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sussextangerine.bsky.social
David Bentley
@sussextangerine.bsky.social
380 followers 230 following 450 posts
Birds, wildlife & words, E. Sussex.
Almost always on🚶🚴 or 🚌
All photos are phone photos ☎️
Green 💚
Posts Replies Media Videos
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Squealing Water Rail and a close Bittern rounded off a good afternoon at Rye Harbour NR. Also Spotted Redshank, Spoonbill, Bar-tailed Godwit, Brent Geese, Kingfisher and much more.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
Sunset at the reedbed viewpoint at Castle Water, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. There is a channel of water next to a reedbed with distant hills and a glowing orange sun behind.
January 7, 2026 at 5:01 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
The cold snap has broken and I'll miss parties of Lapwing over the house.
One day heading This Way.
Next day heading That Way.
How do they decide which is the Right Way?
Beautiful, elegant birds with a boy/girl-next-door flippy-flappy flight.
#UKwildlife
#birds
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 11:45 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
I watched a female Merlin play with a Skylark. It feigned disinterest between intense attacks, breakneck stoops and dives. Maybe it meant to miss, wanting to prolong the act, knowing what the ultimate outcome would be.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by David Bentley
sussextangerine.bsky.social
East Guldeford Level was good: 37 Snipe, 850 Golden Plover, 750 Lapwing, 45 Curlew, 1 Merlin, 50 Corn Bunting, 12 Yellowhammer, 8 Stonechat, 65 Fieldfare, flock of 900 Stock Dove, 2 Cattle Egret and distant flocks of passerines. 61 species.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
About a dozen wind turbines, one very close, on flat grassland with bright blue skies above.
January 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Marsh life - looking for wildlife on East Guldeford Level.
www.ryenews.org.uk/nature-and-e...
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
#Rye
#Sussexbirds
A ditch - or 'sewer' - within a flat grassland area with a wind farm, with turbines, beyond.
January 4, 2026 at 5:25 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
12 White-fronted Geese here, late afternoon.
January 4, 2026 at 4:55 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
East Guldeford Level was good: 37 Snipe, 850 Golden Plover, 750 Lapwing, 45 Curlew, 1 Merlin, 50 Corn Bunting, 12 Yellowhammer, 8 Stonechat, 65 Fieldfare, flock of 900 Stock Dove, 2 Cattle Egret and distant flocks of passerines. 61 species.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
About a dozen wind turbines, one very close, on flat grassland with bright blue skies above.
January 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
The bloke's a lawyer.
A BBC website headline that reads 'Starmer won't be drawn on whether US strikes on Venezuela broke international law.'
January 3, 2026 at 9:34 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Guide in a Hide at Rye Harbour NR today: I recognised a young lad, aged about 10, from a previous GIAH. He knows his stuff, so I challenged him to a friendly bird ID quiz. He got 10/10. I think it made his dad's day. It made mine too.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#birds
Sea water flowing on to Flat Beach just before high tide at Rye Harbour this morning.
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
I saw some men in green-brown costumes in a field. Some other people shouted and 'whooped' in a copse and scared pheasants that flew out. The men in green-brown costumes shot them. They couldn't miss. Then the men in green-brown costumes looked bored, waiting for the next time that they could kill.
January 2, 2026 at 10:00 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
There's good habitat in the Brede Valley upstream of Winchelsea. It was quiet this beautiful morning with 1 Great White Egret, c400 Lapwing, 6 Stonechat and 25 Fieldfare, but interesting to see 6+ Chiffchaff all close together in a tiny patch of Hawthorn scrub.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
A view of the Brede Valley from Winchelsea showing rough, damp grassland and the river channel under bright blue skies.
January 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
It's great living in the country. You get excited when the gritter goes past at dusk, with its lights flashing and spinning like an alien craft.
