The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2022 breeding season are (updated 30/12/2021):

SU7800 near West Itchenor
SU8102 near Bosham Hoe*
SU8307 near West Stoke*
SU8605 central Chichester*
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU8926 Henley Common
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9127 near Fernhurst*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9304 Westergate*
SU9729 near Northchapel*
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
SZ8698 Sidlesham*
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1004 West Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green
TQ2022 Cowfold*
TQ2122 Cowfold*
TQ2721 near Goddards Green*
TQ2817 Hurstpierpoint*
TQ2836 central Crawley
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ3128 near Balcombe*
TQ3722 near Scaynes Hill*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4612 near Ringmer*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4821 Uckfield*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5220 Blackboys*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5231 Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5639 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon*
TQ6313 near Herstmonceux
TQ6414 Bodle Street Green*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ7111 near Ninfield*
TQ7224 near Robertsbridge*
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8326 Northiam Station*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh*

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

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.

In 2019 for the first time volunteers conducted winter surveys of their allocated BBS and other randomly-distributed squares, with the aim of investigating numbers of birds using farmland in the winter. This coming winter these surveys will be repeated and new volunteers are being sought now to take on squares across the South Downs. Only one winter survey will be required in each square during the period 1 November to 31 January.

The methods used and the results obtained during the period 2014-2019 (including the results of the winter surveys) are described here.

The available squares to be surveyed in Sussex are listed below (updated 21/12/2022), 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.

SU7612 Forestside
SU7721 Goose Green
SU8023 Rogate
SU8221 near Trotton
SU8323 near Chithurst
SU8426 Milland
SU8518 Bepton
SU8723 Woolbeding
SU9008 Halnaker
SU9023 near Easebourne
SU9126 near Lickfold
TQ0215 Amberley Wildbrooks
TQ0907 near Clapham
TQ2511 Fulking
TQ4904 near Firle Beacon

The available squares to be surveyed in Hampshire are:

SU4922 near Colden Common
SU4925 near Twyford
SU5024 near Owslebury
SU5419 near Upham
SU5730 Tichborne
SU5825 Kilmeston
SU6029 Cheriton Wood
SU6225 Brockwood Copse
SU6228 near Bramdean
SU6422 near West Meon
SU6526 West Meon Hut
SU6529 West Tisted
SU6617 near Chidden
SU6627 Filmore Hill
SU6828 Basing Park
SU7137 Chawton
SU7229 near Colemore
SU7741 Binsted

The available BBS squares within the South Downs area are:

SU8624 Tote Hill
SU9113 near East Dean
SU9216 Graffham Down
SU9729 near Northchapel
TQ0124 near Kirdford

The new WeBS season starts in September and there are sites across Sussex that need new volunteers; now is a really good time to get started with this survey.

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 24/1/2022). For further information please contact:

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

Southwick Beach

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

Bewl Water (to join existing team)
Darwell Reservoir
Ditchling Common
Forest Mere
Pond Lye
Gravetye Lakes
Herstmonceux Castle Lake
Lurgashall Mill Pond
Manxey Level  (Pevensey Levels)
Manxey Moat  (Pevensey Levels)
Mark Dyke  (Pevensey Levels)
Marsh Foot and Church Farm (Pevensey Levels)
Old Haven  (Pevensey Levels)
Wakehurst Place Lakes
Wallers Haven (Pevensey Levels)
Whelpley Level (Pevensey Levels)

This breeding season many dedicated volunteers have been out surveying river valleys and levels areas in Sussex for the Breeding Waders of Wet Meadows 2021 survey which is being jointly run by the BTO and the RSPB. The primary aim of this survey is to assess breeding populations of lapwings and redshank in wet meadow habitats, comparing these with the results from the previous similar survey in 2002.

Listed below are the areas that have been surveyed with the estimated numbers of breeding pairs of waders. This list does not include RSPB sites.

East Head: 10 avocet pairs
Arun valley (North Stoke to Houghton): no breeding waders
Arun valley (Offham to South Stoke): 6 lapwing pairs
Arun valley (Offham): results not yet returned
Arundel WWT: 5 lapwing pairs and one oystercatcher pair
Adur Levels: 7 lapwing pairs
Glynde Levels: 2 lapwing pairs
Lower Ouse valley: 4 lapwing pairs
Cuckmere valley (above Exceat): no breeding waders
Cuckmere valley (below Exceat): results not yet returned
Down Level: 7 lapwing pairs
Hankham Level: 2 lapwing pairs
Hooe Level (east): 3 lapwing pairs
Hooe Level (west): no breeding waders
Horse Eye Level: 2 lapwing pairs
Manxey Level: no breeding waders
Pevensey Bridge Level: 6 lapwing pairs
Wallers Haven (south): results not yet returned
Wallers Haven (north): one lapwing pair
Whelpley Level (east): no breeding waders
Whelpley Level (west): 2 lapwing pairs
Combe Valley: 3 lapwing pairs
Brede Levels: 18 lapwing pairs
Wet Level Wittersham: no breeding waders
Pannel valley: 23 lapwing pairs, 4 redshank pairs and 6 oystercatcher pairs
Pett Level: no breeding waders
Rye Harbour: 8 lapwing pairs, 9 redshank pairs, 42 oystercatcher pairs and 40 avocet pairs

Many thanks are due to all the volunteers that have surveyed these sites and also to those volunteers that have surveyed lapwing plots and newly-created wet meadow sites on farmland across the county.

Further information about breeding waders at any of the sites listed above or at any other site in Sussex will be valuable for ensuring that this survey is complete; please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com.

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 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.

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 27/7/21):

SU7800 near West Itchenor
SU8612 West Dean
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU8926 Henley Common
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9400 Lidsey Rife*
SU9705 Walberton*
SU9915 near Bignor
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1004 West Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2721 near Goddards Green*
TQ2817 Hurstpierpoint*
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5128 near Crowborough*
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5231 Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon*
TQ6313 near Herstmonceux
TQ6414 Bodle Street Green*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ7111 near Ninfield*
TQ7224 near Robertsbridge*
TQ7811 Hollington*
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh

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

Some priority BBS squares have recently become available and although the survey season has started there is still time for new volunteers to join in this year. New volunteers are now being sought for SU8521 at Stedham Common (now filled) and SU9400 at Lidsey Rife near Felpham.

The Breeding Bird Survey (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 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.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2021 breeding season (updated 21/6/2021) are:

SU8612 West Dean
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU8926 Henley Common
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9400 Lidsey Rife*
SU9705 Walberton*
SU9915 near Bignor
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ1004 West Durrington*
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green
TQ1917 near Bines Green
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2721 near Goddards Green*
TQ2817 Hurstpierpoint*
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6313 near Herstmonceux
TQ6414 Bodle Street Green*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ7111 near Ninfield*
TQ7224 near Robertsbridge*
TQ7811 Hollington*
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
Email: hcrabtree@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 28/4/2021) 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
SU8529 Stanley Common
SU8626 Woolbeding Common ALLOCATED
SU9119 Ambersham Common ALLOCATED
SU9129 Blackdown ALLOCATED
SU9418 Lavington Common ALLOCATED
SU9518 Duncton Common ALLOCATED
SU9807 Rewell Wood ALLOCATED
TQ0615 Northpark Wood
TQ2130 St Leonard’s Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3034 Worthlodge Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3309 Stanmer Great Wood ALLOCATED
TQ3327 River’s Wood (Balcombe) ALLOCATED
TQ4230 Chelwood ALLOCATED
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4332 Ashdown Park ALLOCATED
TQ4432 Asdown Ridge ALLOCATED
TQ4528 Marlpits ALLOCATED
TQ4530 Pippingford Park ALLOCATED
TQ4627 Duddleswell ALLOCATED
TQ4630 Old Lodge
TQ4828 Poundgate ALLOCATED
TQ5223 Waste Wood (Hadlow Down) ALLOCATED
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.

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 will be 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 7/4/2021) are as follows:

Pagham Rife
River Ouse Lewes to Hamsey
River Ouse Barcombe to Isfield
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level North)
Brede Levels (multiple sites)
Tillingham Valley (Rye)

All available sites can be viewed on the map at https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/breeding-waders-wet-meadows.

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 (lapwings, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher) 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.

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 will be 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 10/3/2021) are as follows:

Adur Levels (multiple sites)
Snow Hill (East Head)
North Stoke to Houghton
Arundel to Offham
Pevensey (Wallers Haven South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level North)
Brede Levels (multiple sites)
Tillingham Valley (Rye)

The first-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 10/3/2021) are as follows:

SU9915 Bignor Park
TQ2714 nr Hurstpierpoint
TQ3807 Swanborough Hill
TQ3930 nr Horsted Keynes
TQ6916 Penhurst
TQ7013 nr Ninfield
TQ9719 Camber

Lower-priority selected farmland sites with wet grassland management and/or lapwing plots for which volunteers are still being sought (updated 10/3/2021) are as follows:

SU7909 nr Funtington
SU8314 Chilgrove
SU9216 Graffham Down
SU9312 Upwaltham Hill
SU9420 Selham
SU9429 Northchapel
SZ8899 Pagham Rife
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
TQ1414 nr Ashington
TQ1609 Steyning Bowl
TQ3310 nr Stanmer
TQ3904 nr Telscombe
TQ3909 nr Lewes
TQ4004 nr Telscombe
TQ4306 nr Rodmell
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 (lapwings, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher) 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.