Still in time for #ThickTrunkTuesday a mysterious and perhaps sacred Taxus baccata on a track leading eventually up to a windmill capped hill here in the Sussex High Weald.

👍

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

Wow early!

The eyes have it - my first Peacock butterfly of 2026 here at #RSPBBroadwaterWaren last week where there were also plenty of Brimstone about in the sunshine.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

25 joined Josh & I for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #RiverOuseValley walk. The walk bird tally was around 2x that: raptors: Buzzard; Kestrel; Marsh Harrier; Peregrine; Red Kite; Sparrowhawk. Egret included Cattle & Little. Emblem Stonechat plus Skylark and Corn & Reed Bunting.
#sussexbirding

Whether it’s a first Lesser Celandine flower of the year or Elder leaves unfurling. The first #WildflowerHour challenge of the year is to spot #SignsOfSpring! Share your finds this Sunday 8-9pm. Below is the link if you would like to record your #NaturesCalendar sightings ⬇️ @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A sunny day walk at RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday. My first singing Chiffchaff of the year (6 seen or heard) + Blue, Coal & Great Tit; Buzzard; Goldcrest; Great & Green WP; Jay; Raven; Robin; Siskin; Stonechat; Woodpigeon; Wren. Also Brimstone and Peacock.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Dung heap fungi for #FungiFriday. Cuprinopsis lagopus (Hare’sfoot Inkcap) on L is frequent but first time I have seen any Cup and Ear fungi (from the Pezizoceae family, L and R photo).
#fungi
#fungifriends

Gorgeous. I used to see these all the time in Georgian Bay and felt quite nostalgic.

😂

Thanks. Yes unfortunately that was the only letter I could see and then it moved towards the bank and I lost sight of it. Will have to keep my eye open in future.

When I first saw her she had an entourage of 7 male admirers and I wondered whether she had put on some ’beaky’ for her morning paddle 😉

Amongst the many Tufted Duck at #BoughBeech at the weekend I came across a female (R) with a blue beak band labelled “B”. It is possible this was banded in France but as yet I haven’t had a response to my msg; first time I have noticed beak banding.
#kentbirding
@btobirds.bsky.social

Grey mist, awful headlines, but our Robin remains cheerful and optimistic!
#sussexbirding

A map shows the locations of BTO satellite tagged Cuckoos in Africa. The headshots of four Cuckoos appear in circular frames around the map, alongside the wording: First Cuckoo Update for 2026.

1/ And they’re off! 📢 Our BTO satellite-tagged Cuckoos are on the move! 🌍

Follow their migrations via our interactive map ➡️ www.bto.org/cuckoos #Ornithology 🪶

Alopechen aegypticus at #BoughBeech Kent at the weekend. I tend to think of them as having spread from Norfolk but the first introduction was at St James’s Park in 1678 where apparently they were referred to as ‘gambo-goose’.
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

A Marsh Tit taking exception to a Blue Tit on feeders at #BoughBeech at the weekend but eventually an accommodation was found.
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Most of the time the Green Woodpecker Picus viridis gets listed because of a heard yaffle but occasionally as ‘seen’ like this one at #BoughBeech on 28/2/26. “Rain bird” is one of its old ‘folk names’ so perhaps best not to see it!
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

I saw them here in Feb last year. Perhaps they have already headed back across the North Sea or north?

No, much to my surprise I didn’t see any Goosander this visit or Yellowhammer.

End of a day’s birding at #BoughBeech on the last day of Feb 2026 with a range of birds from Ducks (Gadwall; Mallard; Mandarin; Pochard; Teal; Tufted); Raptors (Buzzard; Goshawk; Kestrel; Red Kite); Tits (Blue, Great, LT, Marsh); Wader (Snipe); Woodpecker (Great & Green)
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

Brimstone in late Feb here in East Sussex.

Obviously even a miserable day at Dunge still aces where it should be!

Nicely crafted and nicely timed as they will start to build up and passage through from now.

Another outstanding report of what's to come next month (March) by Paul James. Still lots about and exciting times to come as Summer migrants start to appear.

sos.org.uk/news/march-b...

#sussexbirds

📸 @nickbond007.bsky.social

For #FungiFriday some Ganoderma platforms parasitising on a rather old Beech tree in a local, no doubt Ancient, East Sussex High Weald wood.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#fungifriends

Thanks, thought that was where they might be (in the last few weeks I have sought less muddy routes!) but usually take that route.

I must try and keep my eyes closer to the ground when I am there on my regular visits (rather then searching out birds).

Surprised myself by snapping a Treecreeper at #OldLodgeNR @sussexwildlife.bsky.social showing its curves including its delicate decurved beak. Present in 34% Sx tetrads (2024 Sx Bird Report @sussexornitholo.bsky.social )
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding