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1999-2024 Celebrating 25 years of Birding

25th Anniversary Logo

This is a significant year for Henfield Birdwatch as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. We are looking forward to an exciting year of activities – all of which are free for members!

There are walks and talks going on all year. Keep an eye on the Events for Members section, join the Facebook Group and look out for the Newsletters for more information.

 

Henfield is a great place for birds and people!

Welcome to the Henfield Birdwatch website. We are a group with an interest in birds and wildlife in general. We welcome people whatever their birding knowledge. We have group walks, talks, meet regularly for lunch and some people like to share their sightings online.

We aim to ensure that Henfield remains a great place for birds and some of our members like to become more involved by

  • regularly surveying and monitoring the local bird population and species
  • helping Henfield residents to be aware of our local birds and how to help them flourish

If this sounds interesting and you would like to join us you would be warmly welcomed.

Latest Sightings

Ravens

A pair of Ravens honking at each other over Bishops Park this morning.

Les Cheeseman, 14th March 2024 15th March 2024
Latest Sightings

Chiffchaffs

At last they've arrived. Two males were singing down the path earlier and another was in the garden this afternoon. First Brimstone as well!

Will Green, 14th March 2024 15th March 2024
Latest Sightings

Today's walk

Angela and I were able to welcome new member Rikki on the walk this morning – a very dull morning, which made it tricky to see any colour at all on the birds high up in the trees, and the wildfowl were a bit monochrome too!

All the usual stuff along the first part of the walk, plenty of Robins & Wrens, and a couple
Latest Sightings

March Area 9 walk

Angela and I were able to welcome new member Rikki on the walk this morning – a very dull morning, which made it tricky to see any colour at all on the birds high up in the trees, and the wildfowl were a bit monochrome too!

All the usual stuff along the first part of the walk, plenty of Robins & Wrens, and
Latest Sightings

Today

Walked along the mill stream – gives the legs a good workout trudging through the mud! A Lapwing with a lovely long crest in the first field on the left, and later one displaying on the right hand side further down. Three Reed Buntings singing with slightly different variations, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and one Yellowhammer.
Latest Sightings

White-fronted Geese

Still down between the Millstream and Stretham this morning. Rest of sightings later!

Val Bentley, 8th March 2024

  8th March 2024
Latest Sightings

Downslink

A windless, misty morning with a promise of sun enticed me and Lesley and I out down the Downs Link this morning, a joy having been in front of a computer for two days! And what a walk it was too; signs of spring followed us all the way down the track. Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds, Dunnocks were in full song, Great Spotted
Latest Sightings

Area 8 Survey

At last a sunny morning, so I took the chance to do my area 8 survey which starts in Woods Mill car park, up the road to Oreham Common, across the fields and up the hill to Sands Farm and back to finish on the reserve. I still had to plough through the welly deep mud in places but it was great to be out and not get soaked
Latest Sightings

Rye Farm area

I took a little wander among the showers this afternoon and found some of the species we’d not managed to get on the SDOS walk last Saturday. As I started down the track a Mistle Thrush was singing nearby, then a Water Rail squealed and scuttled across from the near to far side of the first pond and a Greenfinch wheezing
Latest Sightings

Over the border

Lovely walk with Sharon J this morning counting the birds at New Wharf Farm just the other side of the river.  The water was very deep at New Inn, and I had to resort to shimmying along the fence – feet on lower rail, while clinging on to upper!
Was very pleased to hear good numbers of Linnets and Goldfinches – at
Latest Sightings

Rye Farm

Went down to Rye Farm this morning. Felt like spring at last. Spotted a couple of Greenfinch, 20+ Coots, a Song Thrush singing from a tree, 10+ Tufted Ducks and a similar number of Mallards, Robins, Blue Tits and on the far side of the pool Canada Geese, Teal and Greylags. Also Woodpigeon and a Collared Dove. Best of all
Latest Sightings

Rye Farm pools

Took a group from Shoreham down the railway line Saturday morning, and we found all the usual suspects, plus heard a Cetti’s Warbler singing by the “limbo” path (which was under water!), and heard Little Grebe calling nearly but couldn’t find it – obscured by the trees.  Two Shelduck with the geese and ducks down by
Latest Sightings

Rye Farm pools

The ponds on the way to Rye Farm are still lively, and this morning there were five Chiffchaffs, two Grey Wagtails, at least one Goldcrest and good views of the Water Rail. Also giving a close-up was a Treecreeper. On the floods to the west of the causeway there were also five Tufted Ducks.
Paul Cole, 25th February
Latest Sightings

Rye Farm pools

Lesley and I took Sara and Wendy down to 'Stinky Pond' by the Rye Farm track in the drizzle this morning as they kept seeing it being mentioned in reports but didn't know where it was. It didn't disappoint. At least 6 Chiffchaffs were busy flitting around as were 2 Goldcrests that came very close. A Grey Wagtail was
Latest Sightings

Egyptian Geese

While walking Ziggy yesterday morning or should I say traipsing through quagmire after quagmire I spied in the distance a pair of Egyptian Geese. This was not the usual pair that have been visiting for the last three years, they were a long way off and very wary of our presence. A few more birds around today than of