White Storks nesting in West Sussex

30/05/2019

Conservationists have announced that a pair of White Storks is incubating three eggs at the Knepp Estate in West Sussex.

A pioneering partnership of private landowners and nature conservation organisations is working together to help the species return to south-east England for the first time in several hundred years as part of the White Stork Project, and has been releasing birds at three sites. As well as Knepp, free-flying White Storks have been reintroduced at Wadhurst Park, East Sussex, and Wintershall Estate, Surrey.

The project team was thrilled to find that a pair of storks is attempting to nest in an ancient oak tree at the Knepp Estate this spring. If the chicks successfully fledge, the nest at Knepp will be the first successful one in southern England since at least the end of the English Civil War in 1651.

The large birds, symbolic of rebirth, are native to the British Isles and evidence suggests that they were once widely distributed. While it is unclear why this spectacular and sociable bird failed to survive in Britain, it is likely that a combination of habitat loss, over-hunting and targeted persecution all contributed to their decline. Another factor may be that it was persecuted in the Civil War for being associated with rebellion.

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West Sussex group’s plea to keep herring gulls safe and sound

STEVE PAYNE

Published: 10:43Tuesday 02 April 2019

A reminder has been sent out by a West Sussex wildlife group that herring gulls are a protected species and that nests should be left alone.

West Sussex Wildlife Protection, which has been rescuing wildlife for more than 15 years, said: “We are asking homeowners to remember that herring gulls are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1984, and are also on a RED endangered list as their numbers have dropped significantly in Europe in the last ten years.

“Therefore their nests should not be disturbed on roof tops and any young ones that fall from the roof need to go back with the parents, where possible, until they take their first complete flight.

“Most people are sympathetic to these birds and see them as a way of life when living near a coastline.

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Mystery surrounds Tangmere exotic bird sighting

This bird, which appears to be a violet turaco, was spotted in Tangmere.

SAM WILSON Email Published: 10:40 Monday 11 February 2019

If you took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch recently you may have seen starlings, blackbirds and pigeons in your garden but one Tangmere resident has had a more exotic visitor.

Ivor Harrison opened his curtains on Sunday (February 10) morning and found himself face to beak with what appears to be a violet turaco. The violet turaco is native to West Africa and lives on a fruit-based diet. There have been examples of turacos being spotted living in the wild in Britain, most commonly the white-cheeked turaco, after escaping from captivity.

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Hunt for "cruel" bird killers setting glue traps at nature reserve

6 September 2018 at 10:46am

Six wild birds have been found dead - and others left dying - after becoming stuck in glue traps deliberately left on bird feeders at a West Sussex nature reserve.

Rangers from Horsham District Council found the stricken entangled birds stuck to feeders and on the ground nearby on Thursday and alerted the RSPCA.

The glue traps were found on bird feeders and vegetation near to a bird hide at the Warnham Local Nature Reserve in Horsham.

The sticky substance - identified as bird lime - had been placed on the feeders and the surrounding vegetation to indiscriminately and cruelly trap any bird that came into contact with it.

Using this method of trapping causes huge amounts of distress and suffering for the birds and will indiscriminately ensnare anything that comes into contact with it. Some birds have already died due to these traps in this case.”

Five blue tits and one great tit died after becoming stuck to the traps. The remaining birds are being cared for by the Countryside Warden. It’s hoped they will later be released.

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Birdspotters in frenzy after extremely rare Hudsonian Whimbrel SPOTTED in Britain

AN extremely rare bird which has only been seen a handful of times in the UK has caused mass excitement after being spotted flying on the south coast.

PUBLISHED: 10:42, Fri, Jun 12, 2015 | UPDATED: 16:33, Fri, Jun 12, 2015

Matt Eade/Solent NewsMore than 1,000 bird watchers gathered to catch a glimpse of the rare bird

More than 1,000 bird watchers have travelled to Pagham Harbour near Chichester, West Sussex, in the last four days to catch a glimpse of the Hudsonian Whimbrel.

It is thought to be the only bird of its kind in the UK and only 10 others have been seen in this country since 1950.

The bird is so rare because it is native of North America and is hardly ever seen in Britain.

Tim Webb, communications officer for the RSBP said: "It is definitely confirmed that it is here and is still here.

"On these shores this is about the eleventh one in our recorded history, which goes back to about the 1950s.

"This Hudsonian Whimbrel is the only one in the UK right now to our knowledge.

"It is incredibly unusual and rare for this species to be seen in this country.

"We do have Whimbrel in this country but not this type."

It is believed this particular Hudsonian Whimbrel got lost and with the help of jet streams ended up in the UK as this country is not a usual flight path for it.

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Spanish dry spell sends nesting Black-winged Stilts to England

Posted on: 29 May 2014

A small influx of Black-winged Stilts has resulted in two – and possibly even three – pairs attempting to nest at RSPB reserves in West Sussex and Kent.

It is thought that a dry spell in southern Spain has displaced these wetland birds to southern Britain, and it seems likely that a changing climate may bring them to Britain more regularly in future. The charity has set up a 24-hour watch on the nests with the help of local volunteers, to protect them from egg collectors who target the nests of the rarest species in Britain.

A flock of 10 was seen in Kent and the Isle of Wight earlier this spring, and pairs were seen mating in Essex and Kent (see this month's Birdwatch, page 12). The only previous successful breeding records in Britain are from Norfolk in 1987 and Nottinghamshire in 1945.

One pair is nesting at Medmerry RSPB, West Sussex, while the other pair are at Cliffe Pools RSPB on the north Kent marshes, where another pair also appear to be making a nesting attempt. The stilts’ presence is a tribute to the conditions at both reserves – Medmerry is the largest open-coast managed realignment scheme in Europe and the RSPB’s newest reserve. It was created between 2011 and 2013 by the Environment Agency and consists of mudflats, tidal lagoons, saltmarsh, wildlife-friendly farmland and dragonfly-rich ditches. 

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