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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Quite emotional to report that we've just found our amazing survivor Marsh Tit, still here in his ancient woodland kingdom. He's now 11 yrs 4 months old, survived the 2026 heatwaves/drought and smelt the wildfires of nearby Holme Fen. I ringed him in my 30s and I'm now in my 50s.

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Richard Lewington @rlewington2.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Celebrating receiving an advance copy of my new Magnum Opus (with 4,000 images), by catching a Clifden Nonpareil on the same day.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Looks brilliant, well done, looking forward to getting our copy.

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Stuart Malcolm @birderstuart.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Blue skies on my Chichester Harbour @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count this afternoon. 340 Oystercatchers the main bird of note on the very high tide. Masses of Sandwich Terns in the harbour (200+) showing what a good breeding season was had at Pagham. Too windy for many small birds though.

A wooden bench is in the foreground with a gravel path leading to water. Overhead is a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Saltmarsh is in the foreground with a channel heading away. Above is a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Yes, it was good further up on Fishbourne Creek for our @webs-gsmp.bsky.social too. We had 2 Sandwich Terns, 200 Black-tailed Godwits and 70 Curlew but no Oystercatchers.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

What nonsense that South Downs National Park have released captive bred Turtle Doves. Is this what our local taxes should be spent on? Not only a poor use of resources but reckless for conservation of the existing Turtle Doves in our part of the South Downs. Habitat creation would be more sensible

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Pleased to report that our Swift chick fledged yesterday. Only one dropping under the nest box y'day instead of the usual 4 or 5 and a camera check showed it is empty and clean. This is the first on our housing estate after 8 years of trying, new boxes and playing Swift calls did the trick 👏

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

A real treat - 'Honey-buzzards and Hawfinches in Sussex' a talk by Mark Mallalieu on Weds 2 Sept at 7:30 in Chichester, details www.chinats.org.uk A joint meeting of Chichester Natural History Society and Chichester RSPB Group, non-members welcome entry £3. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

chinats.org.uk

Chichester Natural History Society - find out more about local wildlife : Chichester Natural History Society

Chichester Natural History Society welcomes anyone interested in natural history and wildlife in the Chichester area.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Pleased to report that adult Swifts are still visiting the chick in our nest box today and fresh droppings are appearing on the ground under the box. ☺️ We are not seeing any other Swifts in the area.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Thanks Graham, that's very reassuring. In the 10 yrs we've lived here, playing Swift calls, this is the first year we've had groups of Swifts flying round the house. We thought they were 3rd year birds prospecting for 2027. So were amazed to see an egg & then the chick when we looked into the box.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Very excited Swifts nesting in our box only installed in Nov. First saw Swifts enter box on 21 June thought they were just looking for next year. But our nest camera shows we have a chick, still being fed by adults this week, seems very late?@grahamknight10.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Swift nesting boxes on our house installed last winter

Swift chick in the nest box in August filmed with our Woodpecker nest camera

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Dawn Balmer @debalmer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Spent the morning with these godwit ring-reading hereos at Snettisham - Pete Potts and Ed Keeble. They have been here over five tides the last three days (and previosly at Frampton) and read over 60 ring combinations. Incredible effort adding to the life histories of godwits!

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Yes, we saw your post from earlier today. Your Mallards seem to be making it feel at home.

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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

I love them all the more when in focus! And they love our Salvias.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

We love them too, we have some in our Sussex garden this year.

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Blurry picture of a White-letter Hairstreak nectaring at East Quantoxhead, Somerset this morning.

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Mark Mallalieu @mallalieum.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

After a 20 year wait, an LSW finally appears whilst I'm raptor watching, flying <2m above a grassy field for 150m and landing briefly on a willow sapling. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Intriguing and thought provoking LSW behaviour

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 'Ant-Flinger'- fascinating observations by David Bevan @djbevanphoto.bsky.social of a male LSW systematically removing & discarding wood ants whilst foraging for aphids. Article & video just published in @britishbirds.bsky.social see britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker foraging for aphids

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Next generation of High Browns on Dartmoor being produced. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

New in #BirdStudy and the media today: Swifts are very faithful to nest sites, partners & colonies. Providing nest sites could help maintain populations. High fidelity to nest sites and partners in the Common Swift Apus apus: doi.org/10.1080/0006... www.theguardian.com/environment/... #ornithology

theguardian.com

Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds

Conservationists emphasise importance of protecting nesting sites used by ‘strongly faithful’ red-listed species

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Very promising results for protecting Willow Tit nests and good work by @wildhorizons.bsky.social . We love all Woodpeckers, but Great Spots are the culprits here.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Watch BBC Countryfile tonight, BBC 1 at 7:15. It will include a short film of us in the New Forest looking for Woodpeckers and talking about volunteering for Woodpecker Network and @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

BBC Countryfile team filming us in the New Forest

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Mark Mallalieu @mallalieum.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

A chance encounter with ITV and Ash Walmsley of the Ashdown Conservators.... and Honey-buzzards....on the Forest today. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social www.itv.com/watch/news/h...

itv.com

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Emma Cameron @ecameron.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

The Yellow Horned Poppy and Viper’s Bugloss looking wonderful on West Worthing beach, some have even spread to the pavement. #wildflowers #vegetatedshingle #coastalplants @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Yellow horned poppies by a beach hut on shingle beach. Sea in the background

Blue flower spikes of Vipers Bugloss on shingle beach

Blue flowers growing next to concrete pavement

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Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute @afbini.gov.uk · 12/06/2026

🦆Great progress this week on the PEACEPLUS-funded ACCLIMATISE project led by AFBI! BTO staff deployed passive acoustic monitors on Sheep Island, the Skerries & Isle of Muck to track movements of tagged seabirds. Stay tuned for insights into our marine environment! @btobirds.bsky.social

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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Doing environmental science under an authoritarian and oppressive government is challenging, to say the least, but lessons have been learned before, and sadly remain useful: The Białowieża Forest as an example of the resilience of long-term studies in a changing world: doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

The 1977 Polish research team that began long-term studies of forest ecology in Bialowieza National Park, under a repressive Communist government installed by de facto Russian occupation. Left to right: Tomasz Wesołowski, Ludwik Tomiałojć, Wiesław Walankiewicz. From: https://doi.org/10.3161/00016454AO2022.57.1.001

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wildlifewindows.bsky.social @wildlifewindows.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Sussex Honey-buzzard nest camera is now LIVE. You can always find the live link (and previous days' recordings) at: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... Enjoy this UK first for this incredible species!

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wildlifewindows.bsky.social @wildlifewindows.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Springwatch are featuring a LIVE Honey-buzzard nest camera we installed for Sussex Ornithological Society and the Conservators of Ashdown Forest (10th June 8pm). This is/will be a UK first! The nest camera will be live streamed on WW YouTube channel (+ partners websites) from Friday 12th June 0400.

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Sussex Ornithology @sussexornitholo.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Exciting stuff !! We are delighted to be a part of this project with partners; Friends of Ashdown Forest, @wildlifewindows.bsky.social‬ and The Ashdown Forest Foundation. The nest camera will be live streamed on WW, YouTube channel + partners websites, including ours, from Friday 12th June 0400.

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Delightful scene - but don't get confused these are both Great Spotted Woodpeckers, an adult female (on the left) feeding its youngster. Young Great Spots have a red cap when they leave the nest and are sometimes mis-identified as male Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. (not by anyone on here though!)

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Alastair Gray @wwres.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Knepp Estate After realising I hadn’t seen a Turtle Dove for several years,a trip to Knepp this afternoon soon put that right. Pair flying around and perched from the viewing tree platform.

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James Aldridge @jaecology.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Please do submit any nesting house martin records via BirdTrack, with breeding evidence and number of occupied nests. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social have a county wide study this year. If you want to visit a known site in Sussex some are still available request here soshousemartins.birdsurvey.org.uk

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Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest

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Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

And away… I must have just missed this little one fledging this morning. She was sat in the adjacent beech for an hour calling to be fed. Soon after she was chasing her mother around further afield. One left to go! #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Two healthy chicks seen this morning - great to see both survived the Jay attack. They’re roughly 18 days old so due to fledge quite soon. The female parent seems to be visiting the nest less often now #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Dr David W. Smith @drdavebirding.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

It's coming to the end of lesser spot season, and chicks are fledging. Listen out for calling chicks if you're in the woods. Video by Paul Cox (thanks Paul for permission to use).

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

These 2m and 2f LSW young will fledge in the next few days. Two other Somerset nests have already fledged on Thursday. There will be young calling from LSW and GSW nests over the next two weeks @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

6 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests have been monitored in Devon and Somerset this year. One failed at the hatching stage, others will be fledging in the next few days, 1-2 weeks early. Young can now be heard calling in nests @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Fabulous Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest found and monitored by Woodpecker Network volunteer @angusrobin.bsky.social

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

This is the sound to listen out for - if you are searching for a Lesser Spot nest to monitor - well done @angusrobin.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I cant believe the lesser spot chicks haven't fledged yet. The female kept calling at them to come out this morning. At one point for over 6 minutes straight. The adults are tired and want the chicks to forage for themselves. They are doing there best to avoid the lunges! @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Alastair Gray @wwres.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Please to have found a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest this morning,3 young and adults seen bringing food to hole. Thanks to LSW team which arrived to scope nest early afternoon.

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Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Thanks Alastair, a good find with nice looking chicks.

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Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Incoming!!! LSW

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Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Very good news. Well done for monitoring the feeding visits. The weather has turned so cold, the chicks will need all the food they can get.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Looks like 4 chicks doing well in the lesser spot nest. Parents working hard. 16 visits in one hour of monitoring today @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds Perhaps a week to go. Beginning to be able to hear the chicks from outside so get out looking people.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Lesser spots doing well. Lots of aphids to feed young. Female has been staying close to the nest for long periods. Could be because she has been keeping brood warm or she was worried about the local great spot who was nearby @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Whilst monitoring a lesser spot nest yesterday the male would often feed with 5 metres of me. Lovely to watch. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

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