1999-2024 Celebrating 25 years of Birding
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.
Mandarin
Mandarin spotted on Henfield levels by an SDOS birder.
9th May 2024
9th May 2024
Downslink.....
I went for a lovely stroll down the Downslink with a friend this morning towards the heronry. The Glossy Ibis was living up to its name and looking splendid in the strong sunlight. The Grey Herons and Little Egrets on nests were making a proper racket and as we watched and listened to the out of tune orchestra a Hobby…
White Stork
I saw a Stork flying over my house in Nep town Road just after lunch today, making his way to Rye farm by the look of it,
Liz Taylor, 9th May 2024 9th May 2024
Glossy Ibis update
The Glossy Ibis still there, at the back on the bank from wooden gate to the right of the herony at Streatham.
Sally Hawes, 8th May 2024 8th May 2024
Possible Gull breeding
A Herring Gull flew over Bishop Park this afternoon carrying nesting material in its beak. Not known as a breeding species in Henfield, so it will be interesting to see if a pair is intending to do so locally.
Paul Cole, 8th May 2024
8th May 2024
Area 11 survey
At last, a survey to do in nice weather, though still had to negotiate some pretty deep mud in places. This walk starts in Small Dole, through New Hall and up to the Downs Link and Stretham and then down the Mill Stream and back to Small Dole. Lots of Warblers, and Sylarks, just 4 Swallows the main migrant species that…
In the garden this morning
A Starling fledgling and a pair of Pied Wagtails collecting food for the nest.
Debbie & Nigel Colgate, 8th May 2024 8th May 2024
Glossy Ibis
A Glossy Ibis is currently on the Levels, as found by David Buckingham this morning. Best viewed from the heronry by the Downslink.
Mike Russell, 8th May 2024 8th May 2024
House Martins return
The House Martins returned to Bishop Park today, and immediately started visiting some of their existing nest sites.
Paul Cole, 7th May 2024 8th May 2024
Swifts!
On a very busy day just grabbed a coffee in the garden and saw four Swifts - hooray!
Martin Tooth, 7th May 2024
7th May 2024
Dawn walk at Woods Mill
Tony, Hazel and me assembled in the carpark at the Mill at 4.00 a.m in the dark. We started our walk on the top path and were treated to a Nightingale in full voice, plus a very loud Cetti's warbler quickly followed by Reed warblers . A Male Tawny owl calling in the distance oreham common way.The next songsters,…
Woods Mill and Mill Stream
A short trip around Woods Mill didn't produce a Turtle Dove, although one was recorded on Michael Blencowe's dawn chorus over the weekend We did hear a Cuckoo over the fields towards Sands Farm and then up the Mill Stream we saw one perched on top of a conifer at West Mill Farm with a Kestrel sitting just…
Nightingale
I heard the Betley Bridge Nightingale a couple of nights ago between 20:00 and 20:30 about 200m short of the bridge on the right. 6th May 2024
House Martins
We took a gentle stroll this afternoon and saw House Martins going up to the existing nests above Marcus Grimes and the High Street dentist.
We didn’t hear a Reed Warbler in the reeds on the Common, but Eddie did a few days ago.
A Grey Wagtail flew ahead of us as we walked back along the back of the Common.
Debbie…
Millstream 6th May
Did a latish afternoon walk along the millstream with the dog. Lapwings displaying, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks singing the fields. Reed Warbler along the open stream, and Cetti’s and Nightingale in the hedgerow. Could see 7 Little Egrets and 3 Grey Herons nests in the willow copse, and there were a group of 4 Greylags…
River walk
Took the new/old dog for the Downslink/river/Betley circuit this morning. Several Linnets around Lashmars and a Greenfinch singing. A Tawny Owl called from Chates’ garden. Three Lapwings west of the river, a couple of Reed Buntings singing a duet near Great Betley, and a Cuckoo calling from that area too – it then moved…
Area 2 survey
Angela and I did the Area 2 survey today. Highlights were a singing Garden Warbler showing well in an apple tree at Backsettown, a Little Owl at Dear's Leap, two Lesser Whitethroats, five Whitethroats near Morley Farm, a Cetti's Warbler beyond Park Farm, Nightingale and Cuckoo near Furners Lane plus Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps…
A very nice moment
Standing at the vantage point in the field west of the old railway line (TQ205145) this morning, listening to a Reed Warbler singing about 15 yards west and a Cetti’s Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedge beside me! The pair of Shelduck are still around out on the brooks.
