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.

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 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, and some informal group practice sessions are planned for late March 2020, 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 2020 breeding season (updated 19/3/2020) 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*
TQ1531 Broadbridge Heath
TQ1904 Lancing*
TQ2631 Tilgate Forest*
TQ2828 Staplefield*
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.

A superb day at Clair Hall yesterday – a full house again, and the speakers were so interesting and informative. Great to catch up with old friends and meet new ones!

David Howey’s personal research on the Kittiwakes nesting at Splash Point gave so much information relevant to Sussex, but also showed how statistics can be misleading.  After the installation of the Rampion Wind Farm, numbers at Splash Point declined dramatically – but on a UK wide scale, so had all other Kittiwake colonies!

Viola Ross-Smith looked at other UK nesting seabirds,  concluding that while the UK is extremely important for their survival, that most of these species are also declining – only Gannets are still doing really well.  Warming waters and overfishing both appear to cause problems with fish stocks leaving parent birds struggling to find enough fish to sustain their chicks. 

While no doubt all of the audience were aware of the White Stork Project, Lucy Groves gave very detailed background to the project, how it fits in with the wider European population, progress so far, and their hopes for the future.

Finally, Jane Smith presented us with both film, photographic and art depictions of the birds of the Hebrides  She spoke about their ecology, including problems with introduced predators, changes in land use, and efforts being made to eradicate the former and mitigate the latter. Though born and brought up in Sussex (daughter of SOS Vice President and former President, Barrie Watson & his late wife Anne) Jane always had a fascination with islands.  She is now very involved with both Project Puffin and FAME (Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment Project). www.fameproject.eu

Grateful thanks to all our volunteers who made the day possible.

During the brilliant day at SOS Conference yesterday, our Sales Team unveiled the latest addition to the SOS clothing range. A t-shirt with snappy Stonechat artwork by Clare Buckle.  Many thanks to Clare for designing this – not part of her role as Secretary to the SOS Scientific Committee!

Apologies for tardiness in updating the list – have been away from computer for several days!

I suspect that virtually all the results are now in and here is the (preliminary) final order

101* Rolling Turnstones

101 Martlets

93  Dynamic Duo

93 Mike’s Mergansers

87 North Wallcreepers

87 The Ryenecks

87 The Great Twits

81 TQ01ers

80 The Great Egrets

80  Wild Park Wanderers

78 Treasurer’s Team

78 Slow but Sure

65 Passing Passerines

61 Fab Four

50 Just the Two of Us

31 LBJs

The Rolling Turnstones and the Martlets both clocked up a very impressive 101 species, but the Turnstones gained a star rating for recording both Common and Siberian Chiffchaff!

There will be a more detailed round up in the Spring Newsletter, by which time I should have all the lists in and can work out the total number of species seen overall, how many species were seen by all teams and how many were “exclusive” to one Team.  Will also by then have some idea of how much has been raised to support bird conservation in the county.

Well done to all, and many thanks for your continued support of the Bird Race and SOS.

SOS Marsh Tit survey 2020

Background

Both Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, the two Poecile species in Sussex, have declined nationally. The later species is the second fastest declining species in the UK, after Turtle Dove, having declined by 93% since the 1960s. A Sussex survey for Willow Tit in 2019 failed to find a single bird and the species is, in all probability, now extinct in Sussex.

Marsh Tit declines have been slightly less severe but, nevertheless, numbers have fallen by 80% since the 1960s and the species was added to the red list in 2002. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the species might be doing better in Sussex than some other areas but we need better data if we are to properly understand its status and trends.

We are, therefore, asking for help to conduct a Marsh Tit survey this year to obtain statistically robust evidence. A maximum of two visits is required per 1km survey square between mid-February and mid-April.

Objectives

The objective is to establish a base line population estimate for Sussex so that we establish the current status of the species. This survey will become part of our repeating cycle of SOS species surveys so we will be able to track the population trend in the county over time. This will give us warning if the species continues to decline.

Survey methods

We have selected at random a sample of 1km squares in the Sussex range of Marsh Tits. We excluded the coastal belt and the eastern end of the South Downs as the species was missing from these areas at the time of the last Atlas. We have selected 60 1km squares and are hoping that we can get a minimum of 30 of these surveyed (the more the better). This should be a large enough sample to provide a reliable estimate of the probability that any given square is occupied and, hopefully, an estimate of the county population.

If the interest and demand is great enough we have further random 1km squares which we can allocate in due course.

Marsh Tits set up territories early in the season and are easiest to detect using a playback methodology. We will provide a standard (2 minute) song file that can be played on a smart phone or other playback device (although it is possible to do the survey without using playback).

