe*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4427 Nutley*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4800 Seaford*
TQ4817 near Isfield*
TQ5231 Crowborough*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5707 Abbot’s Wood
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6521 Dallington Forest*
TQ6727 near Stonegate*
TQ7028 near Hurst Green
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh*

For further information about the BBS, please contact:
Helen Crabtree
BTO Representative for Sussex
Phone: 01444 441687
Email: hcrabtree@gmail.com

For further information about the Sussex Winter Bird Survey, please contact:
Christine George
Email: sussex.wbs@gmail.com