Planning and preparation for BTO surveys this breeding season is going ahead as normal. Volunteers participating in any BTO survey will be expected to act within any government restrictions and guidance in place at the time.

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 25/4/2021) are:

SU8521 Stedham Common*
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
TQ1520 near Dial Post*
TQ1917 near Bines Green
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2721 near Goddards Green*
TQ2817 Hurstpierpoint*
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ3834 Weirwood Reservoir*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton
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 (subject to any travel or other restrictions in place at the time). 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 10/3/21) 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
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
TQ3327 River’s Wood (Balcombe)
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.

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.

Last winter 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 28/10/2020), 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 or on 01444 441687.

SU7721 Goose Green
SU8023 Rogate
SU8221 near Trotton
SU8426 Milland
SU8518 Bepton
SU8723 Woolbeding
SU9023 near Easebourne
SU9126 near Lickfold
SU9421 near Tillington
SU9619 Coultershaw Bridge
TQ0013 West Burton
TQ0019 Hesworth Common
TQ0710 near Wepham Down
TQ4402 near Denton

The available squares to be surveyed in Hampshire are:

SU4922 near Colden Common
SU4925 near Twyford
SU6227 near Bramdean
SU6422 near West Meon
SU6513 near Hambledon
SU6826 near Privett
SU6828 Basing Park
SU7121 near Butser
SU7127 Froxfield
SU7137 Chawton

The available BBS squares within the South Downs area are:

SU8624 Tote Hill
SU9017 Heyshott
SU9113 near East Dean
SU9216 Graffham Down
SU9228 near Blackdown
TQ0124 near Kirdford
TQ4806 Firle Beacon

Government restrictions meant that most BBS volunteers this year were unable to complete their early-season visits which would normally be made between the beginning of April and the middle of May. Fortunately, the easing of restrictions on May 13th allowed many volunteers to complete their late-season visits, and results have been submitted for 125 squares in Sussex this year. BTO staff will be working hard to analyse the data this year in a way that makes allowance for the missing early-season results. Many thanks are due to all those volunteers who have been able to make late-season visits, and also to those volunteers who have been unable to survey their squares at all this year but who are looking forward to resuming the BBS as normal next year.

Trend graphs plotted for 36 common species using Sussex BBS data including data from 2019 are available here; these can be compared with national and regional trend graphs available at http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/bbs/latest-results/trend-graphs. The trend graphs are plotted using the percentage changes each year since the start of the survey in 1994, presented as indices relative to an arbitrary index of 1.0 in 1994. Some of the graphs inevitably show significant declines in species populations. Most people know that greenfinch population levels have declined in recent years, but a steady decline in chaffinch population levels has perhaps been less widely appreciated. In contrast, house sparrow population levels in Sussex appear to be relatively stable, and goldfinch population levels in Sussex are clearly increasing at a significant rate.

Now is a good time of the year to consider taking part in the 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.

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 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 will hopefully be planned for March 2021 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 2021 breeding season (updated 26/1/2021) are:

SU8612 West Dean
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU8926 Henley Common
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9705 Walberton*
SU9915 near Bignor
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0502 Rustington
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green
TQ1917 near Bines Green
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2721 near Goddards Green*
TQ2817 Hurstpierpoint*
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4806 Firle Beacon*
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton
TQ6313 near Herstmonceux
TQ6414 Bodle Street Green*
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ6724 Burwash*
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

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 30/11/2020). For further information please contact:

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

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

Benbow Pond
Bewl Water (to join existing team)
Bolney Mill Ponds
Darwell Reservoir
Falmer Pond
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)
Novington Sand Pit
Old Haven  (Pevensey Levels)
Wakehurst Place Lakes
Wallers Haven (Pevensey Levels)

Volunteers with Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) squares have the option to survey their squares for butterflies during 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 for the 2021 breeding season are (updated 6/9/20):

SU7802 Cobnor Point
SU8612 West Dean
SU8624 Tote Hill near Midhurst
SU8926 Henley Common
SU9017 Heyshott*
SU9113 near East Dean*
SU9216 Graffham Down*
SU9228 near Blackdown*
SU9906 Binsted Woods
SU9915 near Bignor
SZ7996 East Wittering*
SZ8199 near Birdham
TQ0124 near Kirdford*
TQ0502 Rustington
TQ0826 Billingshurst
TQ1323 Dragon’s Green
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath
TQ1917 near Bines Green
TQ2536 Gossops Green
TQ2631 Tilgate Forest*
TQ2721 near Goddard’s Green*
TQ3122 near Haywards Heath*
TQ3428 near Ardingly
TQ4002 Telscombe*
TQ4136 Ashurst Wood*
TQ4313 Upper Wellingham*
TQ4630 Old Lodge
TQ4738 near Blackham*
TQ4800 Seaford*
TQ4817 near Isfield*
TQ4900 Seaford*
TQ4933 Friar’s Gate
TQ4938 near Blackham*
TQ5026 High Hurstwood
TQ5130 central Crowborough
TQ5228 near Crowborough*
TQ5435 near Eridge Station*
TQ5514 near Chiddingly
TQ5738 Tunbridge Wells*
TQ5901 Willingdon
TQ6000 Eastbourne Upperton
TQ6313 near Herstmonceux
TQ6419 Earl’s Down*
TQ7028 near Hurst Green
TQ8013 Baldslow*
TQ8413 near Three Oaks
TQ8518 Udimore*
TQ8613 Guestling Green
TQ8722 Peasmarsh

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

Due to the difficult circumstances this year some heronries and egret and cormorant nesting colonies have not been counted as usual for the BTO Heronries Census.

If you have nest counts or any information at all relating to nesting colonies of grey herons, little egrets or cormorants, at *any location* in Sussex this year, please send the information by email to Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com. Please send this information even for well-known sites that you believe are normally well recorded. It may be that you can fill in important gaps in the census results for this year. Many thanks!

Volunteers for this survey are asked to follow current government guidance. This survey can take place in 2020 during May and June at a reduced level with just two visits.

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 2/1/21) 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
SU9129 Blackdown
SU9418 Lavington Common ALLOCATED
SU9518 Duncton Common
SU9807 Rewell Wood ALLOCATED
TQ0615 Northpark Wood
TQ2130 St Leonard’s Forest ALLOCATED
TQ3034 Worthlodge Forest
TQ3327 River’s Wood (Balcombe)
TQ4230 Chelwood ALLOCATED
TQ4233 Broadstone Warren ALLOCATED
TQ4332 Ashdown Park ALLOCATED
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
TQ5736 Hargate Forest ALLOCATED

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

Volunteers for this survey are asked to follow current government guidance.  This survey can take place in 2020 during May and June at a reduced level with just one visit.

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.

The BBS squares (asterisks indicate priority squares that have been surveyed before) in Sussex which currently need volunteers for the 2021 breeding season (updated 16/6/2020) 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*
TQ0608 Angmering Park*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2631 Tilgate Forest*
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.

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.