The South Downs farmland bird monitoring project started in 2014 as part the South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative. The project is a collaboration between the RSPB, Natural England, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), the BTO, the South Downs Land Management Group and the Sussex and Hampshire Ornithological Societies. The project combines data from the BTO Breeding Bird Survey with additional data from randomly-distributed squares within the South Downs national park that are surveyed annually in the breeding season. The South Downs Farmland Bird Initiative is a wider project which involves working with farmers and landowners to provide the ‘Big 3’ for farmland birds: safe nesting areas, summer feeding areas and winter feeding areas. Focusing on lapwing, grey partridge and corn bunting, the habitat created also benefits other bird species such as skylark, linnet and yellowhammer, as well as other farmland wildlife including brown hares, rare arable plants and bumblebees. The monitoring project will hopefully help to measure the effectiveness of this work across the South Downs national park.

Just two visits to each square are required during the breeding season to walk a fixed route and record all the birds seen and heard. The ability to recognise common farmland birds by sight and sound is required but no special expertise or previous experience is needed.

The available squares to be surveyed in Sussex in 2025 are listed below (updated 11/2/2025), and the survey instructions are available here. If you are interested in taking on one of these squares for this project, or if you would like further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

SU7721 Goose Green
SU8218 Treyford
SU8408 near Chichester
SU8518 Bepton
SU8614 near Singleton
SU9008 Halnaker
SU9013 East Dean
SU9021 near Midhurst
SU9126 near Lickfold
SU9308 near Eartham
SU9725 Hoads Common
TQ0310 near North Stoke
TQ0808 near Patching
TQ0907 near Clapham

The available squares to be surveyed in Hampshire are:

SU4922 near Colden Common
SU4925 near Twyford
SU5419 near Upham
SU5730 Tichborne
SU6029 Cheriton Wood
SU6225 Brockwood Copse
SU6228 near Bramdean
SU6422 near West Meon
SU6513 near Hambledon
SU6529 West Tisted
SU6617 near Chidden
SU6627 Filmore Hill
SU6828 Basing Park
SU7127 Froxfield
SU7229 near Colemore
SU7522 Petersfield
SU7741 Binsted

This BTO-organised survey will cover the heathland specialist birds nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler in all breeding habitats rather than being a survey of heathlands so there are many squares available in Sussex that are on farmland or in woodland as well as on heathland habitats.

The survey will involve morning visits for woodlark during the period 15 February to 31 May, morning visits for Dartford warbler during the period 1 April to 30 June, and evening visits for nightjar during the period 25 May to 31 July.

The online survey application is now live so please look at the map at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heathland-birds-survey to see the squares to be surveyed and please consider registering and requesting a square.

Most squares that will be covered by regular surveyors on the West Sussex commons and in the Ashdown Forest area have now been allocated so any remaining squares in these areas are open to anybody. There are squares available in these general areas:

South Downs north of Emsworth and Chichester
Eartham Wood and Houghton Forest
West Sussex commons and farmland around Midhurst and Petworth
Rewell Wood and Arundel Park
St. Leonards Forest
Tilgate Forest
Worth Forest
Paddockhurst Park
Wakehurst Place
Chailey Commons
Sheffield Forest
Battle Great Wood

Further information is available at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/heathland-birds-survey or please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you have any questions.

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. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county.

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 200 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 and early April 2025, to which new volunteers will be invited.

Some highlighted available squares are:

SU8718 near Cocking: this square has been surveyed in most years since 1997 and information is available from the outgoing volunteer about obtaining access permission from landowners; there is the additional bonus in this square of a regular red-tailed hawk!
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren: this is one of very few BBS squares in Sussex with regular redstarts; information is available from the outgoing volunteer about obtaining access permission from landowners.
TQ5023 Buxted: this square was surveyed in every year between 2005 and 2022 and the route is entirely on minor roads and tracks; there is the added advantage of a train station nearby.

The full list of BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2025 breeding season (updated 21/2/2025) is as follows:

SU8527 near Milland*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU8624 Tote Hill
SU8718 near Cocking*
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8696 Pagham Harbour*
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1004 Durrington*
TQ1031 near Slinfold*
TQ1038 near Ewhurst (Surrey)*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1531 near Broadbridge Heath*
TQ1606 near Sompting*
TQ1636 Kingsfold*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ2805 Hove*
TQ3618 near Wivelsfield Green*
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5211 near Golden Cross*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*

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

WeBS is the principal monitoring scheme for non-breeding waterbirds in the UK which aims to provide data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats. The data collected are used to assess the size of waterbird populations, assess trends in numbers and distribution, and identify and monitor important sites for waterbirds.

Once-monthly, synchronised counts are carried out (primarily September to March) at as many wetland sites as possible. Counts can take anything from 15 minutes to 3 hours depending on the size of the site. Dates of the counts are pre-determined by the BTO and are set on Sundays. It is generally accepted that a count can be carried out a day or more either side of these dates if counters have other commitments and there is not an interchange of species with other neighbouring sites.

Sites requiring new volunteers are listed below (updated 14/1/2025). For further information please contact:

ARUN VALLEY: Helen Crabtree (hcrabtree@gmail.com)

River Arun: Houghton to South Stoke

COASTAL SITES: Dave Boddington ( davebodds@yahoo.co.uk)

Shinewater Lake (Eastbourne)

INLAND SITES: Helen Crabtree (hcrabtree@gmail.com)

Bewl Water (to join existing team)
Glynleigh Level (Pevensey Levels)
Manxey Level  (Pevensey Levels)
Manxey Moat  (Pevensey Levels)
Mark Dyke  (Pevensey Levels)
Marsh Foot and Church Farm (Pevensey Levels)
Old Haven  (Pevensey Levels)
Wallers Haven North (Pevensey Levels)

These and other more minor vacant sites are all viewable on the map here.

This is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), because if you take on a 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, beginning on 1 November 2024. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county; some of these squares are accessible if you have limited mobility or if you are reliant on or choose to use public transport.

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 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 200 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 by sight and sound, and must be able to physically get around a survey route reasonably early in the morning, but beyond those requirements absolutely anybody is welcomed into this survey scheme. Previous experience of survey work is not necessary and help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required; there will also be some informal practice sessions arranged in Sussex in March and April 2025. Finally there is no requirement to conduct surveys alone – take a friend with you!

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2025 breeding season are (updated 7/1/2025):

SU7907 near Funtington*
SU8527 near Milland*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU8624 Tote Hill
SU8718 near Cocking*
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9520 near Tillington
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8696 Pagham Harbour*
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0111 Houghton*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0214 Amberley Wild Brooks
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0324 near Wisborough Green
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1004 Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ1904 Widewater Lagoon*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ3618 near Wivelsfield Green*
TQ3916 South Chailey*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5211 near Golden Cross*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5312 Golden Cross*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks*
TQ8414 near Three Oaks*

The following BBS squares may be accessible to you if you have limited mobility (including using a wheelchair) as the survey routes are entirely on pavements and minor roads:

SU8605 central Chichester
SZ7996 East Wittering
TQ2638 Langley Green
TQ4612 near Ringmer
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells

The following BBS squares may be accessible by train as they are close to rail stations (other squares may be easily accessible by bus):

SU8605 central Chichester
TQ3618 near Wivelsfield Green
TQ4821 Uckfield
TQ5023 Buxted
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells

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

The BTO are running a Winter Gull Survey (WinGS), with counts having taken place over last winter (2023-2024) and due to continue over this next winter (2024-2025), 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 involves coordinated visits to key roost sites and additional visits to sample stretches of coastline and sample squares inland, with visits to key sites having been prioritised for January 2024. Visits to sample sites and outstanding key sites will then be prioritised for January 2025.

Supplementary counts will also be taking place this autumn with the key survey date being 29th September 2024 and with surveys acceptable a few days either side of this date. Further information about taking part can be found at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/winter-gull-survey/taking-part.

Key sites in Sussex for which volunteers are needed for the September count are listed below (updated 10/9/2024); 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
Rustington
East Preston
Ferring
Goring-by-Sea
West Worthing
East Worthing
Lancing
Shoreham Beach
Southwick Beach
Hove
Brighton Marina
Newhaven Harbour
Newhaven Tidemills
Seven Sisters/Birling Gap
Pevensey Bay
Bexhill-on-Sea
St. Leonards

Inland Sussex: please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.
Darwell Reservoir

Volunteers with Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) squares have the option to survey their squares for butterflies during June, July and August, as part of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) which is a collaboration between the BTO and Butterfly Conservation. Volunteers taking on new squares now can take part in the WCBS and then have the option to survey their squares over the winter for the Sussex Winter Bird Survey before breeding bird surveys begin next April.

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.

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 200 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 by sight and sound, but previous experience of survey work is not necessary. Help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required.

For the WCBS, volunteers walk their usual BBS routes and record butterflies. Volunteers must be able to recognise common butterfly species but no special expertise is required.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers are (updated 21/8/2024):

SU7907 near Funtington*
SU8527 near Milland*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU8718 near Cocking*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9814 Bignor*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0601 East Preston*
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1004 Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ3618 near Wivlesfield Green*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5211 near Golden Cross*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7624 near Bodiam
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8518 near Udimore*

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

The Pevensey Levels breeding bird monitoring scheme is an SOS project which aims to increase the regular recording of birds across the Pevensey Levels during the breeding season and to enable the reporting of results to farmers and land managers. This increase in regular recording will be achieved through the allocation of 1×1-km squares to volunteers so that the recording is targeted in well-defined areas and to maximize coverage and reduce duplication of effort. The project will also incorporate data already being collected from three BTO Breeding Bird Survey squares on the Pevensey Levels.

