Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a package of five field trips, from February to November 2014, led by Mike Russell, and including the Henfield Levels (February); The Burgh, Burpham (April); Stedham and Iping Commons (June); Chidham and Cobnor (September); and Amberley Wildbrooks (November). The subjects covered will include bird identification techniques; migration and seasonal factors in bird distribution; and habitats. This is a multi-session package: individual trips cannot be booked.
Bob Rowland’s invaluable record of Fulking bird sightings over two decades has a new title — Fulking Bird Watch — and some new reference content. You will find it as ‘Bird Watch’ in the sidebar menu under ‘The Environment’. Check it out and follow some of the links provided. And if you see something that isn’t on the list, then let Bob have the details.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a five month course at Woods Mill, from January to June 2014, taught by Mike Russell, and involving both indoor sessions and outside field trips that will visit many top bird sites in Sussex. The course covers identification techniques, habitats, bird conservation and populations, migration and birdsong. Suitable for beginners and those with a little knowledge.
We drew your attention to this book series back in the summer. A lengthy review of all three books by Katy Rice appears in today’s Argus. The review is expository rather than critical but it provides a good sense of what each book is like.
GJMG.
A Sussex Wildlife Trust course at Woods Mill taught by Graeme Lyons. How to plan and manage the best habitats for invertebrates – the building blocks for a properly functioning ecosystem. Saturday 7th December, 10:00 – 16:00, members £27.50, non-members £38. Click here to book.
The first South Downs Futurescape Photography Competition with categories (i) landscapes, (ii) wildlife, (iii) ‘urban’ wildlife, and (iv) families enjoying the South Downs. You can enter a maximum of three photos. Closing date is 28 February 2014. Judges include David Plummer and John Dominick. More info here.
The white and black woolly creatures that you have often seen in the fields around Saddlescombe were just wolves in drag, apparently. The Argus is reporting that 692 real sheep have now arrived together with the “first sheep farmers for 70 years”.
Sussex Wildlife Trust will frighten your kids for a small fee. They’ll be led on a candlelit walk around the woods, meet some real owls and bats and learn some interesting facts about these not so spooky creatures. Fancy dress costumes welcome. Suitable for children aged 5-11 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Thursday 31 October 17:30 – 19:30, members £10 per child, non members £13 per child. Book here.
