April is coming and Sussex is alive with birds. 🐦 Paul James shares his expert guide on what to look for this month in our latest post: 👉 April Birding Targets in Sussex 💥 tinyurl.com/3fnxy4rj 💥 Built on years of local knowledge in Sussex - this is essential reading. 📸Gary Faulkner: Ring Ouzel

Best foot forward? A Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris, recently at #OldLodgeNR, a common resident in Sussex, though probably often unseen, reported in 34% of tetrads in 2024. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #ukbirding #sussexbirding

Up at Henfield Levels this afternoon; c15 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (all new for the year for me) - briefly strafed by an imm. White-Tailed Eagle causing panic among the remaining winter wildfowl but it didn't hang around & carried on flying NE. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Thank you, so many of you have already emailed to object to Brighton Marina's licence application.   If you haven't had a chance yet, there's still time. Consultation closes soon. Already objected? Share this post 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/vamhrwfumc for template email

Yesterday on the downs between Adur & Arun I was lucky to watch this beautiful male Hen Harrier for a while, followed a little later by distant glimpses of a ringtail - I don't often get to see 2 Hen Harriers in Sussex on the same walk...such elegant, effortless flight. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

East of Horsham, West Sussex: two females seen above the High Weald including this white-breasted juvenile which appears to have a full crop. #UKBirding @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Mid-March is that frustrating “no-man’s-land” time between winter and spring, but there were nevertheless a few interesting sightings. Full weekly report can be read here; sos.org.uk/weekly-sight... #Sussexbirds #UkBirding 📸Green-winged teal by Derek Barber

Why species surveys and the Bird Report are so important to support existing and new work with birds in Sussex. sos.org.uk/news/firecre... #sussexbirds #UkBirding

SOS Annual conference. SAVE THE DATE 18th April; (09.30-16.30) Hear from Doctor Mya-Rose Craig who will tell us about her experiences as ‘Bird Girl’. Watch this space for more details over the coming days or read about it here sos.org.uk/news/sussex-... #Sussexbirds #UkBirding

This is a key moment in our campaign to end the dumping of dredged silt in a Marine Conservation Zone. Every sign up matters! Thank you! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @mcsuk.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @bluemarinef.bsky.social

A brilliant example of partnership in action. Three organisations, brilliant lottery funding and transformational habitat restoration. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/bringin...

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Sussex hit the headlines again: www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/... @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Passive acoustic monitoring and AI surveys reveal far more threatened Sussex Lesser spotted Woodpeckers than we thought. Much bigger @lesserspotnet.bsky.social and @sussexornitholo.bsky.social underway this spring should give a fuller picture. Exciting times! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I'm keen on Salt Pool at Rye Harbour NR. Today ♂️ Garganey, Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank, Red-breasted Merganser and much more were there. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #UKwildlife #UKbirds

A few indicators of Spring from last week in another great round up by David Thorns the County recorder. sos.org.uk/weekly-sight... 📸 Glossy Ibis - Hunston, Chichester by Peter Alfrey #sussexbirds #UkBirding

25 joined Josh & I for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #RiverOuseValley walk. The walk bird tally was around 2x that: raptors: Buzzard; Kestrel; Marsh Harrier; Peregrine; Red Kite; Sparrowhawk. Egret included Cattle & Little. Emblem Stonechat plus Skylark and Corn & Reed Bunting. #sussexbirding

Read all about when @mallalieum.bsky.social met with Chris Packham to discuss the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and how, with the help of passive recording we may start to understand the true numbers in Sussex woodland. sos.org.uk/news/spottin... #UkBirding #Sussexbirds

A sunny day walk at RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday. My first singing Chiffchaff of the year (6 seen or heard) + Blue, Coal & Great Tit; Buzzard; Goldcrest; Great & Green WP; Jay; Raven; Robin; Siskin; Stonechat; Woodpigeon; Wren. Also Brimstone and Peacock. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

80 bird species in warm sun at Rye Harbour NR today including 22+ Sandwich Tern, c100 Avocet, Spotted Redshank, c450 Golden Plover, Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red Kite, lots of singing Chiffchaff and loads more. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #UKwildlife #UKbirds

Ducks on the move off East Worthing this morning; Pintail 187E, Shoveler 36E, Teal 2E, C.Scoter 23E+8W, Duck sp. 28E, Brent 5E + RTD 9E & GND 1E. Small movement of Med.Gulls too (13E). Can't wait for full on spring sea-watching to get going! #ukbirding #seabirds @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A Black-throated and two Great Northern Divers at the southern end of chichester harbour this morning, also plenty of displaying mergs and c.200 Brent still around #ukbirding #sussexbirding

Eastbourne: Many thanks to Harvey for turning up this zinger of a Wheatear at Sovereign Harbour today. What a treat and my first EVER in February. Spring is offically here!

Another outstanding report of what's to come next month (March) by Paul James. Still lots about and exciting times to come as Summer migrants start to appear. sos.org.uk/news/march-b... #sussexbirds 📸 @nickbond007.bsky.social

The Burgh today: 2 Ringtail HH interacting. And later into roost, a Ringtail HH at 16.56 and a Male HH at 17.20, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cattle Egret, 3 GW Egret @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

This is your annual reminder to look closely at Mediterranean Gulls for colour rings - read and report them. Today at Pett Level, 85 was the peak count and 3 rings were read - the second image is of right white 3L3R @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #gulls

Enjoyed Sussex Biological Recorders Seminar last weekend. Lots of interest in @lesserspotnet.bsky.social & @sussexornitholo.bsky.social display about our Lesser Spotted Woodpecker survey in Sussex using passive sound recorders. Plan to survey 100 1xKm squares with wet woodland across the county.

Good to find the Siskin flock back at the Birdham end of Chichester canal this morning, heard them chattering away initially before they did a nice fly around. #ukbirding

This morning was one of those rare occasions when the Pett Level Curlew came close to the road, and the light was perfect. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @curlewaction.bsky.social #curlew

Blimey House Martins in Scilly and Cornwall!

Join the SOS and get THREE Sussex Bird Reports in your first year! We are able to offer new members the opportunity to sign up to the SOS and receive both the 2023 and 2024 Bird Reports now – and the 2025 Report when it is published in the autumn. Go to sos.org.uk/membership-a... #sussexbirds

A few brighter days ahead will come as a huge relief for most birders in Sussex. Please let us know what you see and add your account to the website sos.org.uk/recent-sight... A summary of last week is now available from the county recorder. sos.org.uk/weekly-sight... #SussexBirds #ukbirding

As part of @sussexornitholo.bsky.social Lesser Spotted Woodpecker survey using passive acoustic monitoring. We put our sound recorder out today hoping for fine weather on Saturday when LSW may be calling & drumming. Nice looking wet woodland habitat in the Weald near Midhurst @btobirds.bsky.social

Stunning male Black Redstart at the eastern end of Brighton Marina where it meets the Undercliff walk. Perched on rock armour and around boat yard @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A recent grant award by Sussex Ornithology helped provide equipment to document Sussex Honey-buzzards in 2025. Read all about it and watch the video here on our new website; sos.org.uk/news/honey-b... #Sussexbirds

Our new website is 💥LIVE💥 Lots of new content & images and plenty more to come. Home banner image, Waxwing - Adam Bowley. sos.org.uk #sussexbirds

Cygnus cygnus, Whooper Swan Icelandic visitors at #CocklesBridge on the edge of #RSPBDungeness for a final @sussexornitholo.bsky.social sighting from the 7/2/26 outing and just enough time to see Bewick’s from NE Arctic, Bean & Pink-footed Goose on #WallandMarsh. #ukbirding

Any port in a storm? 10 of us on the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at #Dungeness on wild weather Saturday - from here just off-shore a flotilla of Guillemot, some in breeding plumage and an occasional Razorbill, plus Kittiwake and RT Diver W with Gannet. #ukbirding

RSPB Pulborough Brooks has disappeared under the floods! Perfectly illustrates the vital role of wetlands and floodplains in absorbing floodwater #flooding #wetlands @rspbengland.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Avian crowds at #RyeHarbourNR this past weekend with Lapwing and Golden Plover, plus Pintail (other ducks available included Wigeon, Shoveler & Teal). @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #sussexbirding #ukbirding

Another great round up of birding in Sussex. Weekly Report, 19-25 January; www.sos.org.uk/recent-sight... and Paul James; February targets - a worthy read. www.sos.org.uk/archives/6742 Plenty of good birds out there if you get the chance. 📸Rock Pipit by Richard Allen #UkBirds #birds #Sussex

An outstanding report for the coming month by Paul James. The Bewick Swans DID return to the Arun valley but just three so far. Plenty to see at the moment and lots more birds to come. www.sos.org.uk/archives/6742 📷Gary Faulkner - Goosander (FM still present at Widewater, Shoreham) #sussexbirds

An @sussexornitholo.bsky.social event on the downs above Shoreham with a talk on changing farm practices, stewardship and sustainable farming initiatives, farm bird recoveries and a walk (with overflying Peregrine, Buzzard, Skylark and Finch flocks). Encouraging. @btobirds.bsky.social #ukbirding

Fun Volunteer Thank You session from @sussexornitholo.bsky.social at Truleigh Hill. An interesting talk on the wildlife work the farm is doing & a very breezy walk on The Downs. 2 Peregrine & lots of Skylarks the highlights. Unusual hazard on the way back down - they know they rule the road!

Catch up on all things BIRDY around Sussex last week. Another fantastic report from the Sussex recorder. Geese, Gulls, Cranes and much more. #sussexbirds Weekly Report - 12-18 January www.sos.org.uk/recent-sight... 📷Dunlin by Bob Brewer

14 on today’s @sussexornitholo.bsky.social outing to #WestRiseMarshLNR. My list 35 incl: Buzzard; Egret (Great + Little) Gadwall; Goose (Canada & Egyptian); Grebe (Little & GC); Grey Heron; Gull (BH; Common; GBB & Herring); Kestrel; Marsh Harrier; Pochard; Redwing; Shoveler; Snipe; Tufted. (+ a Fox)

Calling all photographers and artists. If you have any photos or artworks you'd like to submit for the 2025 Sussex Bird Report, please follow the three simple steps below. As always, many thanks! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A day off work and I spent a couple of hours standing down at the Sand Pit, Scotney (Sussex) watching ringtail Hen Harrier, Merlin and Barn Owl hunting plus the Barn Owl. 1st winter male Scaup still present Little Stint has moved to the Kent end on the flooded sward @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Another great week of birding in Sussex with perhaps the highlight being several reports of Common Cranes. Also a few Bird Race updates to inspire you. Weekly Report: 5-11 January www.sos.org.uk/recent-sight... Photo; Common Cranes over Pagham by Andrew House

Do you have lots of blackthorn and sloes locally, mixed with hawthorn? If so, check for split stones, a sign that Hawfinches are present, as here at Ardingly. Watch from just before sunrise to actually see the birds. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @kneppwilding.bsky.social