Henfield Birdwatch Survey 2019

Henfield Birdwatch A Survey of Birds in the Parish of Henfield in 2019

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Contents 2 Introduction 4 Review of the year 6 List of birds recorded in 2019 25 Migrant dates 28 Garden bird survey 32 Perching Manor Farm 34 The Three Commons 37 Deer Park House Martins: a diary 40 Henfield and its Nightingales 42 Swifts in Henfield 44 On becoming a new member 45 Final thoughts 46 A checklist of the birds of Henfield 51 Area map of Henfield 52 Acknowledgments

Photos: Front cover, Turtle Dove by Paula Blake Henfield Birdwatch 2020 This page, Stonechat by Nick Davies

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Introduction Mike Russell

Chiffchaff, photo by Nick Davies

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Henfield Birdwatch 2019

2020, the year Henfield Birdwatch has come of age; the year we reached 21 years and would have celebrated with gusto had a pandemic with a name that has often been mistaken for the collective name for the crow family put a stop to such ideas.

However, the prolonged lockdown has had the effect of stimulating a great amount of interest in the birdlife of our parish beyond our own pretty impressive membership base. I hope that the publication of this, our fifth book, will consolidate that interest and also cement our organisation as one that can provide a lot of expertise and enthusiasm for the bird life of the parish for the people of Henfield but also the knowledge that can help conserve the important areas for birds into the future.

While this book follows the familiar format of the previous four publications, there are differences this year due to a change in the way we collected our data and a different way that we undertook the area surveys. We retained the same area structure but just did four surveys during 2019, one winter survey at either end of the year and two during the breeding season, so we haven’t done an individual summary of the year for each area this time. The location of each area is referenced elsewhere in the book.

With regard to the data collection, we tried, and I think succeeded, in making it easier for the garden surveyors to enter their sightings on our website and thanks must go to Sara Taylor for setting up the database that helped us achieve this. Also, all the area and casual sightings were entered on BirdTrack, the database set up by the British Trust for Ornithology for the whole of the UK and this made it easier to capture that data and also makes our records available to other conservation organisations that may find the information useful.

There are many familiar features in this edition, Val Bentley has analysed the garden survey results and, if this wasn’t enough, she along with Will Green have continued to monitor our Nightingales something they have been doing now for over twenty years and continue to add to our already considerable knowledge of this wonderful but sadly threatened bird. Since 2015, thanks to

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Debbie Colgate, Henfield has become a ‘Swift Champion Village’ and her report on how our Swifts are doing is a new feature as is Hazel Haylock’s report on the House Martin colony that has arisen at Deer Park.

In addition, there are new chapters on new surveys that we are now undertaking, and Nigel Colgate has written up the results of the Perching Manor Farm project that is now in its fifth year, while a survey of the three Henfield Commons is the first one that we have undertaken on behalf of the Henfield Parish Council. As a relative newcomer to the village, Paul Cole has written of his personal view on becoming involved with Henfield Birdwatch. As well as this, he has thrown himself fully into the production of this book by penning a review of the year, providing a checklist of the birds of the parish and, in a moment of panic, agreed to fill the not inconsiderable shoes of Bryan Michie our editor for the first four books!

As before, our books are greatly enhanced by the illustrations and photographs, and Will Green has harnessed the considerable talent of our local photographers to ensure that this book is no exception to the high standards previously achieved.

A huge thanks goes to Paul Cole who, having taken on the mantle of editor, has overseen the production of this book with great support from members of the committee. This hasn’t been the easiest of tasks as lockdown and social distancing meant much of the production had to be done remotely.

Finally, a huge thanks also goes to everyone who took part in the 2019 survey: the garden recorders, casual observers, area surveyors, photographers, illustrators and walk leaders. All contributed to providing the information that makes Henfield Birdwatch a vitally important organisation in ensuring the parish remains a great place for birds to survive and flourish. But above all, I hope you enjoy reading this, the fifth report on the Birds of Henfield.

Mike Russell Chairman

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Review of the year Paul Cole January The year got off to a great start when Henfield’s very own Fab Four took part in the Sussex Ornithological Society Bird Race, totting up a total of sixty birds on the 3rd; highlights included a Green Sandpiper, a Red Kite, and a Barn Owl. On the 7th a Firecrest was seen in the village centre, and the following day a Little Owl was heard calling from The Tanyard, whilst at Stretham Manor a second Green Sandpiper was noted. Towards the end of the month Lesser Redpolls were recorded: two were seen in a garden in Henfield, whilst a flock of twelve was seen flying over Upper Station Road. A great find at Perching Sands was another Firecrest, seen on the 22nd.

February

On the 4th Area 4 recorded a pair of Egyptian Geese west of the river and two Barn Owls were hunting over the fields south of Great Betley Farm on the same day. Another Firecrest was once again seen in the village on the 15th and a Green Sandpiper was seen by the river on the 18th. An overwintering Chiffchaff was then seen by the Adur on the 26th.

March

On the 10th a Red-legged Partridge turned up in a member’s garden in Blackgate Lane, whilst a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker appeared in a member’s garden on the 15th. Strangely the month went quiet until the 29th, when another scarce local bird, a Ringed Plover, was seen in a field next to the river in Area 9, along with a Redshank and four Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Numbers of Chiffchaffs did continue to build during the month, with the first singing males, a true harbinger of spring, noted.

April

The first Swift of the year was seen over West End 4

Lane on the 1st, as was the first Swallow.... and then the first House Martin! Two more Ringed Plovers were recorded on the 5th, and a singing Willow Warbler on the 8th near Chates was a welcome sound, as was a calling Cuckoo at Wantley on the 12th. The 14th saw the first Lesser Whitethroats appear at Woods Mill, whilst on the Levels the same day a pair of Garganey were found. These stayed a further day until the 15th, and were joined by a Green Sandpiper. That date also had a pair of Ravens fly over the south of the village and the first Common Whitethroats were noted. The next day the Green Sandpiper was still around, and nearby on the river a Common Sandpiper was observed.

Another of the latter was seen on the 19th, and the following day a Reed Warbler was setting up territory at Woods Mill. Also at this location two Little Grebes had been busy pairing up and nest building, and went on to raise two chicks as the summer progressed. Finally, on the 22nd two Red Kites were seen at Stretham Manor, illustrating the growth of this species locally, and the prospect that a pair may one day breed here.

May This month got off to a good start with a rare bird in these parts with a Corn Bunting seen at Stretham Manor on the 5th. Nightingales had now started to return from Africa, with at least three territories along the Mill Stream. On the 5th a Mandarin Duck appeared at Woods Mill and the first Garden Warbler of the year was seen there too. A Hobby darted over The Tanyard on the 9th, a Grasshopper Warbler was recorded on the same day and another Garden Warbler was heard and then seen by the river west of Stonepit Lane on the 13th. Two days later, directly east on the Downslink, a new Nightingale territory was established by a loudly singing male. On the 17th a Spotted Flycatcher was seen at Woods Mill and on the 22nd a Mediterranean Gull was noted flying over Lower Station Road.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

June The long weekend of 14th - 17th saw the Henfield Birdwatch Big Bird Bash take place. Several groups set out at various times with the the aim of recording as many species in the parish as possible over the four days. Highlights on the way to an excellent 62 were Barn Owl, Turtle Dove and Nightingale. A great time was had by all the teams, and the event was to see a re-run in September.

Elsewhere a total of three individual Hobbies were seen at various points around the village, and on the 27th a Spotted Flycatcher was at Woods Mill.

equalled. Highlights of the autumn version included three Spotted Flycatchers, a Kingfisher and a late Willow Warbler.

October

After the excitement of June’s activities, July was rather more low-key, with a Green Sandpiper at Woods Mill on the 23rd, and then a White Stork flew over the Levels the next day. The latter are almost certainly from Knepp so can’t be officially counted on the parish list just yet!

The 1st saw the first returning Fieldfares of the second winter period, whilst sightings of Redwings continued to increase from the previous month.

This also proved to be one of the quieter months, and it wasn’t until the 23rd that things improved with a Black Redstart at Small Dole. However, rain and subsequent flooding resulted in flocks of wildfowl building on the Levels, with good numbers of Teal and Wigeon noted. Smaller counts of Pintail and Shoveler were also noted, with Lapwings returning to their wintering grounds. On the 27th a Kingfisher flew up-river towards Betley Bridge, and another Black Redstart popped up at Bishop Park. This bird stuck around for the rest of the month and was seen at various points around the estate, including the back garden of a member.

August

November

July

The 3rd saw a Common Sandpiper on the river and a Raven over the south of the village; the next day saw a mass gathering of House Martins from the newly established colony at Bishop Park, including a healthy contingent of juveniles amongst them. It was quiet until the 17th, when a Wheatear appeared on the northern stretch of the river and further south were six Sand Martins. More White Storks again flew over the village on the 21st, whilst on the 27th a Whinchat was at Woods Mill and a new species for the parish, Wryneck, was seen along the Mill Stream. Another Whinchat was then seen at Sands Farm on the 29th.

September The month got off to some exciting wader action on the first day with a Common Sandpiper on the river and a Greenshank at Stretham Manor. We bade farewell to the last Swift of the summer on the 10th and two Yellow Wagtails were on the Levels on the 20th. In the same area a Whinchat was seen on the 30th. Meanwhile, over the last weekend of the month another Henfield Big Bird Bash took place with June’s tally of 62 species Henfield Birdwatch 2019

The Black Redstart was still resident in Bishop Park until at least the 5th, and on the 3rd it was joined by another. Also on the 3rd a Firecrest was seen in the village and a Little Grebe was on the river near Chates weir. A bit further away, in Wineham, a Hawfinch was noted on the 10th. On the 18th a mobile party of seven Egyptian Geese were seen on the Levels and then at Rye Farm and in mid-November Marsh Tits returned to a garden in Small Dole. Towards the end of the month, on the 28th a Cattle Egret was found on the Levels, the first in the parish since 1999.

December

The month started with a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in a lucky member’s garden on the 1st, and then two each of Egyptian Geese and Snipe in Area 4. Then on the 5th a Raven was noted flying over the Levels, and the same day another new addition to the parish list was seen when a Water Pipit was observed in the meadows by Rye Farm.

After the festive break, on the 27th, a Woodcock was flushed from woodland at Woods Mill. Thus drew to an end the fifth Henfield Birdwatch survey.

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List of birds recorded in 2019 Mike Russell This list of all the species recorded during the 2019 survey is compiled from all the records submitted through the garden surveys, the area walks and special surveys, reports via the Henfield Birdwatch e-mail group and newsletters, Facebook plus the thousands of records that were entered onto BirdTrack, the national recording database run by the British Trust for Ornithology. BirdTrack captures all entries for our recording area but we are not always aware of who has submitted the report.

Because of the different recording system that we used for this survey, it has not been so easy to compare the results with previous surveys but, by entering the records onto BirdTrack, it will provide us with a much more accessible set of data where we can monitor more effectively the population of our birds. We can provide that data more easily in the event of planning applications or advice with regard to management of habitats around the

parish. Since the publication of our last report the taxonomic list has changed yet again, much to my annoyance as I had committed the previous list in my head, so the order is different and now is the standard adopted by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Sussex Ornithological Society.

As before, I have referred to Areas by number rather than name, these can be referenced elsewhere in this book. With regard to garden species, these have been dealt with comprehensively by Val Bentley so I have generally only referred to records outside of the garden survey, the same being the case for specialist chapters on Nightingales, House Martins, Swifts, the Parish Commons and Perching Manor Farm.

I would like to thank everyone who took part in the year-long survey, your efforts have provided us with a huge amount of records and our knowledge of the birds of the parish has increased enormously through your enthusiasm and effort.

Garden Warblers are scarce breeding birds within the Parish 6

Photo: Nick Davies

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Mute Swan

Egyptian Goose

Cygnus olor Breeding reports came in from five of the areas surveyed during the spring and summer including one pair at Woods Mill that decided to build their nest right in the middle of the nature trail causing it

Alopchen aegyptiaca Two were seen in Area 4 in February. Three reports were picked up on BirdTrack, a single bird at Shermanbury Place on the 31st March and then two entries on the 18th November both of seven birds on the Levels and the same number at Rye

Photo: Val Bentley

Photo: Paula Blake

to be diverted! Most other breeding records came from right across the Henfield Levels and certainly reached double figures. Area 4 on the first winter survey recorded 44, the largest single flock in the year.

Canada Goose Branta canadensis Surprisingly few Canada Geese were recorded during the year, only 10 in the 1st winter survey, 16 were noted in the 2nd breeding survey while numbers only exceeded three figures when 250 were seen on the Levels on 28th November. The biggest survey counts were of 45 from both Areas 4 and 11 towards the end of the year. From all records submitted, it is estimated that were six breeding pairs but undoubtedly an underestimate.

Greylag Goose Anser anser Greylag Geese outnumbered their Canadian cousins with 320 being counted in the early winter survey though numbers had halved by the end of the year. However, 400 were noted on 18th November on the Henfield Levels. A creche of 30 goslings on the 3rd July was noted and there were a number of other breeding records as well.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Farm, presumably being the same birds. This species is increasing right across the UK so I’m sure we’ll see these in increasing numbers in the future.

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadoma Just two reports in the early part of the year, both single birds on the 13th March and 5th April and both from the Henfield Levels so possibly the same bird. A bit surprising in some way as this is down on previous surveys although the population is increasing.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata A bird recorded at Woods Mill on the 5th May was the only record for the year and to my knowledge this was the first for the reserve.

Garganey Anas querquedula A pair on the 14th and 15th April from the Levels was the only record for this year for this rare summer visitor.

Shoveler Anas clypeata Area 9 was the only one to record Shovelers on the surveys with 20 in the early part of the year and 50 on the 18th December on the second visit, 7

when the water levels were very high on the Levels. Lower numbers were also entered on BirdTrack by other observers at either end of the year.

Gadwall Anas strepera Only two were recorded on the surveys, again from the Levels in Area 9 on 18th December. There were 4 other records in the year, all of them involving just two birds, twice again from the Levels while on the 5th May there was a pair at Woods Mill and on the 27th another couple at Brightham’s Farm. This is a surprisingly low number given the increasing population of this lovely but rather discreet little duck and the ideal flooded conditions at the end of the year, being down on the 2015 survey.

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope The lovely ‘referee’ whistle call of Wigeon is a common feature of the flooded fields in winter and triple figures were reached at either end of the year, the peak being 211 in December on the Levels.

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Our most familiar duck is in trouble! Taking into account our different way of surveying for 2019, the total numbers recorded for all reports including BirdTrack are just over 300. This is contrast to over 2000 records from the 2004 survey. As it is our most familiar duck, perhaps we overlook it but this is a serious drop in numbers and, at least locally, this certainly places it on the red data list of declining species. Breeding was reported in all areas on the survey.

Pintail Anas acuta When the Levels are flooded, small numbers of this beautiful duck are attracted in. In the first winter period ten was the highest number counted, this being on 18th February in Area 9. The same area again produced 40 in the second winter period on 18th December. Again, this was slightly surprising as conditions were ideal for them during November 8

and December and, although this was slightly up on 2015, there were over 300 in 2009.

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Our smallest duck enjoyed the conditions at both ends of the year, with most records coming from Area 9 apart from a couple being recorded at Woods Mill on 24th March. 60 on Rye Farm on the Photo: Paula Blake same day and then 300 also on the Levels on the 18th December. 200 were noted on the 18th February.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Ralph Gilbert was lucky to have one male and two females on his garden pond on the 24th February while the only other record was of a single male on Henfield Levels on the 17th and 18th December.

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa An individual in Val Bentley’s garden on the 10th March that stayed for about 20 minutes before disappearing was the only confirmed record in the year. Interestingly, in 2015 the only record was one in a different garden in the village!

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus A broad sprinkling of records across the parish but all records were in single figures throughout the year. They seem to be declining over the parish since we have been doing these surveys since 1999 which is no bad thing in a way as they are not being bred for shooting and therefore, they are not taking food away from native species!

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Ralph Gilbert was once again fortunate Henfield Birdwatch 2019

enough to have one on his garden pond in the early part of the year until April. Woods Mill hosted a pair from April onwards and, after a couple of attempts, they raised two chicks which were first noted on 30th June. In the early part of the year up to the 15th April, two were also reported on a few occasions from the Levels.

White Stork Ciconia ciconia Any record of this species in or over the parish are very likely to be from the successful re-introduction programme at the nearby Knepp Rewilding Project.

There were two reports in 2019, one over the Henfield Levels on the 24th July, while one lucky person observed 18 flying over the High Street on the 21st August. These were definitely from Knepp because a satellite tag was fitted to one of them and their movements were tracked down to Cornwall and then across the channel to France.

from 163 reports to just 32, although other sightings would suggest that the population is pretty stable. Predictably, most records are from the south of the parish where the habitat is more suitable, and a new heronry has now been established near the Downs Link a couple of hundred metres north of Stretham Manor. There were at least four nests where chicks were successfully raised. On a few occasions in March, six were recorded together at the same time.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta In our first parish survey in 1999, only one sighting of a Little Egret was reported, but now they are seen regularly in the south with over 50 records coming in throughout the year. The highest count

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis One individual was seen on the Levels on the 28th November, the only one recorded in the parish since the 1999 survey. However, Cattle Egrets have now become a breeding species in the UK, including in Sussex, so we are likely to be seeing this species more often in the parish from now on, as shown in 2020 when 15 were recorded on one day.

Photo: Paula Blake

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Seen regularly throughout the year, though the numbers recorded on the four surveys plummeted

was eight on the Levels on the 18th November.

They were noted roosting in the copse that is housing the new heronry but as yet there is no evidence of breeding though hopefully that might change in the near future.

Great Cormorant

Photo: Paula Blake

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Phalacrocorax carbo Numbers of Cormorants recorded were slightly up on the 2015 survey with just under 100 being seen, these over every month other than May and September, most of these being in the south and west of the Parish. The highest number was ten on the Levels on the 28th November while one of the best records was five flying over Ashley and Libby Serpis’s garden on the 2nd February.

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Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Sparrowhawks were noted eight times on the area surveys while a further 25 miscellaneous sightings were submitted on BirdTrack and they were recorded in every month other than August. Many observers reported them dashing through their garden and witnessed the demise of some other smaller birds in the process. There were no definite breeding records though I’m sure that there were successful attempts as young were seen during the latter part of the year.

Red Kite Milvus milvus One of the great delights over recent years is the increasing sight of a Red Kite floating across the Henfield skies. In the 2015 report, I proposed that Red Kites might be breeding by the time we produced the 2019 report, but sadly I can’t report that has actually happened, though they are now within ten miles of the parish. There were 16 miscellaneous reports on BirdTrack across the year, all single sightings apart from when two were seen over Stretham Manor on the 22nd April. Only one was actually recorded on the Surveys, on the 22nd February over Ewhurst Manor in Shermanbury.

Common Buzzard Buteo buteo With so many Buzzards drifting across the skies of Henfield now, it’s hard to believe that back in 1999 only 12 were recorded during the whole

year. During the four surveys last year 95 birds were recorded with nine seen in June over Area 8.

In fact, during the first breeding survey a total of 43 birds were noted, most of them doing their display flights and calls. Although no nests were actually located there were a number of juveniles heard from late summer onwards that indicated breeding success in the parish. In addition to the breeding records, a further 99 sightings were entered on BirdTrack

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus Only three records for this very secretive bird. One in Area 1 in January and the other two both at Woods Mill on the 29th March and then in December. This species is probably under recorded as there is plenty of suitable habitat for them within the parish.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A familiar sight around the parish found on all suitable ponds and lakes and even in some gardens that have large enough ponds. Five people reported them regularly throughout the year with Ralph Gilbert having two pairs which reared eight chicks between them. Young were also reported from Woods Mill, Small Dole, Wineham, Blackstone, Broadmere Common and at various sites on the Levels.

Common Coot Fulica atra Looking back on previous surveys I was really surprised to note that there was only a single record for the whole year in 1999 but now the four surveys across the parish produced 60 individuals. 41 records were entered on BirdTrack and undoubtedly the increased flooding on the Levels in the intervening 20 years has contributed to the increase in this species. As well as Woods Mill, breeding was noted at Bineham Bridge, Broadmere Common and on the Levels.

Northern Lapwing

Photo: Libby Serpis

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Vanellus vanellus A flock of Lapwings flying over the flooded Henfield Levels is another one of those wonderful local avian experiences and they duly obliged during Henfield Birdwatch 2019

the year with flocks reaching in excess of 400 in the first winter period while 300 were seen towards the end of the year. Even more exciting was that breeding was confirmed at least two sites with chicks being seen. Displaying pairs were noted in other locations where, though likely, breeding was not proven.

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula One of the more unexpected species noted in the year was a Ringed Plover. They don’t often venture away from the coast but on the 29th March one was seen on the Henfield Levels and then two were seen in the same place on the 5th April.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Another striking wader that is attracted in by the floods, there were singles on the 18th February, 4th March and 18th November, two were noted on the 6th November while 11 days later that number had doubled.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Sadly only one record for this species, and that was at Woods Mill on the 27th December when it flew out of Little Meadow.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Us local birdwatchers all know that there are more Snipe around Henfield than are actually recorded but their ability to conceal themselves makes them very difficult to count! Nevertheless there were 15 reports of Snipe during the year, most from the Levels but also from Woods Mill, Shermanbury Place and Brightham’s Farm. Numbers varied between one and ten, the ten being recorded on the 22nd February at Shermanbury Place. A couple were recorded in the spring perhaps giving rise to the hope that one year they might breed on the Levels.

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos One of the migrants you hope to see in the spring is this bird and this year two singles were recorded Henfield Birdwatch 2019

on the Levels on the 16th April while three days later another was reported from Stretham Manor.

On the return migration the same sites were visited on their way back to Africa, one on the 3rd August and then three on the Levels on the 1st September.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Another migrant species, though some Green Sandpipers do stay with us throughout the winter, one being seen on the New Year Bird Race. Five entries were submitted on BirdTrack with singles reported from the Levels and Rye Farm on the 18th February, 15th and 16th April, Woods Mill on the 23rd July, while the last report was of two on the Levels in November.

Common Redshank Tringa totanus Just a single record for this wader,, when three were seen on the Levels on the 29th March. This is still one more record than five years ago, however.

Greenshank Tringa nebularia Also just a single record for Greenshank when there were two at Stretham Manor on the 1st September.

Black-headed Gull Chroiccocephalus ridibundus As well as attracting waders and wildfowl, the floods also attract numerous gulls and this year was no exception. Large numbers of Black-headed Gulls

Photo: Paula Blake

were counted, particularly at the back end of the year, with nearly all records coming from the Levels. In the early part of the year the highest 11

count was 120 on the 24th March but this was far exceeded in October when 700 were estimated on the 22nd. Bryan Michie had the unusual sight of five on his garden pond on the 30th December, the first day of the garden survey!

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus An unusual call heard on the 22nd May over a garden in Lower Station Road belonged to a Mediterranean Gull, the only record for this species in the year.

Common Gull Larus canus Common Gulls are far from common in Henfield but there are always a few around in winter if you can separate them out from the far more ‘common’ species. All from Henfield Levels and Rye Farm, there were just six birds recorded between January and March while on the 28th November the highest count of ten was achieved.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus A single record on the 5th April from Henfield Levels was the only one of the year, always a very scarce species in the parish.

Edburton on the 9th December when 200 were noted on the fields.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Just five records involving eight birds were noted, with four being seen on the Levels on the 29th March, the only spring record.

Feral Pigeon Columbia livia This is actually the first-time Feral Pigeons have appeared in any of the reports, my reluctance to report them has been eroded away so here they are! However, as they are making their debut we have no data from previous surveys for comparison. They were recorded across the parish with 110 counted over the year with 27 being the highest count in Area 2 during the spring.

Stock Dove Columbia oenas A slightly smaller version of a Wood Pigeon and without the white patches and a call that is reminiscent of Kenneth William’ saying ‘Ooh Matron’ in Carry on Nurse! Recorded in small

Herring Gull Larus argentatus Most people in Henfield must now be pretty familiar with this species around the village, providing very early alarm calls particularly in the summer! As yet, there are no signs of them breeding on any roofs but you never know what

Photo: John Pointing

numbers throughout the parish on all surveys, with a report of a feeding party of 44 at Sands Farm, Small Dole in December was nice to hear of.

Wood Pigeon Photo: Paula Blake

can happen in the next five years. The majority of records are from the Levels but 14 were recorded flying over Nep Town Road on the 15th February while the highest number in the year was at 12

Columbia palumbus This species is a common sight everywhere in the parish, including gardens. In winter there is a big influx of Wood Pigeons from the continent so it’s unsurprising that this is the time when the largest flocks were recorded, and Area 2 was the place to see them with 365 in the early winter survey and 689 in the second winter period.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur One of Henfield’s special birds, our patch is a bit of a hotspot for this critically threatened species. The south of the parish is the stronghold in terms of the population with five singing birds around Woods Mill and Oreham Common and up to three potential breeding territories along the Mill Stream. Singing birds were also recorded on Broadmere Common and at Wantley, whilst in May a report came in of four birds around the Ashurst/Bines Bridge area. It is an alarming thought that this very small number is an important population nationally and it looks possible that the numbers in 2020 have unfortunately reduced.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto In terms of visiting our gardens, Collared Doves have dropped from being the fifth most recorded species in 1999 to tenth position last year. The four surveys across the parish throughout the year amounted to just 53 birds, which is a surprisingly low number with nowhere managing to record double figures.

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus It is always lovely to hear the Cuckoo in spring, with the first record to the east of Wantley on 12th April. The next were on the 22nd at Stretham Manor and the following day at Wineham. During the next few weeks they were heard right across the parish. It’s always difficult to calculate how

Photo: Wayne Turner

many different males there are around the parish as each bird may call over quite a large area. but looking at the distribution of records I can estimate Henfield Birdwatch 2019

that there may have been at least five calling males, but probably more. There were a few ‘bubbling’ females heard as well, and Liz Hodgson and her daughter saw a Cuckoo chick on 6th July in the churchyard.

Barn Owl Tyto alba Barn Owl sightings started off with a bang when Peter Bull recorded four on 30th December 2018.

Sightings then occurred throughout the rest of the year and were recorded in most suitable habitats within the parish. Regular reports came from Shermanbury Place, Betley Bridge, the Mill Stream and Woods Mill/Oreham Common while other observations were noted from Brightham’s Farm, Blackstone, and Wineham where from one nestbox three chicks were ringed. There was also evidence there of breeding in another box. Chicks were also ringed from boxes near Betley and Chates. I think we can estimate that there may be up to ten territories within the parish, and this survey year seemed to be quite a good one for them. One was also recorded on Henfield Common on 17th March

by Penny Smith, an unusual record being so close to the village centre. whilst on the 7th April, Angela Ripp saw one flying across her garden as she and some friends were enjoying a gin and tonic!

Tawny Owl Strix aluco The plaintive calling of the Tawny Owl is usually the only way to try and estimate the number that are around. There were many reports from the centre of the village with calling coming from near St Peter’s Church, The Tanyard, The Hooks and Lower Station Road, probably from the same bird as they will have a reasonably large breeding territory. Hooting was also heard from the woods to the north of Sandy Lane, Stretham Manor and the Blackstone area and also from gardens in Small Dole. Breeding was confirmed as two sets of chicks were seen along the Downs Link only about 300 metres apart, and also from Woods Mill where three chicks were seen. Birds were reported hunting over the fields adjacent to the Mill Stream and seen carrying food away, presumably to a nearby nest. A breeding pair was also reported from Wineham.

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Little Owl Athene noctua As elsewhere in the UK, Little Owl numbers seem to be declining at a pace and Henfield is no exception. In our first survey 20 years ago, there were 59 sightings whereas in 2019 there were just five reports. One was heard calling from the Tanyard Field on the 8th January, and Debbie and Nigel Colgate might have heard the same bird calling from their garden on the 3rd March and 24th April. There were only two other reports, both from Wineham, of one heard on the 14th May and then one seen sitting on a post on the 22nd July.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus The second winter survey produced one sighting in Area 10 and then a second, and rather late, one for this winter visitor seen over the fields alongside the Mill Stream on the 5th May. There were more sightings at Beeding Brooks which is a regular wintering area for this beautiful owl, but sadly just outside our recording area.

Common Swift Apus apus BirdTrack received an incredibly early record of a group of seven Swifts over West End Lane on 1st April while on the same day two were seen over the village. The next record was on the 5th May at Woods Mill. In the village more boxes had been erected over the winter, and birds were seen entering two of the four boxes put up on the side of Stokes of Henfield on the High Street which had remained unoccupied for 12 years! Four other boxes were confirmed to be occupied and it seems that the effort to encourage the growth of the breeding population is starting to work, and hopefully numbers will continue to increase, thanks to you Henfield Villagers! In terms of flock size, 30 were flying over Woods Mill on the 11th June while 31 were over Nigel and Debbie Colgate’s garden on the 17th July. The last report was a single bird heading south of the Village Hall on 10th September.

going on with the national population. Only two were noted on the area surveys, in spring in Area 5 and in winter in Area 3. Seven other reports were sent to BirdTrack, all from the Henfield Levels.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla Now this was one bird I would have loved to have seen on my patch but that honour went to Tim and Jenny Holter who came across this rare woodpecker along the Mill Stream on the 27th August. This was the first record for the parish.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor This once resident Henfield species is sadly now just an occasional visitor although the number of reports for this survey is up 100% on the previous one with two sightings! Paula Blake was lucky enough to have one visit her garden in March, with another report of a single bird visiting a different garden during December.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major Widely reported from all of the areas on all four surveys during the year, as well as frequent visitors to many gardens. Drumming was heard in the first week of the year as the males start their territorial battles. Young were noted on some bird feeders in the 2nd half of the summer but only two reports of breeding territory outside in the parish, with a family of six being seen at Shermanbury Place on the 11th June.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Fewer Kingfishers are being recorded over the survey years which is running counter to what’s 14

Photo: John Pointing

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis A few lucky people had the privilege of seeing this very striking woodpecker in their garden, usually they come to probe the lawn for grubs or looking for ants. Recorded across the parish in all areas during the surveys amounting to 60 birds counted in the year. There were a few reports of fledglings; six was the highest single count on the second breeding survey in June at Woods Mill, four of which were youngsters that looked like they were just out the nest.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus There is nothing like watching a Kestrel hovering in the wind and on the 27th January Penny Smith had one do just this in her garden, dropped to the ground and came up with a rat! 29 sightings came in from the area surveys over the year. They were recorded from right across the parish and over 90 entries were submitted onto BirdTrack. Only one breeding pair was confirmed when five chicks from the nestbox at Woods Mill were ringed on the 14th June. Other potential successful breeding pairs were noted at Shermanbury, Wineham and near the Mill Stream. Two reports came in through the year of Kestrels harassing Barn Owls that were clutching voles in their talons.

There were five other BirdTrack entries, three of them from the south of the parish, one from the Henfield Levels and a single bird from Perching Manor Farm. Lesley Milward spotted a Peregrine flying over her garden on the 19th May.

Jay Garrulus glandarius Numbers of Jays have remained fairly constant across the 20 years of the surveys and are recorded widely across the parish. All records are in single numbers apart from ten on the winter survey in Area 7. There were 75 BirdTrack entries with just one of these citing seeing fledglings, although there were undoubtedly more breeding pairs that went unrecorded.

Magpie Pica pica Not everyone’s favourite but there is no doubt it is a striking bird to see in your garden! It has now crept up to eigth position in terms of garden visitors. Widespread and common, recorded in all areas and on all surveys, producing 309 records in total and 23 being the highest count on the 2nd winter survey in Area 11. There were nearly 200 BirdTrack records submitted but with only one report of any youngsters, that being on the 27th June along the Mill Stream.

Hobby

Jackdaw

Falco subbuteo There was a sprinkling of Hobby records in the year, a summer visitor to our shores and it is wonderful to watch a Hobby scything through the landscape on the hunt for dragonflies. The first sighting was over the Tanyard on the 9th May and there were a further three BirdTrack records, all noted in June. Area surveys managed a further four records while one was recorded from a garden in Lower Station Road in August.

Corvus monedula Over the 20 years of the surveys, Jackdaws have moved up the garden chart from 20th in 1999 to 12th last year. Widespread and common and their

Peregrine Falco peregrinus Still surprisingly few records for this magnificent raptor over the year. Five were reported on the area surveys with four of them coming from Area 11, where a bird was sitting on one of the electricity pylons, and a single one from Area 3.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Photo: John Pointing

loud raucous ‘chack’ can be heard right across the parish. They can congregate in large numbers with Area 1 producing 264 in the early part of the year, whilst in December 400 were recorded along West End Lane and 408 on the Area 4 survey.

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Rook Corvus frugilegus On the Area 4 survey in the early part of the year 150 were recorded, and this was by far the largest count on the surveys but this was eclipsed by a report of 240 on the 24th May down West End Lane that included a mixture of adults and juveniles.

There was no report of any rookeries within the parish boundaries but there are a couple of known ones just beyond them.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone Like Jackdaws, Carrion Crows have been creeping up the garden list over the last 20 years and have now reached 15th position. Carrion Crows are not as social as Rooks but very high counts were counted on the first winter survey with 116 from Area 10, while 200 were noted from the same Area in December.

Raven Corvus corax Only five reports of Ravens in the parish was a considerable drop from the last survey, all from the south of the parish with two reports on the 15th April and again on the 3rd August with the last report on the 5th December on the Henfield Levels. No reports of any birds over gardens this time.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus This now established cracking little bird was picked up in the 1st winter survey in Area 5 and also another was recorded on Henfield Common on the Commons survey. A further four records were submitted to BirdTrack, three of them in the early part of the year with two in the Village on the 7th January and a single on the 15th February while Perching Manor Farm recorded one on the 22nd January. A late year bird was again in the village on the 3rd November.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus Widespread across the parish, the woods on Henfield Common seems to be the hotspot for this tiny inconspicuous species as seven were noted on 16

the Commons survey. Their numbers are increased in winter by migrants and turn up mostly where there are a few conifer trees. There are no breeding records though Goldcrest nests are difficult to locate. There were a few garden records as well.

Coal Tit Periparus ater Much more recorded as visiting gardens, particularly those with pine trees - their preferred habitat than in the wider parish where there are fewer conifers. Only 15 were recorded all year on all the Area surveys with another 26 BirdTrack entries from across the parish.

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris Two lucky people in Small Dole had this sadly fast declining species. Angela Thyer and Verity Ludlow reported Marsh Tits visiting them up to April, then returning in November. There were two other sightings, John Bowers reported one visiting his garden in February and then a BirdTrack entry for 30th November on the Henfield Levels.

Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus In terms of the wider countryside, not surprisingly this ubiquitous species is abundant across the parish and during the first winter period over 1000 were recorded across all areas surveyed with Areas 2 and 3 having the highest numbers. During the

Photo: Nick Davies

breeding season the numbers were lower but again it was these two areas which recorded the highest counts. BirdTrack entries were also in the Henfield Birdwatch 2019

100s from all across the parish while all the breeding records, bar one, were from nest boxes in gardens. The exception was a box in the grounds of Henfield library, complete with nestcam. This provided great entertainment to the library’s users, including lots of children. The nesting pair laid eleven eggs by the 26th April, of which ten hatched, and by the 21st May they had fledged. This left the library staff with a case of empty nest syndrome!

Riparia riparia The only record of this summer visitor to the UK was from August 17th of six birds feeding with House Martins and Swallows in a cow field alongside the river north of New Inn Farm.

Great Tit

Barn Swallow

Parus major Much less numerous than Blue Tits and during the 2nd breeding survey three of the areas didn’t record a single Great Tit. Area 10 had the highest counts in both the breeding season and in winter

Hirundo rustica The first record of the year was a single bird over West End Lane on the 1st April; no large groups were reported with 20 being the highest count on both The Levels and over at Wineham. There was no confirmation of breeding pairs on the surveys.

Across the parish there were a number of potential breeding habitats and buildings identified but again no breeding could be confirmed. The last report was on 30th September when many were seen hunting over the village in the company of House Martins.

peaking at 50 on the 25th October. Twenty were also recorded singing during the second breeding survey in Area 3 on the 5th June.

Sand Martin

House Martin

Photo: Nick Davies

with 13 and 39 respectively. Again, there were many BirdTrack reports submitted and there were a few reports of youngsters being fed. There were also just a few reports of breeding pairs in gardens too.

Skylark Alauda arvensis On the two breeding surveys, 23 Skylarks were recorded on the first while on the second there were 30. Area 11 had the highest number with ten territories noted which is on a par with previous surveys for this patch. Skylarks will flock into larger groups during the winter. Forty were counted in the field adjacent to the Mill Stream on the 8th January while large numbers were regularly recorded on the Perching Manor Farm Surveys Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Delichon urbicum A full report of House Martins appears later in this book. As with Swallows, the first report came in from West End Lane on 1st April where also the last sightings of the year were reported when 21 were seen on the 1st October. Successful breeding was recorded for the first time in Bishop Park, where three active nests were noted, with a large gathering of adults and juveniles seen there on the 4th August. Other larger counts were reported with birds gathering on wires in Deer Park, when 50 were counted on the 15th September and two weeks later 40 were recorded, again from West End Lane.

Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti This bird has only featured once in all the books so far and that was in 2009 when one was reported at Woods Mill. In 2019 there were over 40 reports illustrating how the population has grown not just in Henfield but right across the UK. Nearly all the records were from the south of the parish with the 17

stretch from Woods Mill along the Mill Stream to the Downs Link being the heart of the breeding population. This bird is actually seldom seen so most of the records were of their explosive song which is very hard not to notice when you hear it.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus Surprisingly, the Long-tailed Tit has now dropped out of the top twenty of species recorded in gardens as their overall numbers nationally are stable if not increasing. There were only a couple of records of wintering flocks that reached double figures with 11 on the 2nd June in Wineham then ten in the village on the 6th December.

were submitted on BirdTrack from all over the parish. During the two breeding surveys 144 birds were noted, these were nearly all singing birds but of all these records no actual breeding was confirmed, although there was one report of a bird diving into a bush with food. However, undoubtedly there was breeding success in the parish. A few gardens also reported Chiffchaffs visiting.

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus There was a total of nine records of this striking warbler, all bar one coming from the Henfield Levels. The exception was one reported from Woods Mill on the 27th May, a surprisingly rare

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus Sadly, this now once breeding species is relegated to being seen in the parish only on migration. In spring, the first was recorded at Chates on the 8th April and singles were also reported from Woods Mill, Oreham Common, Edburton and West End Lane. There were no records on the breeding surveys. Return migration began in July and sightings came in from Sakeham Farm, Blackstone and Stretham Manor while the highest number was four recorded on the 27th September at Perching Manor Farm. A few turned up in gardens as well, Dave Cartwright saw one on the 2nd July, Lesley Milward and Mike Russell recorded a few regularly in their Lower Station Road garden between 2nd July and 10th August and Debbie & Nigel Colgate had one on the 25th August.

bird for the for the reserve. All reports were of single birds except on the 3rd August when six were recorded around Chates. This is a welcome increase for this species as there was only one record from the survey five years ago.

Chiffchaff

Reed Warbler

Phylloscopus collybita This summer migrant is now recorded in every month of the year as many Chiffchaffs are spending the whole year in the UK, taking advantage of the warmer winters we are now experiencing. It is known through ringing records that many of the wintering birds have actually bred in central Europe and make a short migration to our shores while our breeding birds still head south for the winter. A single bird was noted on the 1st January down West End Lane while the last report for the year was from Broadmere Common on the 9th December.

In between these two dates a further 178 records

Acrocephalus scirpaceus A scratchy rhythmic song emanating from a stand of reeds in spring announces the arrival of Reed Warblers from Africa. The first of the year was heard at Woods Mill on the 20th April where, very unusually, a bird was singing from a hedgerow at least 20 metres away from the reeds. Most territories were located in the south of the parish although birds were heard singing from the reedbed on Henfield Common and along the reedfringed River Adur at Wineham. Area 11 held the most territories along with Woods Mill. The last report was from Chates on the 30th August.

