@mayfieldbirder.bsky.social
Sussex based birder (often across Kent border), outings organiser, walk leader and species account writer for Sussex Ornithological Society.
Other types of bio-beads at #RyeHarbourNR… These on a plant from the Far East just off the path down from Cuckoo Corner. Not sure which Cotoneaster (Franchet’s?) or how it got here, or when, as I hadn’t noticed it before.
November 15, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Other types of bio-beads at #RyeHarbourNR… These on a plant from the Far East just off the path down from Cuckoo Corner. Not sure which Cotoneaster (Franchet’s?) or how it got here, or when, as I hadn’t noticed it before.
One of the Laccaria fungi found on my local walk this week, commonly called Deceiver, which has puzzled me though it seems fungi in this genus are deceptive for ID (but then aren’t many fungi 😂).
#fungifriends
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
#FungiFriday
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
One of the Laccaria fungi found on my local walk this week, commonly called Deceiver, which has puzzled me though it seems fungi in this genus are deceptive for ID (but then aren’t many fungi 😂).
#fungifriends
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
#FungiFriday
The list a week later: delete Bullfinch, Dunnock & Great Tit and add Dartford Warbler and Siskin.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Birds, mostly heard, at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today: Blackbird; Bullfinch; Crow; Dunnock; Jay; Goldcrest; Green WP; LT & Great Tit; Pheasant; Robin; Stonechat; Woodlark; Wren
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
The list a week later: delete Bullfinch, Dunnock & Great Tit and add Dartford Warbler and Siskin.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Another bracket for #FungiFriday - Daedaleopsis confragosa Blushing Bracket, this from a walk through a local Ancient Wood near a medieval ironworks. Common and common on Willow (as in this case).
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
November 14, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Another bracket for #FungiFriday - Daedaleopsis confragosa Blushing Bracket, this from a walk through a local Ancient Wood near a medieval ironworks. Common and common on Willow (as in this case).
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren although there are no turkeys here just an occasional Pheasant.
#FungiFriday
#Fungifriends
#FungiFriday
#Fungifriends
November 14, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Turkeytail Trametes versicolor from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren although there are no turkeys here just an occasional Pheasant.
#FungiFriday
#Fungifriends
#FungiFriday
#Fungifriends
A pair of Mallard, at #RyeHarbourNR on 8/11. Other Ducks were available: Gadwall; Pintail; Shelduck; Shoveler; Teal; Tufted; Wigeon; but the male Mallard was looking particularly dapper and I think this most widespread of ducks is often overlooked.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A pair of Mallard, at #RyeHarbourNR on 8/11. Other Ducks were available: Gadwall; Pintail; Shelduck; Shoveler; Teal; Tufted; Wigeon; but the male Mallard was looking particularly dapper and I think this most widespread of ducks is often overlooked.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Still some Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria in flower on my walk yesterday, an area where they are “locally frequent” (The Flora of Sussex). @bsbibotany.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Still some Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria in flower on my walk yesterday, an area where they are “locally frequent” (The Flora of Sussex). @bsbibotany.bsky.social
An old Hop Gall on this Oak caused by the asexual generation of the gall wasp Andricus foecundatrix. I expect the inner gall fell out in the summer and a wasp of the sexual generation will emerge from that next Spring.
#WildwebsWednesday
#galls
#WildwebsWednesday
#galls
November 12, 2025 at 1:33 PM
An old Hop Gall on this Oak caused by the asexual generation of the gall wasp Andricus foecundatrix. I expect the inner gall fell out in the summer and a wasp of the sexual generation will emerge from that next Spring.
#WildwebsWednesday
#galls
#WildwebsWednesday
#galls
There has been some wonderful colourful Waxcaps posted of late but missing from my walks however I did at least find these Snowy Waxcaps Cuphosphylus virgineus on a bank when heading to the village high st yesterday.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 12, 2025 at 7:32 AM
There has been some wonderful colourful Waxcaps posted of late but missing from my walks however I did at least find these Snowy Waxcaps Cuphosphylus virgineus on a bank when heading to the village high st yesterday.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
Gymnopus fusipes from along our High Weald lane. This Spindleshank with its distinctive stem just about visible is growing at the base of an Oak tree here.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Gymnopus fusipes from along our High Weald lane. This Spindleshank with its distinctive stem just about visible is growing at the base of an Oak tree here.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
Walking up to the village High St I found a plant on the verge not seen before - searching upon my return I found this was Apple-of-Peru, or Shoo-fly Nicandra physalodes. No doubt very common but for me it is in the ”adventives & aliens” list!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@naturelark.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@naturelark.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Walking up to the village High St I found a plant on the verge not seen before - searching upon my return I found this was Apple-of-Peru, or Shoo-fly Nicandra physalodes. No doubt very common but for me it is in the ”adventives & aliens” list!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@naturelark.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@naturelark.bsky.social
Saxicola rubicola. The Stonechat, emblem of the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social, at least 3 pairs perched up and flycatching at #RyeHarbourNR at the weekend. (Usually winter counts are highest in coastal areas.)
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Saxicola rubicola. The Stonechat, emblem of the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social, at least 3 pairs perched up and flycatching at #RyeHarbourNR at the weekend. (Usually winter counts are highest in coastal areas.)
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
Hypholoma fasciculare young and old. I know these as Sulpher Tuft but have also come across them referred to as Clustered Woodlover which sounds more exciting though probably refers to their wood rotting habits.
#fungifriends
#MushroomMonday
#fungifriends
#MushroomMonday
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Hypholoma fasciculare young and old. I know these as Sulpher Tuft but have also come across them referred to as Clustered Woodlover which sounds more exciting though probably refers to their wood rotting habits.
#fungifriends
#MushroomMonday
#fungifriends
#MushroomMonday
Terrible photo I know (this from the weekend) but I saw my first #RyeHarbourNR Kingfisher a 1/4 century ago and they are still going strong - recorded 11 months of the year here in 2024 for e.g. (Sussex Bird Report).
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
November 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Terrible photo I know (this from the weekend) but I saw my first #RyeHarbourNR Kingfisher a 1/4 century ago and they are still going strong - recorded 11 months of the year here in 2024 for e.g. (Sussex Bird Report).
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
Chunky Leccinum scabrum (Brown Birch Bolete) at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren for #MushroomMonday no doubt having mycorrhizal relationships with the Birch there.
#FungiFriends
#FungiFriends
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Chunky Leccinum scabrum (Brown Birch Bolete) at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren for #MushroomMonday no doubt having mycorrhizal relationships with the Birch there.
#FungiFriends
#FungiFriends
Red Valarian from #RyeHarbourNR for #WildflowerHour. Yes I know it is white but it is not originally from these parts!
November 9, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Red Valarian from #RyeHarbourNR for #WildflowerHour. Yes I know it is white but it is not originally from these parts!
Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum just keeps going for #WildflowerHour at #RyeHarbourNR (I caught up with it yesterday).
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum just keeps going for #WildflowerHour at #RyeHarbourNR (I caught up with it yesterday).
#muckheapmushrooms ! A crowd of Coprinopsis lagopus welcoming me to the muck heap this morning - one of their favourite habitats it seems.
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
November 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
#muckheapmushrooms ! A crowd of Coprinopsis lagopus welcoming me to the muck heap this morning - one of their favourite habitats it seems.
#fungifriends
#fungifriends
A sunny Saturday at #RyeHarbourNR and lovely to share my ‘scope views of glorious golden-spangled Golden Plover, in several swirling hundreds at Flat Beach, with interested visitors of various ages. A reward: I managed to find the American G Plover!
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 8:22 AM
A sunny Saturday at #RyeHarbourNR and lovely to share my ‘scope views of glorious golden-spangled Golden Plover, in several swirling hundreds at Flat Beach, with interested visitors of various ages. A reward: I managed to find the American G Plover!
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
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
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 AM
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
#fungifriends
#fungi
Not very exciting but perhaps appropriate for the weather: a Clouded Funnel at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren its species name - Clitocybe nebularis - refers in Latin to clouds and it does look rather cloudy and grey, like today here in the High Weald.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Not very exciting but perhaps appropriate for the weather: a Clouded Funnel at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren its species name - Clitocybe nebularis - refers in Latin to clouds and it does look rather cloudy and grey, like today here in the High Weald.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
Amanita muscaria still providing some fungal colour at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday though sadly without a hookah smoking caterpillar to advise any passing Alice in Wonderland. Not sure whether the caterpillar took a bite on leaving but obviously don’t attempt this at home!
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 7, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Amanita muscaria still providing some fungal colour at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday though sadly without a hookah smoking caterpillar to advise any passing Alice in Wonderland. Not sure whether the caterpillar took a bite on leaving but obviously don’t attempt this at home!
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
Birds, mostly heard, at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today: Blackbird; Bullfinch; Crow; Dunnock; Jay; Goldcrest; Green WP; LT & Great Tit; Pheasant; Robin; Stonechat; Woodlark; Wren
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Birds, mostly heard, at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today: Blackbird; Bullfinch; Crow; Dunnock; Jay; Goldcrest; Green WP; LT & Great Tit; Pheasant; Robin; Stonechat; Woodlark; Wren
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
Helvella crispa time: having said I haven’t noticed them along our High Weald lane before, though I have seen them elsewhere, yesterday I found White Saddle there just outside our gates. They are somewhat weirdly fascinating.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Helvella crispa time: having said I haven’t noticed them along our High Weald lane before, though I have seen them elsewhere, yesterday I found White Saddle there just outside our gates. They are somewhat weirdly fascinating.
#fungifriends
#fungi
#fungifriends
#fungi
Given that winter visitors to Britain travel from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia they must cover a lot of miles in their long lifetimes.
How long do you think Wigeon can live for? 🤔⬇️
The longevity record for this species for Britain & Ireland is 34 years and 7 months! 😮
📷 John Harding / BTO
The longevity record for this species for Britain & Ireland is 34 years and 7 months! 😮
📷 John Harding / BTO
November 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Given that winter visitors to Britain travel from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia they must cover a lot of miles in their long lifetimes.