As part of the effort to protect Brighton’s vulnerable Swift population, the RSPB is looking for someone in the Brighton & Hove area to monitor planning applications which could offer opportunities to incorporate nesting spaces for Swifts and other at-risk urban species and encourage the local authority to press for inclusion of such measures in these developments. If you would like to help in this role, you can find more details here

Estimated time: one day per month.  It is a volunteer position, but out of pocket travel expenses would be reimbursed.

Thought members and others might be interested in the following:

On the 7 May BBC from 00.30 to 03.30 Radio 3 will be broadcasting a Slow Radio experience – the sounds of Nightingales recorded in a Sussex wood this April. Four musicians spent the night in the woods responding musically to the sounds of nightingales led by folk singer and outdoorsman Sam Lee, who explains the migratory behaviour of the birds, the character of their songs, and the habitats they favour for singing.

The four soloists take turns to respond musically to the nightingales – Clive Bell (Japanese bamboo flute); Laura Moody (cello and vocal); Seckou Keita (kora harp); and Alice Zawadzki (violin and vocal).

The AGM will be at the Adastra Hall, Hassocks on 7th April at 2.30 pm.

Following the formal business, which will hopefully not take too long, there will be a short refreshment break and then our President, Alan Perry, will talk about a subject dear to his heart. Alan has been leading the West Sussex Wealden Heaths’ Breeding Bird Survey  for 20 years. His talk provides a background to these vulnerable heathlands and an insight into the fortunes  of our familiar heathland-dwelling bird species, such as Nightjar, Woodlark, Stonechat, Tree Pipit and Dartford Warbler.

Please note that the Agenda is printed on page 1 of the Spring newsletter, so bring this along with you together with the separate Annual Report & Accounts.

If you aren’t a member you will be welcome to come along too, though you will not be eligible to vote in the AGM proceedings!

There is limited parking at the Adastra, but there is usually space further along the road (towards Keymer) or there is a car park behind the supermarket (may require parking disc) and another is listed in Dale Avenue by the Pauline Thaw (Age Concern) Centre.  And it is only about 10 minutes walk from Hassocks station.

The Sussex Ornithological Society (SOS) is thrilled to announce that its publication The Birds of Sussex (2014) has been been judged the winner of the “BB/BTO Best Local Bird Atlas of the Year 2007-2017”

This Award recognises the outstanding contribution that The Birds of Sussex has made to our understanding of birds in the county. The publication – known as an avifauna – describes the current status and changing fortunes of all the wild birds of Sussex over the last 20 years. The text is based on the analysis of over two million bird records, as well as data collected by an army of more than 300 volunteer bird surveyors for the Bird Atlas project during the winter and breeding seasons of 2007-11.

Adrian Thomas, Editor of The Birds of Sussex, said “It is fantastic to see the hard work of all the volunteers who took part in the field work, collecting the information needed, and that of the team who made this publication possible recognised in this way. We now know a lot more about Sussex’s birds and are better placed to help those in need of help than ever before.”

The Birds of Sussex is 608 pages long and includes over 200 charts and figures, as well as photographs of the county’s habitats and nearly 300 species of birds. It has proved hugely popular with members of the SOS and birders everywhere – so much so that the entire print run  sold out within a year.

Photo by John Trowell

The formal presentation of the Award was made at the SOS Conference in January, but we had to keep it “under our hats” until the official announcement from the BTO & British Birds was released.

This may be of interest  – if so, please, check the organisation’s website and make direct contact with them

(from Toby Farman of Operation Wallacea)

“I work for the organisation Operation Wallacea who carry out biodiversity monitoring in a number of different regions of the world during the months of June and July. We’re currently looking for ornithologists to join us to assist with bird surveys (either point counts or mist net surveys).

For example I’m personally recruiting for someone to join us in the Tarnava Mare region of Transylvania. It’s a great opportunity to encounter and ring European species that you rarely encounter within the UK such as Hawfinches, Hoopoe’s, Golden Orioles, Beeaters, Wrynecks and a quite frankly silly quantity of Red Backed Shrikes.

Costs on-site such as food and accommodation will be covered and a travel bursary would be available for experienced applicants. We are looking for individuals who have a desire to learn and enthusiasm for conducting field work in remote and potentially basic locations. Working with small groups of students is also an important aspect of this role as the research is funded by the attendance of students eager to learn research techniques.

We have positions available in Romania, Croatia, Dominica, Ecuador, Fiji, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico and Peru.

For more information or to apply individuals can send a CV or resume to me at toby.farman@opwall.com, or check out our jobs site at http://jobs.opwall.com/job/ornithologist/.”

Since 2005 the Society has been presenting annual awards for both exceptional service (President’s Award), and long service (Stonechat Award).

This year the President’s Award went to Chris Brown for his work redesigning this website – well done and many thanks Chris.

Stonechat Awards were presented at the Conference to Andrew House, Richard Lowe, and Mike Scott-Ham, who have all supported the work of the Society over many years. Again, very grateful thanks for all they have done – and continue to do – for us.

Full details and photos will be in the next newsletter, which will arrive through your letterbox (or inbox) in March.

Surveyors urgently needed at Pagham

We need volunteers for a survey which, we hope, will lead to some very tangible outcomes.

The foraging areas for wintering Brent Geese are under pressure around Pagham Harbour from development – pressures that will only increase in the years to come.   SOS is working with RSPB and Natural England to try and ensure that the fields that the Brent Geese use in winter will be protected from development, and the first step in doing this is to gather enough information to build a map showing the fields where they graze around this area.  (Such a map in the West Solent has proved successful in ensuring that the Brent Geese foraging areas there are protected from development).

To create such a map RSPB staff need our help to carry out surveys to find out where the Brent Geese graze around Pagham/Medmerry.   Details below.  Please let Steve Webster or Ivan Lang know by 5pm on Wednesday whether you can help.

Tel: the Reserve Office  01243 641508 mobile 07703 885315 or email ivan.lang@rspb.org.uk

Further details and relevant maps also available from Richard Cowser: cowser@btinternet.com

Brent Goose and Wader Survey 2018 – Instructions:

All survey observations to be undertaken from publicly accessible areas, within your allocated area. Initially we recommend driving to key observation areas and trying to spot large flocks of Brent, or other waders/waterfowl. If not all of your survey area is accessible by vehicle there might be some walking to try and establish presence of birds. If you see large flocks in flight it is worth trying to keep track of them to see if they land within your survey area.

Please record;

1. Your name, weather conditions, survey area (1,2,3 or 4) and date.

2. Time that birds were seen and the field. (You will need to then identify this field on the recording map, simply numbering the field).

3. If you can, identify the crop in the field, or record it as grass, unidentified arable crop, or unidentified vegetable crop and try to assess the sward height in cm.

4. Try to assess the number of birds of that species within that field. If there are different species within the same field, record the numbers against the relevant species.

5. If you witness the birds being disturbed, please try and complete the disturbance parts of the survey form using the codes below. It is also worth recording on the survey map which direction the flock leaves in, or whether it returns to the original field.

Disturbance source categories;

Dog walker DW                                                          Picnic P

Dog off lead DX                                                          Motor vehicle MV

Dog on lead DL                                                           Aircraft AC

Cycling C                                                                    Birdwatcher BR

Jogger J                                                                      Horse Riding HR

Walking / rambling (without dog) W                            Metal Detecting MD

Kids playing (with or without parents) KP                   Bird of prey/wild mammals BP

Other (please specify)

The behaviour of birds as the result of recreational disturbance should be recorded using the categories below;

No response (NR)

Alert, heads up, no change in birds’ position (A)

Alert, birds walked/swam short distance and resumed previous behaviour (W)

Birds flew short distance (<50m) and resumed previous behaviour in general area (f)

Birds took flight and flew more than 50m (F)

Direction and distance of movement caused by disturbance and where possible destination should be plotted on the survey map.

How to submit your results.

 During surveys if any problems should arise, both in terms of questions regarding the methodology and any health and safety concerns, please contact the reserve office at Pagham on 01243 641508, and talk to either Ivan Lang or Steve Webster.

 At the end of a survey, either hand all your forms into the visitor centre at Pagham, or old onto it for the next survey, if you are doing more than one date or area. After the last survey date, all survey data and maps should be handed in at the centre.

 Equipment required;

1. Food and water
2. Sun and wet weather protective clothing
3. Binoculars
4. Telescope and tripod (if required)
5. Survey maps, one will be required per survey
6. Survey recording sheets, one per survey
7. Diary recording sheets and continuation sheets

Health and safety

 As a volunteer, you are under no obligation to participate or continue with a survey if circumstances arise. Volunteers are responsible for their own health and safety, and should not put themselves in a position that could place them, or others, in danger. You should never undertake any work if you have concerns about your own or others’ health and safety. You are under no obligation to visit a particular site, even if the organisers have requested it.

Before undertaking any activities, every fieldworker should consider the particular health and safety hazards associated with their individual study sites and whether their individual circumstances and medical conditions expose them to particular hazards. Individuals should assess any potential risks arising from their fieldwork activities, which should include considering the risks specific to individual sites. You should think about what precautions should be taken against any risks.

Always obtain permission from the relevant landowner or tenant to enter any private land not accessible via a legal access route as prescribed as part of the Public Rights of Way network. Do not continue fieldwork if a landowner later revokes access permission. Please abide by The Countryside Code

This really should be the final list from the (now) 17 teams who took part in the Bird Race this year:

123 Splash Pointers (Matt Eade, Derek Barber & Bob Self)

102 Team@SussexBirding (Lee Beadell & Alistair Gray)

101 Midhurst Martlets (Hugh Horne, Peter Davis, Peter Plant, Gary Trew)

94  Mike’s Mergansers (Jan Jupp, Lesley Milward, Mike English, Charles Waters & Mike Russell)

93 The Rolling Turnstones (Colin, Juliet, Alan & Angie)

93  Dynamic Duo (Elliot Dowding & John Thorogood)

91 Wild Park Wanderers (Ben Benatt, Paul Cole & Peter Whitcomb)

87  Dippers (Chris Barfield, Nigel Barnes & David Potter)

80  Treasurer’s Team (Ted Merrikin & John Underwood)

76  Explorer 123ers (Chris Bird & Pete Mantle)

75 Wealden Wings (Clare Buckle & Joanne Chattaway)

74 TQ01ers (Jackie, Linda, Mark, Pete & Alice)

69  Just the Two of us (Brian Crawford & Kathleen Hutchinson)

63 West Weald Wanderers (Paul Matson, Craig Welsby, Dave Burges)

58  The Passing Passerines (Penny, Alison, Sarah & Sue)

54  Henfield Fab Four (-1) ( Val Bentley, Nigel Colgate, & Nigel Parsons,  –Will Green)

40 The LBJ’s (Tim & Samuel  Roberts)

Several new teams went out this year, together with a goodly proportion of teams who have “raced” for many years, some of whom persuaded an extra member or two to join in.  I make it a total of 51 participants – brilliant!

Many thanks to all for their reports, which convey the sense of achievement and enjoyment from the day, whatever the weather.

And finally many congratulations to the Splash Pointers with their 123, which broke the long-standing record of 121 different species.

Yes, it really is nearly 2018 and time to gird up your metaphorical loins for another Race.  The 2017 Race was really successful, with 17 teams taking part, and a total of £2,525,35 given in donations. Ted Merrikin, our Treasurer, was very diligent in hunting down Gift Aid, so the final total raised for conservation purposes was £3,009.34.

Christmas is a good time to organise your teams and sponsorship and plan the route for your Race – which must be carried out in the first two weeks of January, within Sussex.   If you are unable to participate yourself, you may wish to consider supporting one of the participating teams.

Further details are in the newsletter which should arrive soon, and Race packs are available from Val Bentley on chetsford@talk21.com or ring 01273 494723

Good luck!