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Photo: Val Bentley

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Grasshopper Warbler

Lesser Whitethroat

Locustella naevia Just one record for this enigmatic and secretive summer visitor when a distant bird was heard reeling between the Downslink and Rye Farm.

Sylvia curruca Much more secretive than its more common cousin, it’s often difficult to pinpoint the soft bubbling song that comes from deep within the vegetation. It was first heard at Woods Mill on the 14th April and then recorded regularly across the

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla There was a sprinkling of winter records in the early part of the year as, like Chiffchaffs, evidence suggests that some breeding central European birds are now wintering in the UK. One in West End Lane was the first report of the year and there were seven more records up to the 1st April. In the spring the first breeding survey recorded 102 across all areas, an indication that this species, unlike many summer migrants, is actually increasing in

Photo: Nick Davies

parish until the last report of one from the Levels on the 10th September. The biggest concentration appeared to be on the Levels when five were heard on the 30th April and along the hedge adjacent to the Mill Stream when four were recorded on the 2nd May.

Common Whitethroat

Photo: Nick Davies

numbers.. They are also increasingly coming to feeders in gardens during the winter as they adapt to surviving more on eating seeds. One was seen on the Perching Manor Farm survey on the 25th October, and in December Andy Bennett saw up to three in his garden in Small Dole.

Sylvia communis Apart from Area 7, Whitethroats were recorded across the parish during the breeding surveys with 147 birds counted. Arrival started on 15th April when one was noted on the Levels while Woods Mill with 15 on the 5th May and Edburton with 14

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Fourteen records were submitted on BirdTrack for Garden Warblers, a welcome increase on the five received in 2014. The first was from Woods Mill on the 5th May and all the rest were of single birds apart from two noted along the Mill Stream on the 22nd June. While most were from the south and west of the parish, some were in Edburton, Shermanbury and Wineham with the last report from the Levels on the 10th September.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Photo: Nick Davies

on the 21st April were the sites with the biggest concentration. There were certainly successful breeding pairs at Woods Mill and it generally seemed to be a successful breeding season. The Levels also saw the final record on the 10th September.

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Wren

Eurasian Treecreeper

Troglodytes troglodytes The garden report shows that the Wren has fallen to 17th position in the table which is surprising as the milder winters we are now experiencing means that more are surviving these months. 430 were counted on the area and Commons surveys and they were widespread across the parish, whilst a further 234 submissions were logged on BirdTrack.

Woods Mill has the greatest concentration of territories but much of the parish, including gardens, provides suitable habitat for the Wren.

Certhia familiaris Much less reported than the Nuthatch, this delicate mouse-like bird silently shinning up a tree is often hard to locate as its call is very high pitched and outside the audible range of many people! This may account for the relatively low 25 reports from the area surveys and a similar number of records were put on BirdTrack. One definite breeding record was at Woods Mill where an adult was seen taking Photo: Paula Blake food to a nest.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea As with 2014 survey, Nuthatches remain just outside the top twenty of species visiting gardens.

In the wider parish, they were recorded in all areas on the surveys during the winter but were harder to locate during the breeding season. BirdTrack received another 96 records from all across the parish though the south is where the majority emanate from.

Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris In our first survey, Starlings were reported from 98% of gardens taking part whereas for this last one, it was only from 42%, an alarming decline and indicates that this is a red data listed species. Across the parish there were a few reports of wintering Starling flocks in the 100s with the largest totals coming from the Levels where 500 were noted on the 18th December.

Blackbird Turdus merula Blackbirds have retained the number one spot on all five Garden surveys undertaken since Henfield Birdwatch started. Recorded in all areas on all surveys with a further 250 records submitted on BirdTrack. Area 7 reported the highest number with 57 on the second winter survey.

Fieldfare

Photo: Val Bentley

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Turdus pilaris These Viking winter visitors are a welcome audio and visual addition to our landscape. During the early part of the year Area 2 was the place to see large flocks with 117 on the 26th February. Having disappeared for the summer, the first returning birds were on the 1st October at West End Lane, with numbers building up to a flock of 191, again recorded in Area 2. An occasional garden visitor, especially where there are berry bearing bushes.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Redwing Turdus iliacus Accompanying Fieldfares are the Redwings that visit us in winter though slightly fewer in numbers.

Again, it was Area 2 that recorded the highest numbers with 172 on the 5th February, while later in the year, 63 were seen around Betley Bridge on the 28th December. Like Fieldfares, they were also recorded in a few gardens, feeding on berries.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelus Recorded throughout the year right across the parish but not in particularly big numbers. As in previous surveys, more were reported from the north of the parish and in the village itself. Areas 1, 2, 5 and 6 having held the larger numbers,

birds. During the breeding season, birds were seen taking food into the trees on the Common indicating a breeding pair. Small numbers were recorded from most Areas during the surveys, plus there were 15 entries on BirdTrack, again mostly single birds.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata Our first report at the turn of the century produced 114 reports of this lovely summer visitor.

Last year, just two sightings in the spring, the first at Woods Mill on the 17th May and then again in Blackstone Gate on the 27th June being the only summer record, a very sad state of affairs that we have lost this beautiful bird as a Henfield resident.

However, two of the Big Bird Bash walks in late September found some passage migrants.

Robin Erithacus rubecula Still widespread and common, not surprisingly Robins were recorded right across the area with larger numbers in the beginning of the year when Areas 2 and 10 recorded 34 and 30 respectively.

At the end of the year numbers were down with Areas 2 and 8 both having 19 records each. A few breeding birds were noted with youngsters being fed but is undoubtedly well under recorded.

Common Nightingale

Photo: Nick Davies

although all still in single figures, whilst at the end of the year most were recorded in Area 8. On the Perching Manor Survey on 25th October seven individuals were noted. A fledgling was noted on the 27th June in the village.

Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrushes were spotted a few times on Henfield Common, particularly in the first part of the year, and presumably the two seen by Libby Serpis in Swain’s Field in January were the same Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Luscinia megarhynchos A comprehensive report of the Nightingales by Val Bentley and Will Green can be found elsewhere in this book.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros There were six entries on BirdTrack, but presumably 5 of them were the same bird which arrived on the new Bishops Park estate on the 27th October when Paul Cole noticed one on the roof of a house opposite his! It was joined by a second bird on 3rd November. A female, which may have been the same bird, was in Small Dole on the 23rd October and another was spotted on the Area 2 walk on 5th November.

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Whinchat Saxicola rubetra With three reports for this survey that’s an increase of 50% on the 2014 one. The first was at Woods Mill on the 27th August with another two days later at Sands Farm, which possibly could be the same bird. A final sighting was on the 30th September on the Levels which is quite late for a returning bird.

Eurasian Stonechat Saxicola torquatus There was a significant increase of sightings of Stonechats over the previous survey. There was a total of nine in the winter surveys at both ends of the year, with Area 4 accounting for five on both surveys. Twenty-nine additional records were entered on BirdTrack, including three occasions where a total of four were reported from the Levels, plus records from Rye Farm, Edburton, Small Dole, Stretham Manor and Brightham’s Farm.

No confirmed breeding reports were received.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A disappointing two records for this lovely summer visitor with one seen on the old landfill site in Small Dole on the 22nd April, and another single

Photo: Peter Meares

bird on the Adur north of the confluence on August 17th. This is the lowest number of all the reports and indicative of the general decline of this species.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus A slight increase in House Sparrow numbers has taken it up to 5th place in the garden list. The four area surveys during the year were consistent across all areas though not surprisingly, the densest 22

population was found in the village with 60 being the highest count.

Dunnock Prunella modularis Over the five surveys, Dunnocks have been climbing up the garden list and have now reached 6th position. Widespread across the parish although during the breeding season there were a few areas where none were recorded. Areas 2 and 3 recorded the highest numbers, but both only just crept into double figures. There were an additional 140 records extracted from BirdTrack, most of them comprising single figure records although 13 were counted on the Perching Manor Farm survey on the 22nd January.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava There was one record of two birds on the Upper Adur Levels amongst cattle on the 20th September.

This is a disappointing return for this delightful summer migrant.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Bryan Michie, Verity Ludlow, Tony Baker & Gill Perry, Angela Thyer and Ralph Gilbert were the lucky people to have Grey Wagtails visiting their gardens during the survey year. There were ten additional BirdTrack records, six of them coming from Woods Mill, three from the Levels and one from Perching Manor. Area 2 produced three birds on the first winter survey, one was in Area 8 in June at Woods Mill, whilst four others were noted in the second winter survey.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba Lower numbers of Pied Wagtails are now recorded on our surveys. Looking back on our first one in 1999, there were roosts in the village of 100 plus birds. However lin 2019 the highest count was the area around Oreham Common when 25 were noted on the 3rd February. All other records were in single figures only.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis Very much a winter visitor and passage migrant to the parish, although in Area 10 there were a couple of records on the Levels in the breeding season.

The biggest count of the year was from Area 3 when 44 were noted on the first winter survey.

Surveys at Perching Manor Farm from September were regularly counting numbers in the 20s and overall, these counts were on a par with previous surveys.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta On the 5th December while looking over the floods at Rye Farm, a small bird feeding along the edge of the water turned out to be a Water Pipit, the first record for this species in the parish.

Chaffinch Fringella coelebs The year started with a large flock of 80 seen on the Lydds on the 6th January, which had increased to 120 by the 1st February. Another large flock was 66 on the Area 2 survey on the 5th February around Furners Farm. Territorial song was heard from all areas during the breeding survey. No such large flocks were noted in the second winter period, 23 being the highest count, again in Area 2.

Hawfinch

Photo: Nick Davies

across the parish while a few lucky residents regularly received this beautiful bird in their gardens.

Greenfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes One lucky observer submitted a report to Birdtrack of a Hawfinch in Wineham on the 10th November, the only record of the year and, although this species has been recorded in the parish before, this magnificent finch makes its first appearance on a survey.

Chloris chloris Greenfinches maintained their position of 15th in terms of gardens visited, Rose Wade & John Lewry’s garden in Lower Station Road provided the ideal roosting site with a bamboo clump that on the 24th March held 37 in the roost. The largest flock outside of the gardens was in March when 27 were counted near West End Lane.

Bullfinch

Linnet

Pyrrhula pyrrhula Sadly, far fewer records than in previous surveys with none submitted involving double figures and Area 3 had the highest count with five in the first breeding survey. In the past, Woods Mill and Oreham Common held the majority of records but there were far fewer this time. However, seven were counted at Edburton on the 19th February and BirdTrack records were submitted from right

Carduelis cannabina The mixed flock of finches recorded on The Lydds on the 6th January could also count 30 Linnets amongst their number, whilst on the 23rd March 52 were recorded around West End Lane. Later in the year, on the 27th September, 58 were counted on the Perching Manor Farm survey. Areas 2, 7, 8 and 11 were the only areas to record Linnets during the year.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

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Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret A sporadic winter visitor to the parish, there were just a few records last year, all in January. Nigel and Debbie Colgate were lucky enough to have one visiting on three occasions with two on the 23rd. A flock of 12 was recorded flying over the gardens of Lower Station Road.

surveyors, whilst on the 1st February 20 were discovered on The Lydds. Recorded across the parish during the year, but mostly in single figures.

During the two breeding surveys, 26 birds were recorded across all areas.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Goldfinches continue their march up the garden chart, reaching the giddy heights of 11th position and many people are enjoying seeing these colourful finches on their feeders. Thirty joined the large finch flock that was foraging on The Lydds on the 6th January. Area 2 was another place to see large numbers with 44 on the first winter breeding survey and 70 on the second at the end of the year. Breeding territories were recorded in all areas.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra For the second survey running, a single sighting of a Corn Bunting. This one was recorded on the 5th May at Stretham Manor. Although there are small populations nearby on The Downs, they rarely move away to the river valley so it is a very scarce visitor.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citronella Once described as abundant in the parish at the end of the 19th Century in Borrer’s Birds of Sussex but now the national decline of this species during the 20th Century is reflected in Henfield. Just north of Wantley saw 18 during the first breeding survey while the Perching Manor Farm survey consistently recorded up to 14 throughout the year. Small numbers were recorded elsewhere across the parish.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Three gardens in Lower Station Road regularly featured Reed Buntings in the winter with the count at Brian & Karen Lang’s creeping into double figures. On the 22nd January, a flock of 60 at Perching Manor Farm was a lovely sight for the 24

Photo: Peter Meares

The total number of species recorded in the Parish during 2019 was 115. This is actually the lowest total recorded of the five survey years so far, but still compares favourably: 1999 118

2004 117

2009 119

2014 119

2019 115

New to the Parish list in 2019 were Garganey, Mediterranean Gull, Wryneck and Water Pipit.

These four species move the Parish list onto 174 species to the end of 2019.

ESCAPES Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus This striking individual has been seen on the odd occasion over the last few years but only turned up once in 2019 to be recorded and that was on the 14th April on the Upper Adur Levels.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Migrant arrival & departure dates Table 1: Summer visitors Species Garganey Turtle Dove Cuckoo Swift Hobby Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Willow Warbler Garden Warbler Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Nightingale Whinchat Wheatear Yellow Wagtail Table 2: winter visitors Species Bewick’s Swan Fieldfare Redwing Water Pipit Brambling

2019 arrival dates First arrival Earliest record

2019 departure dates Last departure Latest record

14th April

14th April 2019

nr

nr

2nd May

24th April 1999

6th August

13th September 2014

21st April

13th April 2014

6th July

1st August 1999

1 April

1 April 2019

10 September

3rd October 2004

9th May

19th March 2014

17th August

14th September 2014

nr

14th March 2009

17th August

18th September 1999

1st April

21st February 1999

30th September

5th December 2009

1 April

4 April 1999

29 September

31st October 1999

8th April

11th April 2014

25th August

19th September 2004

5th May

2nd May 2004

10th September

10th October 1999

14th April

11th April 2014

10th September

21st September 1999

15th April

21st March 2004

10th September

17th September 1999

9th May

16th April 2014

nr

nr

27th May

12th May 1999

31st August

31st August 2009

20th April

18th April 2009

30th August

14th October 2009

17th May

9th May 1999

28th September

26th September 2004

6th April

7th April 2012

27th August

27th August 2019

nr

nr

30th September

14th November 2004

22nd April

14th April 2014

17th August

30th September 1999

nr

27th June 1999

20th September

9th October 2004

st

st

st

th

th

th

2019 departure dates Last departure Latest record

2019 arrival dates First arrival Earliest record

nr

3rd March 2017

nr

5th December 2009

26th February

9th May 1999

1st October

5th September 2014

28th February

4th April 1999

1st October

9th October 2004

nr nr

nr

5th December

5th December 2019

28th March 2004

nr

21st November 2004

Table 1 contains the details of the migrants that both stay to breed in the parish and those that merely pass through on their way to their breeding grounds in spring, and then on the return journey in autumn.

Where an ‘nr’ is entered this indicates that the particular species was not recorded in either the spring or autumn, or unfortunately in neither. Also included are the historical earliest and latest dates that each species has been recorded since Henfield Birdwatch was formed in 1999.

Table 2 shows the departure dates of birds that winter in the parish during the first part of the year and then then the dates that they return later in the year. Again a ‘nr’ indicates that this particular species was not recorded during either, or both, of these periods. As with the summer records, the historical latest departure and earliest arrival dates since 1999 have been included.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

25

The Parish of Henfield Barn Owl, Betley Kingfisher, River Adur

Lapwing, The Levels

Nightingale, The Mill Stream

House Martin, Deer Park

Swift, High Street

Skylark, The Lydds

Yellowhammer, Oreham Common

Garden Birdwatch 2019 Val Bentley 2019 was the fifth Henfield Garden Birdwatch survey and it was amazing that many of our surveyors managed to stay the course and complete a whole year of garden birdwatching, recording over 65,000 sightings!

Though our own members knew about the impending survey year, it was at a very well attended meeting at the Henfield Hall on 7th December 2018 that we were able to extend an invitation to other parish residents to take part, and many signed up. Birdwatch finally reached the 21st century in data entry terms, thanks to Sara Taylor, whose expertise allowed garden watchers to add their records via our website, thus enabling spreadsheets and graphs to make sense of the information collected.

The recording year started on Sunday 30th December 2018 and finished on Saturday 29th December 2019. Surveyors were asked to count the maximum number of each species recorded in the garden during one hour each week, i.e. 4 Blue Tits seen on Monday, 5 on Wednesday and 2 on Friday would be entered as 5, not 11 - though the same five Blue Tits could have visited a neighbour’s garden and been counted again! This is similar to recording methods used by both the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for their national Garden Birdwatch schemes. We also used the same method of assessing the results, by calculating the percentage of gardens used by visiting species. This averaging reduces anomalies if surveyors have not entered data for certain weeks.

There were 86 households who sent in sightings during the year. The maximum number recording in any one week was 72, in week three of the survey and as the year went on, the average dropped to just over 42 in the final two months.

This was to be expected – 52 weeks is a long time to keep up weekly recording and initial enthusiasm can easily cool if the same species are being seen week after week! A special pat on the back is due to John Gilbert and Rose Wade who both entered 28

data for all 52 weeks of the year. Recording for 50 or more weeks were Angela Thyer, Dave Cartwright, Tony & Pat Jackson, Hazel Haylock, Janet & Alan Bridgewater, Lesley Ainslie, Lesley Milward, Denis & Sally Muirden, Sue Tomsett and Verity Ludlow – very well done to all! It’s really difficult to maintain such a full slate when you consider breaks for holidays and the like.

The Results This was our fifth Henfield Garden Bird Survey so we were particularly keen to see what changes had occurred, particularly since our first survey 20 years ago. Graham Smith was the author of the Garden Bird reports for the four previous books and thanks are due to him for producing such readable accounts. Back in 1999, the species recorded in most gardens was Blackbird, with Blue Tit and Starling in joint 2nd place, Robin and Chaffinch in joint 4th, followed by House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Great Tit, Greenfinch and Wood Pigeon. In 2004 the top four were almost the same, but Chaffinch had dropped to 7th equal, with Woodpigeon, Magpie had crept into 10th place, and Greenfinch pushed down to 13th. Five years later Wood Pigeon had muscled into the top five, and Chaffinch fallen to 9th. By 2014 Wood Pigeon was joint first, along with Blue Tit, Robin and Blackbird; but Starling was down at 8th, Chaffinch and Greenfinch had both slipped down another place, while Goldfinch had been gradually creeping up over the years, from 17th in 1999 to 11th in 2019 and Jackdaw leapt from 20th to 12th!

Due to the more sophisticated online system used in 2019, it was possible to average out the weekly percentages of gardens in which species were seen, so although everyone recorded Blackbird at some time during the year, there were some weeks where one didn’t turn up in the hour, so the odd week was missed as far as counts were concerned.

Hence the percentages given will be lower than in previous years’ reports, but this does not necessarily represent a reduction in birds seen. For Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Species Blackbird Wood Pigeon Blue Tit Robin House Sparrow Dunnock Great Tit Magpie Starling Collared Dove Goldfinch Jackdaw Chaffinch Carrion Crow Greenfinch Song Thrush Wren Coal Tit Great Spot. Woodpecker Jay

% Position Position Weekley of gardens 2019 2014 visited

Position 2004

Position 1999

1

92.4

1=

1

1=

1

2

88.1

1=

4=

6=

9=

3

85.5

1=

2=

1=

2=

4

79.3

1=

2=

1=

4=

5

53.9

8=

6

6=

6=

6

53.5

5

11=

13

14

7

52.0

6=

7=

10=

8

8

50.4

12

11=

9

11

9

41.6

8=

7=

1=

2=

10

39.7

6=

4=

5

6=

11

32.4

13=

16

15

17

12

31.8

19

20

21

20

13

29.9

10=

9=

6=

4=

14

29.7

20

18

19

15

15

27.0

15

14

12

9=

16

23.4

13=

9=

14

12=

17

22.9

10=

11=

10=

12=

18

20.4

21

17

17

19

19

16.8

18

23

23

22

20

16.7

16

19

24

26

consistency I have followed Graham’s method of giving the places for the previous survey years.

Species which have changed position by 5 or more places since 1999 are in green (up) or red (down).

Notable from the table above is how the top four are clustered between 79% and 92% well ahead of the next four which were between 50% and 54%, then followed another gap until two at roughly 40%. Just outside the top twenty were Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Feral Pigeon and Stock Dove which were seen in an average of 15.8%, 15.7%. 10.9% and 7.1% of gardens respectively. A few gardens saw Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, Siskin and Treecreeper.

Winter-visiting Thrushes, Redwings and Fieldfares, mostly feed out in the countryside but were seen in Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Position 2009

gardens from January to mid-March and again from late November through December. Reed Buntings also ventured from their usual riverine haunts into some gardens, mainly in the winter months, with a maximum of eight seen in a garden in Lower Station Road in February. Tawny Owls were heard from and in gardens in the centre of the village, and at Mockbridge and Small Dole. Swifts nesting in recently installed boxes on several houses gave great pleasure to many from May to August.

The total number of birds counted was a staggering 66,174. Of these 7,492 were House Sparrows, 7,461 Blue Tits, 6,798 Woodpigeons, 5,629 Starlings and 5,340 Blackbirds. Many households hardly saw House Sparrows and Starlings, but those that did had plenty!

29

Photo: Nick Davies

For the fifth year running Blackbird was the most recorded species during the Garden Birdwatch

How does Henfield compare?

The BTO Garden Bird Survey has been running since 1995, slightly longer than ours, but the changes in fortunes they report are similar to those in our parish, as revealed in “Bird Table” Spring 2020 (British Trust for Ornithology): our local figures in brackets.

Wood Pigeon has risen from 12th to 2nd (9th to 2nd) and Goldfinch from 20th to 8th (17th to 11th). A likely reason being the increase in seed feeders available in gardens.

Greenfinch has dropped from 8th to 15th (9th to 15th), probably due to the prevalence of the finch disease Trichomonosis, and Starling from 7th to 13th (2nd to 9th) though the cause for this is currently unknown. Song Thrush has also moved down from 15th to 22nd (joint 12th to 16th), possibly because there is less of the food they require in our gardens.

Nationally House Sparrow has lost ground from 3rd to 7th, while the figure is steadier here (joint 6th to 5th), but our Chaffinches have fared badly dropping from joint 4th to 13th, whereas in the UK as a whole, surprisingly, they are only down one place from 10th to 11th.

30

How many species?

The final count of garden species in 2019 was 69.

Looking back on the previous four surveys, we have added Firecrest, Greylag Goose, Little Grebe and Whitethroat to the cumulative total which now stands at 95, though some of these may be records of birds seen from the garden rather than in it, so perhaps they shouldn’t really count!

Other things What a plethora of other wildlife also graced our gardens in 2019. All the expected butterflies, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Peacock, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Comma, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Marbled White – also Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and several species of bee and dragon/damselflies. Between 19th May and late July many Stag Beetles were seen.

A Grass Snake and slow worms frequented a garden in Hacketts Lane. Toads, Frogs, Newts and a Lizard were all seen, also Foxes, Badgers, Hedgehogs and Wood Mice – including one which heaved the top off a tin of sunflower hearts and made off with treats on numerous occasions! Not so welcome was an adult Mink with four young in West End Lane.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

And finally …. … a big thank you to all who took part. We hope you enjoyed watching your garden birds about their business, sharing their ups and downs!

Many thanks for organising this. It’s been great fun!

‘

‘

HBW member

Photo: Nick Davies

Greenfinch has suffered a slight decline in recent years

The more unusual sightings...

These are species which were not on the data entry list or were seen outside the hour.

From January to mid-March a Redpoll was using feeders in Church Street, bringing a friend on one occasion but no more appeared for the rest of the year. A pair of Little Grebes frequented a garden with a large pond in Bramlands Lane, and raised at least one chick from each of two broods, before all departed in mid-October. The same pond hosted Moorhens and Canada Geese who also raised young, and occasionally a pair of Tufted Duck. A Little Owl was heard calling in Church Street on a single occasion in March. A Red-legged Partridge spent 20 minutes in a Blackgate Lane garden in March, before disappearing through a hole in a hedge. Kestrels were noted taking a rat from a garden near the Common in January, hovering above a lawn at Mockbridge in March and in a driveway in Chanctonbury View in June. Buzzards were often reported “overhead” but were seen perched on trees in gardens in Stonepit Lane and near Swains. Rooks prefer open fields, but were seen in gardens in Lower Station Road, Bramlands Lane and West End Lane where, in August, they were feasting on windfall apples Henfield Birdwatch 2019

with Jackdaws. A migrating Whitethroat stopped briefly in Church Street in April, and one very lucky household at Small Dole had the pleasure of seeing two Turtle Doves in three different weeks in August and early September.

At the end of October a Black Redstart turned up in a garden in Bishop Park, and the following week a Firecrest was at Blackgate Lane. A Kingfisher was spotted in a large garden pond in Broomfield Road in November while a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was reported in a garden in Furners Mead in early December.

Photo: Paula Blake

One fortunate member recorded this Black Redstart in their back garden during 2019 31

Perching Manor Farm

Photo: Lesley Milward

Will Green, Lesley Milward and Nigel & Debbie Colgate We undertook ten monthly surveys at Perching Manor Farm on the border of Fulking and Edburton. We missed July and November for what must have been good reasons at the time! All this has been made possible by the Farm Manager, David Ellin, actively supporting wildlife and allowing us to roam the land “off-piste”.

The bare statistics show that we observed through sight and/or sound 66 species of bird and a staggering 2,734 individual records. The numbers reflect the fact that a little bit of care for the environment provides a survival foothold that is readily accepted by a variety of wildlife. The wonderful birds wouldn’t be there without a ready supply of natural food in the form of insects, berries, seeds and the like.

The habitat lying in the lee of the South Downs is amazingly varied with pasture, mature hedgerow, woodland, overgrown scrub with bushes and small trees, damp areas with a watercourse, wild flower planted field edges, late harvested crops such as field beans, and farm buildings.

David’s work has been with farmland birds in mind and we like to think our surveys have helped him quantify the results of his efforts as well as 32

informing national and regional bird groups. We have taken part in two Breeding Bird and two Winter Bird Surveys for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Photo: Jenny Shaw

Yellowhammers are a common sight throughout the year Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Species

Total 2019 sightings

Highest Visits species Notes monthly count recorded

Skylark

186

50 (Sep)

9

Breeding species

Yellowhammer

108

27 (Mar)

10

Breeding and winter

Meadow Pipit

128

35 (Oct)

6

Winter visitor

Linnet

77

55 (Sep)

6

Usually in small numbers

Reed Bunting

87

60 (Jan)

4

Winter visitor

Wood Pigeon

358

138 (Feb)

10

Increase in winter

Stock Dove

109

39 (Sep)

9

Increasing year on year

Table showing typical farmland birds observed during the 2019 Perching Manor survey The results for all our visits have been entered on the national BTO BirdTrack database. Will and I also did two great fun Butterfly Surveys for BTO (any help telling Large Whites from Small Whites gratefully accepted!).