January 1, 2026 at 4:17 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
11 White-fronted Geese with Greylags just north of Northpoint Sewer, seen from cycle-path at TQ935 202, near Rye, then all birds flew south towards Northpoint Pit or on towards Castle Water. Also nearby 100s of Golden Plover, Lapwing and a Cattle Egret.
#UKbirding
#birds
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 11:48 AM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Below our house, which nestles in the last folds of the Weald, the first (usually empty) flatlands are full of Lapwing & Golden Plover and peppered with Snipe. Scores of Teal & Wigeon arrow in from the NE. A Kingfisher sparkles in the sun and a Water Rail is out in the open.
#UKwildlife
#ColdWeather
Grazing pasture on flatland on the edge of East Guldeford Level, East Sussex.
December 31, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by David Bentley
beachyheadbirder.bsky.social
A review of the more interesting avian happenings on Beachy Head in 2025, a decent year. Thanks to all the birders who've put the time in and shared news this year. #RareBirdsUK beachybirder.wordpress.com/2025/12/30/a...
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Small Hythe - Maytham Wharf - Blackwall Bridge - Wittersham: 12+ (maybe 15) Goosander, 4 Great White Egret, 1,500 Lapwing, 55 Teal, 50 Wigeon, 3 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Wagtail, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, 250+ Fieldfare, 180+ Redwing, 51 sp
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#Kentwildlife
#birds
A rough field surrounded by tall, leafless trees on a gloomy, still day.
December 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
On Sussex/Kent border at Maytham Wharf TQ866 276: at least 12 Goosander (4+ adult male) playing hide and seek on the Hexden / Maytham Channels.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@kentishplover.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#birds
December 29, 2025 at 11:54 AM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Delighted to see a flock of c30 Chaffinch down the lane, so scarce have they become around Rye. Such beautiful birds. I'm starting to get the same buzz I used to get for Brambling, which I almost never see here anymore. 🤦🏻‍♂️
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#UKbirds
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
A view of a mature tree with a copse beyond, next to a sheep pasture. The sky is bright blue. In the distance there is higher ground.
December 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
When Golden Plovers fly with direct purpose they become knife-edged fighter planes, almost as much falcon as wader. But with soft, kindly faces.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
December 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Scots Float - Moneypenny - Camber - Rye: 4 White-fronted Geese, 2,500+ Lapwing, 1,700+ Golden Plover, 14 Snipe, 126 Curlew, 2 Cattle Egret, 24 Teal, 15 Gadwall, 5 Corn Bunting. 61 species.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
A long, straight ditch - locally known as a 'sewer' - in a vast, open agricultural landscape on the edge of Romney Marsh.
December 26, 2025 at 3:11 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Single Pink-footed Goose in with c220 Greylag Geese just north of Northpoint Sewer, viewed from cycle-path at TQ935 202, by Camber Road, near Rye.
#UKbirding
#birds
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
One day, when the time comes, just watching gulls and crows cut contrasting flight-paths over the house and seeing thrushes and tits shuffle and shift beneath will be just about enough.
December 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
The leaves fell away and a nondescript stand of young trees in Rye became a thing of beauty.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#trees
Trunks, branches and twigs of young trees silhouetted in late winter sun.
December 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
We love The Plough at Cock Marling, Rye. They've got Harvey's Old Ale on at the moment. A rare winter treat this far east. We used to call it 'engine oil' when I lived in Lewes. It's dark, rich, fruity and built for mid-winter. 🖤
www.theploughrye.co.uk
A pint glass with 'Harvey's Brewery' etched on the side in blue. The glass hold a dark, rich beer.
December 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
sussextangerine.bsky.social
Around Castle Water today: 15 Cattle Egret, 1 Goldeneye, 55 Tufted Duck, 2 Marsh Harrier, 7 Snipe and 1,500+ Lapwing & c400 Golden Plover that just wouldn't settle. 50 sp.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
A low stone-built castle sat in grassland with blue skies above.
December 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM