Ken and Linda Smith
@kenandlindasmith.bsky.social
Ornithologists based in Chichester, Sussex, interests woodpeckers - volunteer organisers of @LesserSpotNet.bsky.social , www.woodpecker-network.org.uk
Our WeBS count (below) was assisted by a low flying Marsh Harrier putting up a flock of Redshank, also saw 4 Jack Snipe & a Kingfisher, @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Our BTO @webs-gsmp.bsky.social high tide count yesterday at Fishbourne Creek was unseasonably warm at 17 degrees. Good numbers though - Snipe 53 (our highest ever count), Brent Geese 400, Redshank 260, Wigeon 300, Curlew 130, Turnstone 42, Lapwing 60 Gt Crested Grebe 15, but no Godwits seen.
November 10, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our WeBS count (below) was assisted by a low flying Marsh Harrier putting up a flock of Redshank, also saw 4 Jack Snipe & a Kingfisher, @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Our BTO @webs-gsmp.bsky.social high tide count yesterday at Fishbourne Creek was unseasonably warm at 17 degrees. Good numbers though - Snipe 53 (our highest ever count), Brent Geese 400, Redshank 260, Wigeon 300, Curlew 130, Turnstone 42, Lapwing 60 Gt Crested Grebe 15, but no Godwits seen.
November 9, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Our BTO @webs-gsmp.bsky.social high tide count yesterday at Fishbourne Creek was unseasonably warm at 17 degrees. Good numbers though - Snipe 53 (our highest ever count), Brent Geese 400, Redshank 260, Wigeon 300, Curlew 130, Turnstone 42, Lapwing 60 Gt Crested Grebe 15, but no Godwits seen.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
My book has got a great endorsement from Chris Packham: "This clever and immensely resourceful book is an overdue gem". There's also a few pages up on the website too! It's up for pre-order here with publication set for January pelagicpublishing.com/products/pan...
October 23, 2025 at 10:31 AM
My book has got a great endorsement from Chris Packham: "This clever and immensely resourceful book is an overdue gem". There's also a few pages up on the website too! It's up for pre-order here with publication set for January pelagicpublishing.com/products/pan...
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
In the week the @eounion.bsky.social met @bangoruniversity.bsky.social, latest findings from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social provide hope for this hard-to-find bird.
@northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes also rounds up the week's scarcer sightings. #BirdingWales
www.birdnotes.wales/blog/experts...
@northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes also rounds up the week's scarcer sightings. #BirdingWales
www.birdnotes.wales/blog/experts...
Experts help unlock the secrets of our smallest woodpecker
Leading ornithologists from across the world met in Bangor last week as the University hosted the European Ornithologists Union conference. It is only the second time the UK has been the venue for...
www.birdnotes.wales
August 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
In the week the @eounion.bsky.social met @bangoruniversity.bsky.social, latest findings from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social provide hope for this hard-to-find bird.
@northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes also rounds up the week's scarcer sightings. #BirdingWales
www.birdnotes.wales/blog/experts...
@northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes also rounds up the week's scarcer sightings. #BirdingWales
www.birdnotes.wales/blog/experts...
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Some of the numerous juveniles among 44+ Hawfinches at West Dean, Sussex, this morning, feeding on beech, presumably mast. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Some of the numerous juveniles among 44+ Hawfinches at West Dean, Sussex, this morning, feeding on beech, presumably mast. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Ken & Linda Smith will be at the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ Looking forward to seeing some of you there bou.org.uk/conferences-...
#BOUatEOU - Resources - British Ornithologists' Union
Woodland birds18 August 2025 - MALT Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, Wales, UK & BlueskyMain conference pagePresenter and attendee resourcesPROGRAMMEABSTRACT BOOKLETBOU GUIDE TO BLUESKY CONFERENCES...
bou.org.uk
August 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Ken & Linda Smith will be at the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ Looking forward to seeing some of you there bou.org.uk/conferences-...
We will be representing Woodpecker Network the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ We are both looking forward to it bou.org.uk/wp-content/u...
bou.org.uk
August 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
We will be representing Woodpecker Network the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ We are both looking forward to it bou.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Effect of habitat quality and quantity on the occurrence and persistence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor) across two time periods | doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology #conservation 🪶🌎
August 11, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Effect of habitat quality and quantity on the occurrence and persistence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor) across two time periods | doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology #conservation 🪶🌎
Good to have our citizen science Bat recording project noted in The Times today. Since 2018 using our automatic bat detector at 100+ sites we have found bats everywhere in Chichester area, including rare Kuhl's Pipistrelle. See Chichester Natural History Society website www.chinats.org.uk/medmerry-3
July 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Good to have our citizen science Bat recording project noted in The Times today. Since 2018 using our automatic bat detector at 100+ sites we have found bats everywhere in Chichester area, including rare Kuhl's Pipistrelle. See Chichester Natural History Society website www.chinats.org.uk/medmerry-3
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
333,769 records! Entered 950+ records today from a single 7-hour survey on a farm on the 8th June.
June 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
333,769 records! Entered 950+ records today from a single 7-hour survey on a farm on the 8th June.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Can you help find Sussex's breeding Hawfinches by locating cherry trees and looking for split cherry stones? See www.sos.org.uk/archives/6421 Thank you! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Can you help find Sussex's breeding Hawfinches by locating cherry trees and looking for split cherry stones? See www.sos.org.uk/archives/6421 Thank you! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Well that was quick - just flushed a Green Sandpiper from the stream at the bottom of the garden. Garden tick, but autumn migration starts here!
Summer's over, autumn migration has begun.
First Green Sandpiper of the "Autumn" back at #LytchettFields this morning, an unusually confiding bird! @harbourbirds.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Well that was quick - just flushed a Green Sandpiper from the stream at the bottom of the garden. Garden tick, but autumn migration starts here!
Good news for Lesser Spots to have a brood of 4 chicks
Pleased to contribute a nest to this years @lesserspotnet.bsky.social monitoring. A brood of 4 revealed by the special camera thanks to @angusrobin.bsky.social
June 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Good news for Lesser Spots to have a brood of 4 chicks
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Yes, a very good effort this year. Volunteers found and monitored 24 LSW nests, this represents about 1% of possible nests assuming an estimated Lesser Spot population of 2000+ pairs in England and Wales.
June 4, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Yes, a very good effort this year. Volunteers found and monitored 24 LSW nests, this represents about 1% of possible nests assuming an estimated Lesser Spot population of 2000+ pairs in England and Wales.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
How many nests across the country is that now? Must be approaching a record!
June 1, 2025 at 7:28 AM
How many nests across the country is that now? Must be approaching a record!
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Another day - another 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests found and being monitored in Devon and the New Forest. Great work by LesserSpotNet volunteers. Healthy chicks being well fed by both parents in all the nests. More nests could be found this week.
May 31, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Another day - another 3 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests found and being monitored in Devon and the New Forest. Great work by LesserSpotNet volunteers. Healthy chicks being well fed by both parents in all the nests. More nests could be found this week.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
One Lesser Spot nest has fully fledged. The other quite a way to go. Slight concerns over a small hole in the back of the nest. Noticed by both Male and Female this morning. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social #birds @stuckateur.bsky.social
June 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
One Lesser Spot nest has fully fledged. The other quite a way to go. Slight concerns over a small hole in the back of the nest. Noticed by both Male and Female this morning. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social #birds @stuckateur.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
1/ What the @bbs-birds.bsky.social report means for England. ⬇️
Blackbird has declined by 10% here over the last 10 years. The disease Usutu Virus may be one of the contributing factors: bit.ly/GWHUsutu
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
Blackbird has declined by 10% here over the last 10 years. The disease Usutu Virus may be one of the contributing factors: bit.ly/GWHUsutu
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
June 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
1/ What the @bbs-birds.bsky.social report means for England. ⬇️
Blackbird has declined by 10% here over the last 10 years. The disease Usutu Virus may be one of the contributing factors: bit.ly/GWHUsutu
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
Blackbird has declined by 10% here over the last 10 years. The disease Usutu Virus may be one of the contributing factors: bit.ly/GWHUsutu
@btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
LesserSpotNet special pin badges presented by @angusrobin.bsky.social to volunteers Stuart @stuckateur.bsky.social (left) & Ed @edhorncastle.bsky.social (right) who found and monitored breeding outcomes at LSW nests in Devon - many thanks both
June 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
LesserSpotNet special pin badges presented by @angusrobin.bsky.social to volunteers Stuart @stuckateur.bsky.social (left) & Ed @edhorncastle.bsky.social (right) who found and monitored breeding outcomes at LSW nests in Devon - many thanks both
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
As a special thank you, we are awarding unique Lesser Spotted Woodpecker pin badges to LesserSpotNet volunteers who found LSW nests this year or contributed in other ways. The Badges were designed & produced specially for us by @ukbirdingpins.bsky.social Thanks @angusrobin.bsky.social for organising
June 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
As a special thank you, we are awarding unique Lesser Spotted Woodpecker pin badges to LesserSpotNet volunteers who found LSW nests this year or contributed in other ways. The Badges were designed & produced specially for us by @ukbirdingpins.bsky.social Thanks @angusrobin.bsky.social for organising
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
A remarkable West Sussex farm, intensive arable, but with breeding Turtle Doves (3+ prs), Nightingale, Cuckoo, House Martins, Swifts, lots of warblers, Goshawks in adjacent wood, and maybe Hawfinches, judging by cracked open cherry stones. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A remarkable West Sussex farm, intensive arable, but with breeding Turtle Doves (3+ prs), Nightingale, Cuckoo, House Martins, Swifts, lots of warblers, Goshawks in adjacent wood, and maybe Hawfinches, judging by cracked open cherry stones. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
Checked in with the lesser spot nest found by @stuckateur.bsky.social both Male and Female working hard to feed the young. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social clearing of what I think are faecal sacks a prominent part of the morning. Also lots of spotted flycatchers which grabbed the attention of the Male.
May 28, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Checked in with the lesser spot nest found by @stuckateur.bsky.social both Male and Female working hard to feed the young. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social clearing of what I think are faecal sacks a prominent part of the morning. Also lots of spotted flycatchers which grabbed the attention of the Male.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
From deep within tree holes, Great Spotted Woodpecker chicks beg noisily.
Both parents will deliver food to the nest, until red-capped fledglings emerge, clinging to trunks and still calling hungrily.
Parents can continue to feed fledglings for around 10 days.
#SpringStories
Both parents will deliver food to the nest, until red-capped fledglings emerge, clinging to trunks and still calling hungrily.
Parents can continue to feed fledglings for around 10 days.
#SpringStories
May 29, 2025 at 10:24 AM
From deep within tree holes, Great Spotted Woodpecker chicks beg noisily.
Both parents will deliver food to the nest, until red-capped fledglings emerge, clinging to trunks and still calling hungrily.
Parents can continue to feed fledglings for around 10 days.
#SpringStories
Both parents will deliver food to the nest, until red-capped fledglings emerge, clinging to trunks and still calling hungrily.
Parents can continue to feed fledglings for around 10 days.
#SpringStories
Successful trip to Kent y'day to visit 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests, our endoscope revealed 4 chicks ready to fledge, 11 m high in a dead Ash & 3 chicks snug in a dead Oak. Thanks @paulc090316.bsky.social & Jonathan for finding the nests & showing them to us - all very positive for success.
May 26, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Successful trip to Kent y'day to visit 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests, our endoscope revealed 4 chicks ready to fledge, 11 m high in a dead Ash & 3 chicks snug in a dead Oak. Thanks @paulc090316.bsky.social & Jonathan for finding the nests & showing them to us - all very positive for success.
Reposted by Ken and Linda Smith
A fantastic 3 day birding in the south west looking for lesser spot nests happy to say I found nest number 17 this year!! A big thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social and gus robin who came to image the nest showing possibly 3/4 young birds fantastic work these people are doing for the species 👏
May 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A fantastic 3 day birding in the south west looking for lesser spot nests happy to say I found nest number 17 this year!! A big thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social and gus robin who came to image the nest showing possibly 3/4 young birds fantastic work these people are doing for the species 👏