You will be provided with 1:25,000 maps of your 1km square and asked to make up to two survey visits between 14th February and 15th April to play the call near suitable woodland and scrub habitat. There will inevitably be areas of the square where access is not possible or where the habitat is clearly unsuitable and we will ask you to mark these on your survey map with cross hatching.

In addition to the survey of random 1km squares we will encourage observers to make a special effort this year to submit any Marsh Tit records from elsewhere in the county.

How to take part?

If you are interested in taking part in this survey please contact the SOS Surveys Officer (email below). Please have a look at the list of randomly selected 1km squares and indicate which one(s) you can cover. We will organise the maps and recording forms to be sent to you well before the 2020 season. Please indicate if you are happy to receive the information via email or if you would prefer a hard copy.

Thank you for your help

Richard Black (SOS Surveys Officer)

Email: surveys@sos.org.uk
Telephone: 07736 460955

The 1km squares we are hoping to cover for which volunteers are still needed are as follows (updated 31/1/20):

TQ0429           Near Roundstreet Common

TQ0523           North Wood near Adversane

TQ0930           Near Slinfold

TQ4112           Hamsey

The International Swan Census 2020 takes place over the weekend of 11-12 January and will gather information on numbers of Bewick’s and whooper swans as well as information on breeding success and habitat use. In Sussex the following sites will ideally be checked during or near the census weekend:

Knepp Millpond
River Arun (Arundel to Littlehampton)
Adur Levels
Henfield Brooks
Amberley Wild Brooks
Pulborough Brooks (north and south)
River Arun (Houghton to Offham)
Bury Brooks
River Ouse (Southease to Lewes Brooks)

Most of these sites will be covered by existing WeBS volunteers who should conduct their WeBS counts in the usual way and simply record some additional information if Bewick’s or whooper swans are present (information will be sent to these volunteers).

If you know of any other site where Bewick’s or whooper swans are possible during January and would like to make a visit during or near the census weekend, please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com for further instructions.

In addition, any sightings of Bewick’s or whooper swans at these or any other sites in Sussex on any date in January should be reported.

In 2020 the BTO and RSPB will jointly be 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 addition of any new wet grassland sites that are identified. It is possible that the survey will be extended to include lapwing breeding sites in farmland. This survey will be organised in Sussex by Helen Crabtree (BTO Regional Representative for Sussex).

In Sussex the planned list of wet grassland sites to be surveyed during April, May and June 2020 for breeding waders is as follows:

Rye Harbour SSSI
Wet Level
Brede Levels
River Rother (upstream of Newenden)
Pevensey (Hooe Level East)
Pevensey (Waller’s Haven North)
Pevensey (Hooe Level West)
Pevensey (Star Inn)
Pevensey (Waller’s Haven South)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Hankham Level)
Pevensey (Manxey Level South)
Pevensey (Whelpley Level East)
Pevensey (Horse Eye Level)
Pevensey (Whelpley Level West)
Pevensey (Down Level)
Arlington Reservoir
Cuckmere Valley
Glynde Levels
Lower Ouse Valley
Ouse Valley (Hamsey to Lewes)
Adur Levels
Pulborough N.& S. Brooks
Amberley Wild Brooks
Offham to South Stoke
Arundel to Offham
North Stoke to Houghton
Lower Fittleworth
Church Norton
Sidlesham Ferry
Snow Hill
Shopham Bridge to Coates
Coultershaw Bridge to Shopham Bridge

Please contact Helen Crabtree at hcrabtree@gmail.com if you can help with any of the following:

1. You would like to volunteer to survey one of the sites listed above;
2. You know of another lowland wet grassland site in Sussex suitable for breeding waders;
3. You know of any other site in any habitat in Sussex where lapwings are likely to breed or have bred in recent years.

Click here to read the 2019 update to this survey.

We are now taking bookings for the Annual Conference on Saturday 25th January 2020. The booking form was sent to members with the Autumn newsletter, but in case you have mislaid yours, a copy is available by clicking here.

Please note that the Conference is for SOS members only.

Our aim is to ensure ongoing and consistent monitoring of the Sussex Barn Owl population. With ©90% of Barn Owls now breeding in nest boxes it is vital we maintain and grow the status of this enigmatic bird through effective management of these and other breeding sites.

We are a small Sussex based group of bird ringers and nest recorders looking for individuals to support our nest box erecting, monitoring, recording and Barn Owl ringing activities in the county.

If you wish to become involved in assisting us in any way or wish to discover more about Barn Owl conservation, please contact:

Terry Hallahan 07768 506126
Terry.hallahan@sbdinc.com

Barrie Watson 01273 452472
barriewatson1@yahoo.co.uk

Stuart Card 07798 725691
stuartcard@hotmail.co.uk