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Enjoy the Songs of the Dawn on Steyning Downland Scheme.

Spring is here at last, but the birds on Steyning Downland Scheme have already been singing for several weeks now. Blackbirds, Robins, Great Tits, Greenfinches, Song Thrushes among others have been practicing their songs and getting into voice.

By the time you read this, some of our summer visitors may already have arrived. The one that everyone will be particularly listening out for will be the Nightingale. Last year we were serenaded by at least two in Nightingale Lane. They like to hide away in the dense vegetation around the ponds there. Another bird that likes to skulk away in that area, but gives away its presence with abrupt loud bursts of song is Cetti’s Warbler. One has been heard nearby, so they make take up residence here again.

Other summer visitors we expect to see and hear are Chiffchaff (an early arrival) and Blackcap. And it is not all songbirds that will be looking for nest sites. A lot of bird species make use of the varied habitats available on Steyning Downland Scheme. The ponds are home to families of Mallard and Moorhen. In the winter a flock of Teal have often been heard. The woodlands support Nuthatches, Tree Creepers and Goldcrests. In spite of their name, Marsh Tits are woodland birds and according to a recent survey, the Lower Horseshoe Woods are a good place to see them.

There isn’t space to cover all of the species of birds that might be seen or heard on Steyning Downland Scheme. Last year the total count rose to 95 species, when a Barn Owl was seen hunting over the Rifle Range for the first time. The SDS Bird Survey Group carried out 12 monthly surveys in 2018 and recorded 70 species. Sightings of Buzzards, Kestrels, and Bullfinches showed increases over previous years. In addition they surveyed the Pepperscoombe area three times in the autumn in the hope of seeing migrants on passage. This year there were lots of sightings of Spotted Flycatchers and their first sighting of a Whinchat.

It's clear that Steyning Downland Scheme offers a wide range of habitats for birds and attracts lots of different species, so, next time your are taking a stroll up Nightingale Lane, round the Rifle Range or up on Steyning Coombe, see how many different species you can see and hear. If you would like to get some expert help on identifying birds, why not try one of Andrew Armitage’s Song of the Dawn walks? These will be held on 27th April and 3rd May. Under Andrew’s expert guidance you will be able to make a good start on getting to know some of the many species that inhabit the area by sight and sound.

To book your place, go to the SDS website at: www.steyningdownland.org and look under ‘events’.
Beginners and experienced birders are always welcome to join the regular monthly bird surveys.
For more information, contact Bob Platt at bobplatt69@gmail.com
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