The Rare Breeding Birds Panel has updated the guidance on its website regarding the reporting of sensitive rare breeding birds during the breeding season – see here – and there is a blog here. Please familiarise yourself with this advice. For Sussex, Marsh Harrier, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler should be treated in the same way. […]

Please read the attached leaflet about this year’s Urban Nesting Gull Survey to see if you might be able to help.

The 2020 Marsh Tit survey had to be abandoned mid-way through 2020 due to the first Covid-19 lockdown. Nevertheless 29 squares were surveyed, although in some of these only one of the two planned visits were made. The survey has now been cautiously restarted in a manner consistent with government rules and BTO guidance. All […]

Forestry England are looking for volunteers to survey a number of their woodlands in Sussex. A list of sites can be seen here. If you are interested or have any questions please contact Jadie Baker at jadie.baker@forestryengland.uk. The survey methodology is not exactly the same as for the BBS, but is easy to use.

This survey was planned for 2020 but cancelled due to government restrictions. The intention now is for this survey to run in 2021 dependent on restrictions. Planning and preparation are going ahead as normal. All volunteers for this survey will be expected to observe all government restrictions and guidelines. In 2021 the BTO and RSPB […]

The 2020 Marsh Tit survey had to be abandoned mid-way through 2020 due to the first Covid-19 lockdown. Nevertheless 29 squares were surveyed, although in some of these only one of the two planned visits were made. The survey has now been cautiously restarted in a manner consistent with government rules and BTO guidance. All […]

Some heronries in Sussex will be active already this year. Due to the difficult and unpredictable circumstances this year some heronries and egret and cormorant nesting colonies may not be counted as usual. All birdwatchers in Sussex are encouraged to report any signs that they see when out and about in their local areas that […]

This survey was planned for 2020 but cancelled due to government restrictions. The intention now is for this survey to run in 2021 dependent on restrictions. Planning and preparation are going ahead as normal. All volunteers for this survey will be expected to observe all government restrictions and guidelines. In 2021 the BTO and RSPB […]

Many thanks to everyone who submitted entries for the Sussex Photographer of the Year Competition 2020-2021. As to be expected, the standard of entries is extremely high, and it will be a very difficult task to choose the winners. We plan to announce the results at the SOS AGM, which is to be held on […]

We are delighted to launch this new service from the SOS. The first video is, very appropriately, about the SOS emblem, the Stonechat. To help you through lockdown, Clare Buckle, Secretary to the SOS Scientific Committee and an accomplished artist and teacher of art, has very generously created this video showing you how to draw […]