Val Bentley, 25th April 2024…
Area 10 walk
Had a great walk with Tony F this morning, showing him around the area Paula has normally counted for us. It encompasses Broadmare Common, the fields at Lepride, down to the Mill Streaming, along the Downslink then back to the bottom of Grinstead Lane. The highlights of the 43 species seen were a Sparrowhawk dashing along…
Another Cuckoo
The Furners Lane Cuckoo has been in fine voice for two of the last three mornings ,usually between 5.00 and 7.00 am. I caught a glimpse of him 2 days ago at the top of the trees to the right of the footpath which goes down beside Field House off Furners Lane.
I also witnessed an unusual event the other day (at least…
Cuckoo
One calling from the Bilsborough area this afternoon.
Val Bentley, 22nd April 2024 24th April 2024
Great White Egret
Last Saturday I saw my first Great White Egret.
It was on wetlands near the Mill Stream engrossed in catching its dinner.
Eddie Colgate, 20th April 2024 24th April 2024
At the feeding station
Whilst having an early morning cup of tea and watching the birds a very grey Great Tit arrived, probably an old aged pensioner like me. I thought it might be worth taking a photo of it, by the time I had got my camera it had gone and didn't return. The next couple of days I kept my camera on the kitchen table,…
Out and about
It's certainly been an interesting time in the Parish in the past week. Migrants have been taking advantage of the recent southerly winds, so some of the breeding migrants such as Nightingales, Cuckoo, Swallows, House and Sand Martins have all been seen. There are lots of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps while Reed and Sedge…
Monday walk on a Thursday
The only person living in Henfield on the walk this morning was me. Setting out today were Angela (Small Dole), Lucy (Hurstpierpoint), Rikki (Lancing) and Laura (Indiana) and our possible new dog hails from Birmingham!
The water levels have receded almost completely now – Angela remarked that someone has…
Reed Warbler
We had a stroll round Woods Mill yesterday afternoon. Not much about but we heard our first Reed Warbler of the year.
Debbie and Nigel Colgate, 18th April 2024 20th April 2024
Nightingale and Cuckoo
Last night I went to sleep to the beautiful song of a Nightingale for the very first time at the end of West End Lane!
And this morning I woke to my first Cuckoo of the year!
Samantha Bernon, 14th April 2024 14th April 2024
Black-necked Grebes
Plus at least half a dozen Little Egret nests in the heronry, with three Grey Heron occupied nests. Jannet King was looking at them, and some chaps there said there were also Cattle Egrets there. They had huge lenses so may have been right, but I couldn’t pick them out.
Val Bentley, 13th April 2024 14th April…
Nightingale on the Downslink
I heard and then saw a Nightingale this morning low in the bushes by the side of the downslink three hundred yards or so south of Betley Bridge. Very loud and practising all the riffs!
Tony Fitzgerald, 11th April 2024
11th April 2024
Black-necked Grebes
Thanks to an earlier report from Dave Buckingham, Mike and I are standing at the wooden gate on the Downslink (past the first viewing bench) overlooking the Levels and Rye Farm, watching a pair of Black-necked Grebes in summer plumage. According to Paul, this is a first record for Henfield. They're slowly drifting…
Black-necked Grebes
Two Black-necked Grebes on the Levels, last noted at TQ204147.
David Buckingham, 11th April 2024 11th April 2024