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
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
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
At #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today: Blackbird; Blue, Coal, Great & LT Tit; Buzzard; Chiffchaff; Crow; Goldfinch; GS& Green Wp; Linnet; Pheasant; Robin; Song Thrush; Stonechat; Woodlark; Woodpigeon; Wren
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Shades of red at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today: male Linnet, Flowering Current and Southern Wood Ant.
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Missing from my walk at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren : blue sky, sun and this male Stonechat (here expertly fly-catching) that I was pleased to see for the first time this year. In 2024 Stonechat were reported in 29% of Sx tetrads (incl here) - Sx Bird Report @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
Grey weather for my midday walk at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren but brightened up considerably by the appearance of my first fiery Firecrest of the year, also: Blackcap; Blue, Coal, Great, LT & Marsh Tit; Chiffchaff; Great Spotted & Green WP; Nuthatch; Raven; Treecreeper; Woodlark
#sussexbirding
Another sign of Spring at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren: the red&black Southern Wood Ant stretching in last week’s sunshine (today’s dismal grey day may have sent them back to their nest though).
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
I was greeted at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today by the descending musical cadences of 1 possibly 2 Woodlark with accompanying music & calls: Blue, Coal & Great Tit; Crow; Dunnock; Great & Green WP; Robin; Siskin; Wren
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Woodlark, perhaps 2, descending cadences in snatches of song at #RSPBBroadwaterwarren 12/2/26 Also: Blue, Coal; Great & Long-tailed Tit; Chaffinch; Crow; Great Spotted & Green WP; Jay; Linnet; Nuthatch; Pheasant; Robin; Woodpigeon; Wren
#sussexbirding
Splashing around #RSPBBroadwaterWarren for a midday walk, often with rain, produced a common resupinate fungi for #FungiFriday: Stereum hirsutum the Hairy Curtain Crust here probably being saprobic as on a stack of Birch logs.
#fungifriends
A late morning squelchy circuit at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren with 3 singing Woodlark and: Blackbird; Blue & Coal Tit; Crow; Goldcrest; Great & Green WP; Pheasant; Robin; Siskin; Song Thrush; Wren.
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#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
For #MushroomMonday rows of brackets: Turkeytail Trametes versicolor (L) and Crimped Gill Plicatura crispa (R). One from our High Weald lane (L) and one (R) from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren a few miles east.
#fungi
#fungifriends
Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina) - a common bracket of Birch trees, here in the wet woodlands of #RSPBBroadwaterWarren. Also called Razorstrop Fungus because in former times - before electric shavers - its hard surface was used to sharpen cutthroat razors.
#FungiFriday
#fungi
#fungifriends
Devil’s matchsticks at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren or one of the Cladonia lichens if you prefer (I am going for C. floerkeana), certainly attractive and showy.
#lichen
For #MushroomMonday and a counter to Blue Monday here is another of the cluster of Fomitopsis pinicola (Red-belted Bracket) on a Scot’s Pine at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren
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#fungifriends
#RSPBBroadwaterWarren today, a feeling that Spring was in sight. A Woodlark sang for a while as I came onto Heathland, Robin singing everywhere. Others around: Blackbird; Blue, Great & Long-tailed Tit; Goldcrest; Great & Green WP; Pheasant; Woodpigeon; Wren.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
I rarely come across bracket fungi on conifers but here is one on a Scot’s Pine at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren This I think is Fomitopsis pinicola (Red-belted Bracket or Red-belted Conk).
#MushroomMonday
#fungi
#fungifriends
The morning before Storm Goretti at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren some Oysterling ranks on a dead stump, these I think are Panellus stipticus or Bitter Oysterling posing for #FungiFriday
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#fungifriends
Trametes versicolor, it’s all there in black & white - seen at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday for #FungiFriday
#fungi
#fungifriends
As we splash further into winter finding anything for #MushroomMonday is harder but here is Rhodocollybia butyracea (Butter Cap) and Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust) from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren from the end of last week.
#fungi
Yesterday’s walk at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren: birds - the ‘usual suspects’ mainly heard incl: Blackbird; Blue & Great Tit; Crossbill; Crow; Goldcrest; Green & Spotted WP; Jay; Redpoll; Robin; Stonechat; Wren
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
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For #FungiFriday a curled up Common Earthball at an often muddy, sometimes frosty, but pleasantly sunny midday walk at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today
#fungifriends
Cladonia and Polytrichastrum, Lichen and Moss. Probably underwater today at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren.
#Lichen
#Moss
Heterobasidion annosum - Root Rot, a somewhat devastating parasite of conifers, though this one wasn’t on one. Seen at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren in the past week.
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
In among brown leaves, Bracken and Birch at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday some old Brown Birch Bolete Leccinum scabrum.
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
Piptoporus betulinus the Birch Polypore on a strickened Birch at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren last week. In the past it was called Razorstrop Fungus as it was hard enough to be used for this purpose. Nowadays we simply replace the unit in our electric shavers.
#fungi
#fungifriends
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren although there are no turkeys here just an occasional Pheasant.
#FungiFriday
#Fungifriends
Chunky Leccinum scabrum (Brown Birch Bolete) at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren for #MushroomMonday no doubt having mycorrhizal relationships with the Birch there.
#FungiFriends
Amongst the Amanita fungi are those of infamy: Deathcap and Destroying Angel but although there is no ‘not a destroying Angel’ there is this one the False Deathcap which I often find. This from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren on Friday. Amanita citrona.
#fungifriends
#fungi
