Speckled Wood at #OldLodgeNR at the weekend. Overwintering as either caterpillar or chrysalis, with females acting dead to avoid males, who resort to sparring with other males this is always a fascinating and appealing butterfly.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
😂 I was about to look up the birthdays but got distracted by Bog Beacon!
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Not just birds on a @sussexornitholo.bsky.social outing! I took a quick photo - I was intent on finding heathland bird specialities - but later realised we had stumbled, or rather splashed, on Bog Beacon at #OldLodgeNR
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Nothing like a successful thesis defence 👍 (impressed you remember the date of yours - I can’t!)
20 joined me in glorious sunshine for glorious heathland birds for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at #OldLodgeNR today: Crossbill; Cuckoo; Firecrest; Goshawk; Linnet; Raven; Redstart; Stock Dove; Stonechat; Tree Pipit; Willow Warbler; Woodlark
A sunny afternoon’s walk 17/4 at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren and the scratchy song of newly arrived Whitethroat, to join the soundscape of earlier arrivals: Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Less travelled contributors to the soundscape: Linnet; Robin; Siskin; Wren.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Ignore the news have a cuddle? A Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (a parson as a VN here in Sussex) looking very resplendent in breeding plumage at #RyeHarbourNR Castle Water. I always think they are rather unfairly overlooked.
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#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
There is always one! I think 1 in 10,000 is the figure. This one in the ghyll just downstream to us here in the High Weald.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
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Finally saw one last year!
😄Well they do have an exotic charm these Ganso del Nilo
For those that might have missed it: there is now a new National Nature Reserve covering 1500 hectares stretching from Seaford to Eastbourne and taking in Severn Sisters, Cuckmere Valley and Lullington Heath. A cause for some optimism…
Egyptian Goose family at #RyeHarbourNR. This introduced species first bred in Sussex in 2000 and the 2024 Sussex Bird Report notes the “inexorable and rapid rise of this species continues” - I saw 3 families at the weekend with these being at Castle Water.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#ukbirding
Find a flower with 4 free petals arranged in a cross shape & you’ve found a member of the Brassicaceae! It’s a huge family & the challenge this week for #Wildflowerhour is to find a wild or naturalised member of the #CabbageFamily in flower. Share your finds this Sunday 8-9pm!
A snap of a female Green Woodpecker today at #OldLodgeNR unsnapped birds incl: Blackcap; Buzzard; Chaffinch; Chiffchaff; Cuckoo; Goldcrest; Goshawk; Mistle & Song Thrush; Redstart; Siskin; Stock Dove; Stonechat; Treecreeper; Willow Warbler; Woodlark
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
‘Is this my best side?’ A Skylark at #RyeHarbourNR posing for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at the weekend. Previously these were eaten or exported or caged but had an affectionate place in literature: “Hail to thee, blithe spirit”.
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#sussexbirding
A pair of Grey Partridge Perdix perdix showing obligingly for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #RyeHarbourNR walk at the weekend. Sadly a scarce resident in Sussex with most in West Sussex and this pair one of the few in East Sussex.
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I thought he might be interested, I didn’t think he would react like that 😂
It has just discovered what its scientific name means…
The wildly flamboyant colour scheme of the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (this one at #RyeHarbourCastleWater on Saturday) - one might note that they have the longest immaturity period of any wader…
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It would be rather good if there were similar singing on next Sunday’s @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at #OldLodgeNR…
Went to #RyeHarbourCastleWater after the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk on 11/4 and lovely to see so many Swallow. Also: Black-headed, GBB, Herring & Med Gull; Buzzard; Cattle & Little Egret; Chiffchaff; Egyptian Goose; Gadwall; Marsh Harrier; Pochard; Sedge & Reed Warbler
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10 joined me for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at #RyeHarbourNR this morning, the wind a bit enthusiastic but a good selection of birds: Black-headed, GBB, Herring & Med Gull; Common & Sandwich Tern; Dunlin; Golden Plover; Grey Partridge; Spotted & Common Redshank; Turnstone
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Lovely
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One of many mainly male Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren 9/4/26. This one having a nectaring break before a frantic amorous dash (it seemed there was 1 female to 10 males).
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
😂
Like the Swedish name (species name is laughing too). The other side of the North Sea we call them Black-headed although they are actually brown-headed.
For my #RSPBBroadwaterWarren walk today my first Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Dartford Warbler (3, possibly 2 males disputing a female) there this year. Also: Blue, Coal & Great Tit; Chiffchaff; Buzzard; Goldcrest; Mistle Thrush; Raven; Robin; Siskin; Wren
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#sussexbirding