The squares selected to be surveyed are those that have a reasonable level of access using public rights of way or those that have been requested by farmers or landowners to be included in the project with access permission granted to specific volunteers. There is no attempt to survey a random sample of sites because of the relatively small area of the Pevensey Levels and the simple aim of increasing regular recording rather than calculating population trends.

Volunteers should aim to visit each allocated square twice during each breeding season. The early visit should be made between early April and mid-May, and the late visit between mid-May and the end of June. On each visit volunteers should walk a transect route in the square which covers as much of the square as possible and which takes around 1 -1.5 hours at a slow methodical pace.

The squares selected to be surveyed are as follows (updated 5/4/2024):

TQ6108 White Dyke Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6109 Whelpley Sewer
TQ6110 Gildridge Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6206 Bridge Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6207 Rickney Farm
TQ6208 Horse Eye
TQ6209 New Bridge (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6210 Sackville Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6306 Chilley Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6308 Hurst Haven
TQ6309 Hurst Haven North ALLOCATED
TQ6310 Cherry Croft Farm ALLOCATED
TQ6407 Pylons Farm
TQ6608 Horse Bridge (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6609 Waterhouse Farm
TQ6710 Hogtrough Bridge
TQ6806 Hooe Level ALLOCATED
TQ6807 Old Road Farm (BBS square) ALLOCATED
TQ6808 Court Lodge ALLOCATED
TQ6906 Crooked Ditch
TQ6908 near Hooe village ALLOCATED

If you are interested in taking on one of the unallocated squares listed above please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com for further information and instructions. If you live nearby and know landowners such that you are able to access a square on the Pevensey Levels that is not listed above then please also contact Helen and this square can be added to the scheme. Please contact Helen with any questions or comments about this project.

There is still time to sign up to take part in the BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) for this coming breeding season. Some squares have recently become available and there are plenty of squares available right across the county; some of these squares are accessible if you have limited mobility or if you are reliant on or choose to use public transport.

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 200 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 by sight and sound, and must be able to physically get around a survey route reasonably early in the morning, but beyond those requirements absolutely anybody is welcomed into this survey scheme. Previous experience of survey work is not necessary and help and support from experienced volunteers can be arranged if required. Finally there is no requirement to conduct surveys alone – take a friend with you!

The full list of BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2024 breeding season (updated 8/8/2024) is as follows:

SU7907 near Funtington*
SU8527 near Milland*
SU8615 Westdean Woods*
SU8718 near Cocking*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SU9814 Bignor*
SU9923 near Petworth*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0322 near Codmore Hill*
TQ0601 East Preston*
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1004 Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green*
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2638 Langley Green*
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ3319 Ditchling Common*
TQ3618 near Wivelsfield Green*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5023 Buxted*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5211 near Golden Cross*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6817 near Penhurst
TQ7624 near Bodiam
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8518 near Udimore*

The following BBS squares may be accessible to you if you have limited mobility (including using a wheelchair) as the survey routes are entirely on pavements and minor roads:

SZ7996 East Wittering
TQ0601 East Preston
TQ2638 Langley Green
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells

The following BBS squares may be accessible by train as they are close to rail stations (other squares may be easily accessible by bus):

TQ0601 East Preston
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ3319 Ditchling Common
TQ3618 near Wivelsfield Green
TQ4821 Uckfield
TQ5023 Buxted
TQ5435 near Eridge Station

For further information, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the survey or about any of the available squares.

Some informal practice sessions are planned this year in Sussex for the BTO/RSPB/JNCC Breeding Bird Survey and anybody who is considering taking part in the BBS is welcome to come along to one of the sessions. Anybody of any age is welcome and young people are especially welcome although under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. The planned dates are:

1. Saturday 9th March at the Knepp Estate (Dave Boddington);
2. Saturday 16th March at Pulborough Brooks RSPB (Helen Crabtree);
3. Friday 22nd March in Burgess Hill (Helen Crabtree);
4. Sunday 24th March at Lewes Railway Land (Nevil Hutchinson);
5. Wednesday 27th March in Arundel town (Helen Crabtree);
6. Saturday 6th April at Sedlescombe village (East Sussex) (Christine George).

The aims of these morning outdoor sessions will be (1) to give confidence to new and nearly-new BBS volunteers, (2) to sort out any problems that volunteers may have with the BBS and to provide a chance for volunteers to ask questions about the survey, and (3) to give everybody involved a chance to meet and socialise with other BBS volunteers. Anybody attending who does not currently take part in the BBS should be able to find out what is involved and then hopefully sign up for a square.

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you would like to attend one of these training sessions/social meet-ups, and you will be sent further details nearer the time.