David has worked with RSPB on feeding for Turtle Doves and although there have been no successes on this front the table to the right gives an indication that there are significant numbers of farm birds present including a number of red listed species. Since we have information going back to 2016 we are beginning to see trends which are hopefully adding usefully to the national data sets.

The information below is intended to give a snapshot of what we have observed in 2019. We are very happy to share all the data if anyone would like to see it.

The Perching staples Birds observed every visit were: Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Yellowhammer, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch

Birds observed on 9 out of 10 visits were: Stock Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin and Song Thrush Henfield Birdwatch 2019

The Perching Highlights So let’s finish with some of our more interesting sightings that got us chatting on the way home in the car....

Red Kite - 1 in May Peregrine - 1 in September Tawny Owl - 1 in March Grey Wagtail - 1 in October Nightingale - 2 in April Stonechat - 3 in February & 2 in December Garden Warbler - 1 each in May & August Lesser Whitethroat - 1 in May & 5 in August Mistle Thrush - 1 in December Firecrest 1 in January Willow Warbler - 1 in April, 4 in September & 12 in August

Raven - 1 in August Spotted Flycatcher - 6 in August 33

Three Commons Surveys Nigel Colgate Surveys were carried at Oreham Common, 2. Oreham Common Henfield Common and Broadmere Common to We surveyed a limited area of this common which provide a baseline to inform ourselves and other is typified by woodland, mature hedgerow, rough groups looking to undertake work on the habitat in grassland and a relatively busy road. Considering those places. the small area visited the results show a good

1. Henfield Common There is some pasture and fields with livestock around the farm shop and an expanse of playing fields with cricket and football pitches. The majority of the remainder is woodland, mainly deciduous, beyond which is an area of rough common with a reedbed. This latter area is bordered to the north by a row of early 20th century houses which, not surprisingly, is the HQ for the House Sparrows. To the south is the A281 road to Brighton.

The results suggest there is more activity in the winter than in the breeding season with regard to our resident birds. This is demonstrated by Great and Blue Tits in particular, but the trend is generally that way. The common summer visiting warblers are represented with the notable absence once again of Willow Warbler. The Reed Warblers in the reedbed are continuing to flourish and this area does seem to be popular with the Whitethroats.

We continue to bemoan the absence of Marsh Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the woodland but the winter presence of Firecrest is a bonus. Mistle Thrushes are present near the farm shop and although not recorded on the survey it is well witnessed by the cricket players that Pied Wagtails forage on the pitch in numbers up to 40 strong after late summer matches.

34

spread of common birds. Cuckoo was calling in the spring and we have evidence from past experience of both Nightingale and Turtle Dove but none were heard on the actual survey. Blackcap and Chiffchaff were evident with more common species associated with this type of habitat in good numbers, such as Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Wren, Blackbird and Robin.

3. Broadmere Common Broadmere Common or Broadmare, as some still call it, is an area of light woodland and damp wild flower meadow, with Meadowsweet being particularly prolific there. It lies at the bottom of Barrow Hill and can be accessed from Dagbrook Lane and nearby footpaths. It has two large ponds, one of which belongs to Pond House, plus several wet areas covered by dense and tangled undergrowth. Mallards, Moorhens and Coots can often be seen on the ponds. Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens, Dunnocks, Blue and Great Tits, Green Woodpecker and the occasional Song Thrush can be seen and/or heard all the year round. In the spring and summer months, they are joined by Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Chiffchaffs and Common Whitethroats. If you are lucky you might also hear a Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat or Willow Warbler in song and, very occasionally, a purring Turtle Dove.

Butterflies also favour the area, and species that can be found include Brimstone, Peacock, Large and Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Small Blue and sometimes Marbled White and Painted Lady.

The table below shows the species recorded at each common in 2019; figures in brackets state the number of visits made in each season, whilst a dash means the species was not recorded at that site.

Species Mallard Pheasant Sparrowhawk Buzzard Moorhen Coot Herring Gull Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Cuckoo Swift Green Woodpecker Great Spot. Woodpecker Kestrel Magpie Jay Jackdaw Carrion Crow Goldcrest Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Henfield Common Oreham Common Broadmere Common Breeding (1) Winter (2) Breeding (1) Winter (2) Breeding (2) Winter (1) -

-

-

-

4

3

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

4

-

-

-

-

2

4

1

-

-

-

-

-

22

9

2

10

7

4

1

4

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

2

-

-

-

-

4

1

-

-

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

2

9

-

-

-

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

3

15

4

7

-

-

1

6

2

4

9

5

1

6

-

-

-

1 35

Species Firecrest Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Swallow Long-tailed Tit Chiffchaff Willow Warbler Blackcap Lesser Whitethroat Whitethroat Reed Warbler Nuthatch Treecreeper Wren Starling Blackbird Song Thrush Redwing Mistle Thrush Robin Dunnock House Sparrow Chaffinch Bullfinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Total species recorded: 36

Henfield Common Oreham Common Broadmere Common Breeding (1) Winter (2) Breeding (1) Winter (2) Breeding (2) Winter (1) -

1

-

-

-

-

1

31

3

6

2

9

1

25

7

6

1

5

-

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

-

4

6

-

-

-

3

-

2

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

5

-

2

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

6

-

-

-

5

-

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

1

-

1

-

2

-

-

-

-

3

7

4

-

2

-

-

18

-

-

-

-

13

23

9

4

6

7

1

5

1

3

2

2

-

5

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

8

15

7

7

3

3

-

-

-

1

-

1

8

9

-

-

-

-

1

5

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

4

1

-

-

1

-

6

1

-

-

-

-

24

27

16

12

21

16

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

House Martins: a diary Hazel Haylock The Deer Park Estate is a new development to the north of the village, started in the 1990s, and built in three phases with the third phase completed in 2015. House Martins soon found the newest section very much to their liking, and I started to note down their activity and how many nests were being built and used. In 2019 I made a special effort to note down everything I saw.

7th April: First sighting. One solitary bird which didn’t stay 21st April: 8 flew over 30th April: 4 seen surveying nest sites in Meadow Drive 16th May: Approx 10 flying. Favourite nest at 59 Meadow Drive was rebuilt, the one at 12 Hudson Way was being added to and interest was being shown in 75 & 77 Meadow Drive which had previously been used.

24th May: In the evening 7 flying high together with a Swallow and a Swift.

Will Green 26th May: Noise heard in nest at No 59 so definitely being used. 27 Hudson Way, one went into the nest under the right hand window and stayed. Lots of interest in 30 Deer Park, several birds landed at the side and front gables, at one point, two together.

4th June: 12 Hudson has two active nests, spoke to home owner who confirmed this. Two Swifts flew over. A new nest being built at 27 Meadow Drive.

9th June: Young in 27 Hudson and 59 Meadow as they could be heard. Nest at 27 Meadow has now been completely rebuilt. Met folk from 35 Meadow Drive who showed me an old nest. Both households think there are fewer birds this year.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

16th June: New nest built and being visited at 57 Meadow on right hand side. Young now being heard in four nests. Two in 12 Hudson, 27 Hudson & 59 Meadow. About 10 birds flying.

20th June: Lots of activity with birds flying to 27 Hudson but hardly any to 59 Meadow so perhaps they have fledged as timescale would fit. Eight birds flying around 12 Hudson with several entering nests or hanging outside. Interest now at old nests on 26 Hudson and 75 Meadow. One point of interest is that House Sparrows may be using old nests, 1 Jubilee Close has an intact nest with what looks like sparrow droppings on ground under it. I have also seen sparrows entering other nests. The population has greatly increased this year. One positive factor is that the grass has only been mown along the path leaving a wide margin left to seed with the hedge growing behind.

29th June: Very hot day and evening. I was wrong about 59 Meadow as nest being visited frequently and youngsters making a lot of noise even in between visits from parents. At 27 Hudson I could see heads bobbing about in a gap at the top of the nest. 57 Meadow, no noise or obvious visits but loads of poo evidence! Underneath the nest at 1 Jubilee I found a squashed baby sparrow. th 5 July: Saw 1 Swallow and 4 Swifts as I went to check the nests. New nest at 55 Meadow Drive, droppings all down the sloping roof of the garage adjoining the side of the house. 27 Hudson lots of noise and activity. Adults seemed to be encouraging young to leave. Only nest facing west 37

and due to be very hot today so good if they fledged. Several birds flew out, swooping down to ground level over and over again; one nearly got hit by a car. Two landed on the garage opposite and one in a tree. They all kept going back in and then out of the nest. There were then two left, the parents kept flying to the nest, presumably with food and then away encouraging them to follow, I could see two heads looking out. One flew out and all was quiet then the last one emerged. Soon all were soaring high in the sky and chattering. (approx 25 days known to have been in the nest). It was a real privilege to have witnessed it. 27 Meadow - no concrete evidence but thought I could see a movement in the nest so I will keep an eye on this one. So far six nests with young confirmed.

16th July: 27 Meadow was receiving visits and lots of noise so chicks are in this badly built nest. 59 Meadow has chicks ready to leave, could see the heads, very noisy and adults visiting. Think this is a second brood.

21st July: Lots flying about with 27 Meadow being visited regularly. No noise from 59 Meadow so assume these have fledged. For the first time interest was being shown to an old intact nest at the front of 26 Hudson Way, birds were flying up to it, bumping the nest , not entering it, then flying away. Similar activity at 12 Hudson, this is what we have seen the Swifts do, could they be leaving their scent, claiming the nest?

28th July: About 2 dozen flying high. One repeatedly came down and ‘bumped’ the nest at 27 Hudson. The chicks at 27 Meadow appear to have fledged. Left hand nest at 12 Hudson is occupied again, one bird flew in and another adult inside the nest could be heard.

31st July: Definitely young in a nest at 26 Hudson, chicks heard and saw a head poking out, which may have been a chick or an adult, saw an adult fly up to the nest.

11th Aug: 6pm. Following a few days of storms I noticed a new nest on the left side of 55 Meadow Drive appears unused as yet as no droppings. Right hand side of 55 & 57 Meadow had fresh poo so second broods in these nests. Chicks at 26 Hudson have fledged so as only 21 days ago the nest was being ‘bumped’ perhaps it was whilst the eggs were being incubated for some reason?

18th Aug: Adult visited nest at 55 Meadow, very 38

noisy chicks in this and the nest at 57 Meadow.

30th Aug: Evening. A few flying, still chicks in 57 Meadow as poo fresh, also recent droppings under nest at 27 Hudson, 3rd brood?

1st Sept: About two dozen flew over my house in Fawn Rise.

12th Sept: About 4 flying. Think the nest at 57 Meadow is still active. 1 Jubilee is definitely being used by sparrows as loads of droppings on ground, very different to HM and I have not seen a HM anywhere near this nest this year.

13th Sept:. Dozens of HMs circling the area over my house, getting ready to leave? Historically they seem to leave on the 14th Sept.

14th Sept: 7pm- not gone yet....

16th Sept: Dozens flying over again, about 50, do they all gather back together as family groups before leaving?

17th Sept: Much cooler evening saw 7 very noisy birds at 7pm flying up and around each other 18th Sept: 7pm. Still a few flying high.

19th Sept: All gone….

Just to explain that the mass of House Martins seem to congregate and fly together over the estate and be over my house at exactly 7pm each evening before disappearing high into the sky! They have been doing this for years but it is the first time I have noted the time and watched each day. I like to think they are saying farewell until next year… I certainly wish them well on their journey…

To summarise:- 19 houses showed evidence of nests, some complete in April 2019 - Seven nests used: Hudson Way nos. 12, 26 & 27 Meadow Drive nos. 27, 55, 57 & 59 - One house, 12 Hudson Way, had at least two nests - Second broods at five nests: Hudson Way nos. 12 & 27 Meadow Drive nos. 55, 57 & 59 - Fourteen broods known to have fledged Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Other nests in the village Outside of the two new build estates to the west and north of the village there are sites where House Martins have also built nests.

These are mainly on the High Street and anecdotally these could well have been in use for some years. On the High Street itself there were nests in the eaves of Hobbs off-licence, My Dentist and Betfred bookmakers. Further along another nest was also noted on the garage at The Green. The table to the right shows the total number of active House Martin nests in Henfield and their locations.

Location

Active nests

Hudson Way, Deer Park

4

Meadow Drive, Deer Park

4

Banfield Gardens, Bishop Park

3

High Street, Henfield

3

The Green, Henfield

1

Total active nests in 2019:

15

The new colony at Bishop Park The three new active nests on the Bishop Park estate gives hope that House Martins will expand here and bolster the number of breeding pairs within the village. The first houses were occupied by human residents in 2017, and at this stage only the south-west section was finished and the rest remained a building site. During that summer

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

the House Martins used this unbuilt section to feed over but showed little interest in nesting, and the same pattern was continued in early-summer 2018.

However, in late August nest building did start and although this was clearly too late for a successful breeding attempt and the nests were left uncompleted, it augered well for the next year.

To great anticipation the bird returned from their long migration from Africa on May 14th 2019 to recommence the nest building that had started the previous summer. This led to three active nests that all successfully fledged young, including what appeared to be a mass fledging on August 4th with a mixture of excited adults and juveniles congregating over the estate.

The magenta dots on the map show where these nests were built, and with the rest of the estate now finished it is hoped that the birds will expand from this original island and start to occupy the rest of the estate.

It will be fascinating to follow their progress, hopefully for many years to come!

Paul Cole 39

Henfield and its Nightingales Val Bentley & Will Green After spending “our” winter in central Africa, Nightingales normally arrive back in the UK in mid-April, and the male sings to establish territory and to attract a mate. On a still, quiet night, their song carries up to half a mile. For the past 21 years we have monitored the numbers in night-time drives, stopping at suitable - this term could be misconstrued unless you’re broad-minded!

(WG) - spots and listening intently for their song. In 2019 our estimate was 24 singing males in our wider survey area, which includes Edburton Sands, Oreham Common, Woods Mill, Henfield, Shermanbury, Wineham & Twineham.

Additionally, birds heard on daytime walks by Val (and a border collie), and reports sent by other members of the group, gave extra sites, confirmed locations and where permanent territory had been established. A lot was against us and the birds this year. Northerly winds kept migrants, including our Nightingales, on the other side of the Channel in April, and the first song was not heard until the 18th. Winds continued northerly and cool through early May. It was difficult to schedule our trips to coincide with availability and reasonable weather, though we fitted in one short outing with a film crew putting together a documentary called “The Last Song of the Nightingale”, which was an interesting experience – we made the cut!

For ease of recording the area is divided into three sections. The number in brackets refers to the estimated maximum of singing males:

South (10): The patch that continues to be the very best is around the Mill Stream, the first 500 yards or so west of Woods Mill, where there is a section of wonderful blackthorn hedge, ideal habitat.

Having spent a week in Menorca in May where there were Nightingales virtually everywhere, one wonders why they are so picky over here – but it could be that there are just far more insects etc. there, whereas here they are only found in abundance in relatively unmanaged areas? There were usually three, sometimes four, singing males heard 40

along the stream, another couple further north, which could be heard from opposite Henfield Business Park and from New Barn Lane. It was extremely disappointing that we heard none on the reserve at Woods Mill, or on Oreham Common – the first of 21 years of observations that we had drawn a blank at both two locations. Subsequently however a report came in that one arrived on the reserve on 15th or 16th May. There were three in the Perching Sands/Catsland Farm area.

North (10):

The next best area is Wineham and Shermanbury. Two established territory near Shermanbury Place, another two by Furzefield House and two along the bridleway running west from the new bridge in Wineham Lane. A resident of Wagstaff Cottages, who used to report her local bird to me each year, had moved elsewhere, and we heard nothing there on three stops.

Twineham was another disappointment. We heard three birds on our drives, all in different places, and all only heard on one visit. Another was east of Twineham Grange in what is a “traditional” location, but there have been multiples here previously. A single bird was near Morley Farm.

Part of this area is the revised “Mayfield” site, put forward in the Horsham Local Plan as one of the options for major housing development. If this goes ahead, it would destroy the suitable habitat along the Wineham Lane bridleway and Morley Farm. Those at Shermanbury could be affected by change of nearby habitat. All our past and current records have been supplied to the LAMBS group who are fighting the proposal.

Henfield (4-5):

There were a maximum of three along the Downslink, one south of the village and two to the north, and another which took up residence north of Field House (Furners Lane) and was heard by several of us. One was singing for over a week near the alder wood at Woodmancote, but not in the deer park.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Photo: Nick Davies

a British Trust for Ornithology survey of Nightingales. Back in those days, some of the best areas were the Woods Mill reserve, Woodmancote, Oreham Common and Broadmere Common. Habitat change as the shrub layer has become higher may well have rendered the reserve and the two commons less suitable. Despite hearing five birds in 1999, there have been none at Broadmere since at least 2004, though in 2008, 2009 and 2011-2013 males were heard nearby. The establishment of a “deer park” at Woodmancote in 2011/12 destroyed the shrub layer as well as the orchids and bluebells - making it unsuitable for Nightingales.

2019 was not a great year but certainly not the worst!

‘

‘

The changes We first started our night-time jaunts in 1999 as part of

Val Bentley

Table 1 to the right shows the number of singing males in the survey area, from 2007 through to 2019.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

41

Henfield Swifts Debbie Colgate

A young Swift peeks out of a Henfield nest box Photo: Paula Blake

It is early May and Swifts – those screaming, zooming, exciting birds that we see for a few months each year – are back in Henfield.

Here they are, brightening up our days, whooshing around our gardens, their wings thrumming in the warm air and I know all is right with the world because these Swifts have survived another treacherous and demanding migration.

Swifts arrive from Africa in early to mid-May to breed and start to fly back south at the end of July and through August. They are cavity nesters and love a building that needs a bit of TLC. They find nooks and crannies that they can squeeze into and raise their young. House owners naturally repair their properties and this means that what was a nook or cranny last year is now repaired. Swifts use the same nest site year after year; this is what they are programmed to do. If that site is disturbed or repaired they are homeless!

Providing specifically designed nest boxes for these wonderful birds should help them in the battle to raise young in a world which challenges their stability more and more. In the last 20 years the UK has lost more than half its Swift population and the loss of nest sites is partly responsible.

Henfield Swift Project was set up in 2018 with the aim of providing Swifts with permanent nesting sites. At that time a total of 13 Swift boxes had already been put up at Stokes and Henfield Club and on private houses around the St Peter’s Church area. Of those boxes we knew of four on private houses that were currently being used by Swifts. There was also one natural site used in the High Street, above Southdown Galleries, making a total of five active nests.

42

Following the start of the Henfield Swift Project in 2018, Birdwatch members and some non-members had Swift boxes put up on their houses. Nigel Parsons was brilliant and agreed to put the majority of them up for us and Peter Tiplady of Henfield Shed agreed to make the boxes to a specific design that has proved to be successful elsewhere in the country.

In all, by spring 2019, a further 17 boxes were installed on private houses. 15 of these were on houses that had not previously had boxes on them – virgin sites! The owners of these houses were advised to play Swift calls to attract the birds and we all waited with baited breath……

Now you have to be patient with Swifts. Those sexually mature birds that have previously nested in this country will return to that existing site until such time as they die or the site is disturbed. New sites will only be used by Swifts as they sexually mature and this takes them several years. This means that new sites are looking to attract sexually immature swifts that MAY BE looking for a nesting site FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. During the summer of 2019 Birdwatch members looked out for Swifts to see whether they were using the old and new boxes. It became apparent that six of the boxes at Stokes and Henfield Club were being used. There were more natural nest sites being used also - there were now two nests at Southdown Galleries, one at Hobbs off-licence and one at KT Nails.

Of the 17 new boxes interest was shown in ten of them, though none were used for nesting purposes and a few boxes were used by opportunistic Starlings.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

As I advised earlier in this report, we were aware of 5 active Swift nests in Henfield prior to Spring 2019. By the end of Summer 2019 we were able to identify 16 active Swift nests. Obviously this increase isn’t due to the Swift Project however the Project has raised this bird’s profile amongst Henfield residents which can only be a good thing.

The Project has actively increased the number of permanent nest sites which, I hope, will lead to an increased Swift population in the future.

We will continue to survey these wonderful birds throughout the coming years and I hope that we can continue to support them and make Henfield a good place for them.

The Henfield Swift boxes

At the time of writing over twenty Swift boxes have been erected around Henfield, and the table below lists the ones surveyed in 2019. By monitoring the usage of the boxes year by year it is hoped to build up a picture of how artificial boxes can assist with Swift breeding success. Pictured right is Stokes Newsagents in the High Street, which has kindly fitted four boxes. In 2019 two of these had nesting pairs for the first time.

No. Location

Position

Breeding evidence

1

Hacketts Lane

1st left

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

2

Hacketts Lane

2nd left

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

3

Hacketts Lane

Middle

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

4

Hacketts Lane

2nd right

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

5

Hacketts Lane

1st right

Pair nesting

6

Chestnut End

1st left

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

7

Chestnut End

2nd left

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

8

Chestnut End

2nd right

Pair nesting, two chicks observed

9

Chestnut End

1st right

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

10

Henfield Club

1st left

No birds seen using

11

Henfield Club

2nd left

Pair nesting

12

Henfield Club

2nd right

Pair nesting

13

Henfield Club

1st right

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

14

Stokes Newsagents

Top

No birds seen using

15

Stokes Newsagents

2nd top

Swifts entering, no evidence of breeding

16

Stokes Newsagents

3rd top

Pair nesting

17

Stokes Newsagents

Bottom

Pair nesting

18

Lower Station Road

Left

Used by Starlings to nest

19

Lower Station Road

Right

Used by Starlings to nest

20

Southdown Galleries

Right

Pair nesting

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

43

On becoming a new member Paul Cole My family and I moved to Henfield in the summer of 2017, and somehow within three years I have not only become a member of Henfield Birdwatch but I also find myself on the committee and have taken on the role of editing this august journal you now hold in your hand.

So just how did this meteoric rise occur? When we bought this house a bigger garden and being able to park the car outside your own house (anyone who's lived in Brighton will know what I mean about the latter) were some of the main criteria, but the discovery of a thriving birdwatching club in the village only sweetened the deal. You see, my favoured form of our hobby is "patch birding". That is when you adopt an area, usually local to you, and concentrate most of your birdwatching there. This not only gives you a fascinating insight into the bird life on your doorstep, is environmentally friendly and, it has to be said, also extremely cheap. So, after settling into our new home, off I set with a cheque for a mere seven pounds in my hand to post my application at the membership secretary's house. The actual posting never happened as said membership secretary so happened to be in her front garden, a lady called Debbie. "Can I help you?" "Yes, I've got an application form to join Henfield Birdwatch". A slightly confused look from Debbie: "What, for you?" "Err... yes". Then a big smile from Debbie and an "Ok! Brilliant!" and we were away chatting. I had taken my first step and become a fully fledged member. It was only a while later that I learnt that Debbie went straight inside to her husband, Nigel, to excitedly tell him "We've got someone young!" (Being 43 at the time, this gives us some idea of the mature nature of the wider membership.)

Now that I was a fully paid-up member first in the diary was the annual talk at the village hall. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this; would it be a gathering of just a handful of

Illustration: Will Green 44

people or a maybe a few dozen? Would it mainly be attended by expert ornithologists earnestly discussing the more esoteric points of bird identification or a mixture of all levels of avian knowledge? (The possibility of the former did concern me, I must admit.) As I walked through the main doors things could not have got off to a better start: they had a bar!

Clutching my pint of London Pride I entered the main hall to be greeted by the sight of nigh on 150 people, an impressive turn-out, and at that point I began to realise what well supported and popular thing Henfield Birdwatch was. The talk, given by the RSPB's Adrian Thomas, was excellent (and successful for him as I went and bought the book he was plugging), I met some more of the members and had a jolly nice time.

I knew from this point that HBW was for me!

And this how it has continued for the next couple of years; I was to meet more members making new friends along the way, attend more gatherings including my first AGM where I was to enjoy the delights of Will and Nigel’s quiz, and get to know the wildlife of my newly adopted patch. I was delighted to be invited to join the committee in 2018, an offer I couldn’t refuse.

The three years that I have been involved with HBW have been a genuine pleasure. It is rare to find an organisation where everybody pulls in the same direction but this is certainly one where that happens. It is also a broad church that welcomes all types birdwatcher, from those who just enjoy what they see in their gardens to the more hardcore birder. The latter are keen to share their knowledge with the former and this pooling of expertise is another great selling point.

And the downsides? I’m pleased to say I’m struggling to find any. I’ve even come to terms with the fact that our chairman is a Crystal Palace fan. If Henfield Birdwatch can make a Seagull and an Eagle get on well together then it must be doing something right.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Final thoughts Mike Russell Coming to the end of this very strange year that is 2020, it is actually really good to report that Henfield Birdwatch is in a very good place, we have come through the slightly difficult teenage year phase and have reached “adulthood” in a position of maturity and an elevated position of importance in the community.

One of our main objectives is to use all the data we have accumulated over 20 years to provide information that should at least be considered in terms of planning proposals and management of public green spaces. As you have read in the book, we are monitoring the birds on Perching Manor Farm at Edburton and submitting the results to the Farmland bird recording scheme and undertook the Henfield, Broadmere and Oreham Commons surveys. We also undertook emergency surveys on the land covered by the proposed Mayfield Development and recorded 18 red-data list species where, amazingly, their own ecological assessment found none! In future, we will be undertaking more targeted surveys of specific species and areas. We are now engaged much more with the Parish Council and providing them with information that we now have on our database.

Where we have also made great strides, particularly in this current covid year, is with reaching out to a broader audience mainly through

a re-vamped and more informative website that people engaged with through entering the data for the garden survey. We have also set up a Facebook page that really exploded with members when lockdown was introduced and has a membership that has tripled since the beginning of March.

So, we enter 2021 in a very positive mood, membership of Henfield Birdwatch is as high as it has ever been and hopefully at some time during next year, we will be able to hold our meetings, walks and events again. Through the website and Facebook page, we will be able to share much more information about the birds that are around the parish and offer far more opportunities to engage with the people of Henfield. We are now publishing a monthly record of what has been seen in the parish and also, we will be working on a definitive list of the birds that have been recorded in Henfield.

We will certainly be building on the huge rise of interest in our birds that occurred as a result of lockdown. So many people have commented how much more contact with nature has helped them through the difficult year that has been 2020. With your help, it is our aim to ensure that wildlife is still able to survive and flourish in Henfield for all generations to come.

Photo: Nick Davies

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

45

A checklist of the birds of Henfield Mute Swan Bewick's Swan Whooper Swan Bean Goose White-fronted Goose Greylag Goose Canada Goose Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Egyptian Goose Shelduck Mandarin Wigeon Gadwall Teal Mallard Pintail Garganey Shoveler Pochard Tufted Duck Velvet Scoter Smew Red-breasted Merganser Red-legged Partridge Grey Partridge Pheasant Red-throated Diver Cormorant Bittern Little Bittern Night Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret

Cygnus olor

Common resident

Cygnus columbianus

Scarce winter visitor

Cygnus cygnus

Very scarce winter visitor

Anser fabalis

Scarce winter visitor

Anser albifrons

Scarce winter visitor

Anser anser

Common resident

Branta canadensis

Common resident

Branta leucopsis

Very scarce winter visitor

Branta bernicla

Scarce winter visitor

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Rare resident

Tadorna tadorna

Fairly common winter visitor

Aix galericulata

Rare visitor

Anas penelope

Common winter visitor

Anas strepera

Fairly common winter visitor

Anas crecca

Common winter visitor

Anas platyrhynchos

Very common resident

Anas acuta

Fairly common winter visitor

Anas querquedula

Rare passage migrant

Anas clypeata

Common winter visitor

Aythya ferina

Very scarce winter visitor

Aythya fuligula

Scarce winter visitor

Melanitta fusca

Very scarce winter visitor

Mergellus albellus

Very scarce winter visitor

Mergus serrator

Rare winter visitor

Alectoris rufa

Fairly common resident

Perdix perdix

Very scarce visitor

Phasianus colchicus

Common resident

Gavia stellata

Very rare winter visitor

Phalacrocorax carbo

Fairly common winter visitor

Botaurus stellaris

Very rare winter visitor

Ixobrychus minutus

Very rare vagrant

Nycticorax nycticorax

Very rare vagrant

Bubulcus ibis

Rare visitor

Egretta garzetta

Fairly common winter visitor and rare resident

46

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Great White Egret Grey Heron Glossy Ibis Spoonbill Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Honey-buzzard Red Kite Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Goshawk Sparrowhawk Buzzard Osprey Water Rail Moorhen Coot Crane Golden Plover Ringed Plover

Ardea alba

Very scarce passage migrant

Ardea cinerea

Fairly common breeding resident

Plegadis falcinellus

Very rare passage migrant

Platalea leucorodia

Very rare passage migrant

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Scarce breeding bird and winter visitor

Podiceps cristatus

Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Pernis apivorus

Very scarce passage migrant

Milvus milvus

Fairly common resident

Circus aeruginosus

Rare passage migrant

Circus cyaneus

Scarce winter visitor

Accipiter gentilis

Very scarce visitor

Accipiter nisus

Fairly common breeding resident

Buteo buteo

Fairly common breeding resident

Pandion haliaetus

Scarce passage migrant

Rallus aquaticus

Scarce resident

Gallinula chloropus

Common breeding resident

Fulica atra

Fairly common breeding resident

Grus grus

Very rare passage migrant

Pluvialis apricaria

Scarce winter visitor

Charadrius hiaticula

Very scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

Little Ringed Plover Lapwing

Charadrius dubius

Very scarce passage migrant

Vanellus vanellus

Very common winter visitor and scarce breeding species

Whimbrel Curlew

Numenius phaeopus

Very scarce passage migrant

Numenius arquata

Very scarce passage migrant and winter visitor

Black-tailed Godwit Ruff Dunlin Grey Phalarope Common Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Greenshank Redshank Jack Snipe

Limosa limosa

Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Philomachus pugnax

Scarce passage migrant

Calidris alpina

Very scarce passage migrant

Phalaropus fulicarius

Very scarce passage migrant

Actitis hypoleucos

Scarce passage migrant

Tringa ochropus

Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Tringa nebularia

Scarce passage migrant

Tringa totanus

Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Lymnocryptes minimus

Very scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Woodcock Snipe Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Scolopax rusticola

Scarce winter visitor

Gallinago gallinago

Fairly common winter visitor 47

Common Tern Black-headed Gull Little Gull Mediterranean Gull Common Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Caspian Gull Great Black-backed Gull Feral Pigeon Stock Dove Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Turtle Dove Cuckoo Barn Owl Little Owl Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Nightjar Swift Hoopoe Kingfisher

Sterna hirundo

Scarce passage migrant

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Very common winter visitor

Hydrocoloeus minutus

Very rare passage migrant

Larus melanocephalus

Scarce winter visitor

Larus canus

Fairly common winter visitor

Larus fuscus

Fairly common resident

Larus argentatus

Common resident

Larus michahellis

Rare winter visitor

Larus cachinnans

Very rare winter visitor.

Larus marinus

Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

Columba livia

Common resident

Columba oenas

Common resident

Columba palumbus

Very common resident

Streptopelia decaocto

Common resident

Streptopelia turtur

Very scarce breeding summer visitor

Cuculus canorus

Fairly common breeding summer visitor

Tyto alba

Scarce breeding resident

Athene noctua

Scarce breeding resident

Strix aluco

Fairly common breeding resident

Asio otus

Very scarce visitor

Asio flammeus

Very scarce winter visitor

Caprimulgus europaeus

Very rare passage migrant

Apus apus

Fairly common breeding summer visitor

Upupa epops

Very rare passage migrant

Alcedo atthis

Fairly common winter visitor and scarce breeding resident

Wryneck Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Kestrel Merlin Hobby Peregrine Falcon Rose-ringed Parakeet 48

Jynx torquilla

Very rare passage migrant

Picus viridis

Fairly common resident

Dendrocopos major

Common resident

Dryobates minor

Very scarce resident

Falco tinnunculus

Common resident

Falco columbarius

Scarce winter visitor

Falco subbuteo

Rare summer visitor

Falco peregrinus

Fairly common resident

Psittacula krameri

Very scarce visitor Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Golden Oriole Great Grey Shrike Magpie Jay Jackdaw Rook Carrion Crow Raven Goldcrest Firecrest Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Willow Tit

Oriolus oriolus Lanius excubitor Pica pica Garrulus glandarius Corvus monedula Corvus frugilegus Corvus corone Corvus corax Regulus regulus Regulus ignicapilla Cyanistes caeruleus Parus major Periparus ater Poecile montana

Marsh Tit Woodlark Skylark Sand Martin

Poecile palustris Lullula arborea Alauda arvensis Riparia riparia

Swallow

Hirundo rustica

House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Cetti's Warbler Long-tailed Tit Chiffchaff

Cettia cetti Aegithalos caudatus Phylloscopus collybita

Wood Warbler Willow Warbler Blackcap

Phylloscopus sibilatrix Phylloscopus trochilus Sylvia atricapilla

Garden Warbler Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia borin Sylvia curruca

Whitethroat

Sylvia communis

Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naevia

Icterine Warbler Sedge Warbler

Hippolais icterina Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Waxwing Nuthatch Treecreeper Wren Starling

Bombycilla garrulus Sitta europaea Certhia familiaris Troglodytes troglodytes Sturnus vulgaris

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Very rare passage migrant Very rare winter visitor Very common resident Common resident Very common resident Common resident Very common resident Scarce passage migrant Fairly common breeding resident Scarce resident Very common resident Very common resident Common winter visitor Former breeding resident, now extinct within the parish Scarce resident Very scarce passage migrant Common breeding resident Fairly common passage migrant, more numerous in autumn Fairly common breeding visitor and very common passage migrant Fairly common breeding visitor and very common passage migrant Scarce resident Common resident Common breeding visitor, very common passage migrant, a few are seen in winter Very scarce passage migrant Common passage migrant, formerly bred Common breeding visitor, very common passage migrant, a few are seen in winter Scarce breeding visitor and passage migrant Fairly common breeding visitor and passage migrant Common breeding visitor and very common passage migrant Scarce passage migrant, all records from spring Very scarce passage migrant Scarce breeding visitor and common passage migrant Common breeding visitor and passage migrant Rare winter visitor Common resident Fairly common resident Very common resident Common resident, very common in winter 49

Blackbird Fieldfare Song Thrush Redwing Mistle Thrush Spotted Flycatcher Robin Nightingale Bluethroat Pied Flycatcher Black Redstart Redstart Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Dunnock House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Meadow Pipit Water Pipit Brambling Chaffinch Hawfinch Bullfinch Greenfinch Linnet Lesser Redpoll Common Redpoll Common Crossbill Goldfinch Siskin Corn Bunting Yellowhammer Reed Bunting 50

Turdus merula Turdus pilaris Turdus philomelos Turdus iliacus Turdus viscivorus Muscicapa striata Erithacus rubecula Luscinia megarhynchos Luscinia svecica Ficedula hypoleuca Phoenicurus ochruros

Very common resident Common winter visitor Common resident Common winter visitor Fairly common resident Scarce passage migrant Very common resident Scarce breeding summer visitor Very scarce passage migrant Rare passage migrant Very scarce passage migrant, more numerous in autumn Scarce passage migrant Phoenicurus phoenicurus Fairly common passage migrant, Saxicola rubetra more numerous in autumn Fairly common winter visitor and scarce Saxicola torquatus breeding resident Scarce passage migrant Oenanthe oenanthe Very common resident Prunella modularis Very common resident Passer domesticus Former breeding resident, now extinct Passer montanus within the parish Fairly common passage migrant, more Motacilla flava numerous in autumn Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant Motacilla cinerea Common resident Motacilla alba yarrellii Common winter visitor and Anthus pratensis passage migrant Very scarce winter visitor and Anthus spinoletta passage migrant Scarce winter visitor Fringilla montifringilla Common resident Fringilla coelebs Coccothraustes coccothraustes Very scarce winter visitor Fairly common resident Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common resident Chloris chloris Fairly common resident Carduelis cannabina Uncommon winter visitor Carduelis cabaret Very rare winter visitor Carduelis flammea Very scarce passage migrant Loxia curvirostra Common resident Carduelis carduelis Scarce winter visitor Carduelis spinus Very scarce winter visitor Emberiza calandra Fairly common resident Emberiza citrinella Common resident Emberiza schoeniclus Henfield Birdwatch 2019

Area map of Henfield

The map above illustrates the region covered by Henfield Birdwatch and the areas into which it is divided.

These areas are refered to throughout the book and provide an idea where the sightings occurred.

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

51

Acknowledgements Thanks go the following people for their work on the production of this book.

Editor & Designer Paul Cole

Photographic & Illustrations Editor Will Green

Contributors Val Bentley, Paul Cole, Debbie Colgate, Nigel Colgate, Will Green, Hazel Haylock, Mike Russell

Photographers Val Bentley, Paula Blake, Nick Davies, Peter Meares, Lesley Milward, John Pointing, Libby Serpis, Jenny Shaw, Wayne Turner

All illustrations by Will Green Data Input & Analysis Val Bentley, Nigel Colgate, Mike Russell, Sara Taylor (website)

Area Surveyors John Coit (1), Nigel Colgate (2), Nigel Parsons (3), Paul Cole and Roger French (4), Will Green (5 & 6), Graham Smith & John Willis (7), Mike Russell (8), Val Bentley (9), Paula Blake (10), Mike Russell (11)

Proof readers Sallie Bedford, Val Bentley, Paula Blake, Dave Cartwright, Alison Crowe, Grahame Turner, Frankie Wijenbergh

Many thanks to all below who contributed records and sightings for the 2019 parish survey: Lesley Ainslie Sylvie Ashthorpe John & Jasmine Baber Tony Baker Pam Barr Sallie Bedford Andy Bennett Anna Bentley Val Bentley Paula Blake Janet Blythe John & Ann Bowers Alan & Janet Bridgewater Pat Brooke Jenny Brown Peter & Kim Bull Alan & Anne Burnage Dave Cartwright John Coit Paul Cole Debbie & Nigel Colgate Janet Cox Malcolm & Pam Cusack

52

Janet Daly Audrey Dart Nick Davies Paul Deacon Ros Dean Liz de Pauley Jane English Maureen Fletcher Roger French & Elaine Goodyear John Gilbert Ralph Gilbert Ernie Gillians Elaine Goodyear Hilary Green Will Green Sue Greenop Simon Grinyer Mark Hailes Pat Hall Joanna Hardy Hazel Haylock Pam Heal Tony Hills Liz Hodgson Eric & Kimberley Holder Mary Holder Tim & Jenny Holter

Jane House Pat & Tony Jackson Yvonne Jenkins Geoff Jewson Ann Jury Roger Keen Brian & Angela KendallSmith Lesley Kilner Brian & Karen Lang Jenny Lees Darrell & Debbie Locke Martin Love Stephen & Heidy Love Verity Ludlow Peter & Penny Meares Bryan Michie Lesley Milward Brenda Moffatt Denis & Sally Muirden Hannah Nurse Nigel & Jayne Parsons Margaret Pavitt Gill Perry Terry Porter Sally Pope Dan Rolt Jaqueline Renals

Angela Ripp Ruth Robotham Mike Russell Tarah Sansom Libby & Ashley Serpis John & Di Sharp Andrew Shearing Bill Shelton David Shone Dan Smith Graham Smith Paul Smith Penny & Lee Smith Malcolm & Daphne Staley Andrew Stenning Brian Stone Sara Taylor Angela Thyer Peter & Emma Tiplady Allen Tolley Sue Tomsett Martin Tooth Rose Wade & John Lewry Jude & Blythe Waite Mary Wells John & Sue Willis

Henfield Birdwatch 2019

25052021/1

Lapwings, by Will Green

www.henfieldbirdwatch.co.uk