Here's a summary of bird and other wildlife sightings in July at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. #UKwildlife #Sussexwildlife #birds @sussexornitholo.bsky.social rye.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/rye-har... Photo by David Rowlands

Our survey group here in Ashdown Forest met yesterday to discuss this year’s survey. Heathland Cuckoo numbers were about the same as last year (still an expected sighting) and we debated what the likely host species was, but the only juvenile spotted was being fed, to surprise, by a Wren!

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS)@bbs-birds.bsky.social · 14h ago

(1/) Cuckoo is another species that is often associated with heathland. The BBS trend for different parts of the UK is currently showing some interesting results. It has increased in Scotland, but it has declined in England… @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

Painted Lady nectaring on Common Fleabane - both seem to be common in my part of Sussex this year (just as well this hot rainless weather seems to suit the Fleabane). #WildWebsWednesday

It is usually the male Southern Hawker that I see, pausing from his restless patrolling of a woodland path to hover in front of me curiously, impossible to ‘snap’, but the beautifully marked female is easier - this one ovipositing in a heat-dried pool at #OldLodgeNR @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Big news for wetland birds! 🐦 Planning permission has been granted to the @nationaltrust.org.uk for the proposed restoration at Chyngton Brooks, which will return 42 hectares in the lower Cuckmere Valley to saltmarsh and mudflat. Learn more: tinyurl.com/4pkx9ppp 📸 Gary Faulkner - Dunlin

18 days later the Shelduck ducklings have grown a bit here at #RyeHarbourNR @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #sussexbirding

@mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 3w ago

Pool alone? Tadorna Tadorna Common Shelduck at #RyeHarbourNR but no it wasn’t, its parents and siblings were all close by, so all good as this is a scarce breeding species in Sussex. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social #sussexbirding

Some very smart Actitis hypoleucos- the Common Sandpiper - at #RyeHarbourNR this weekend, now is the peak migration for southbound birds to Africa. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social #sussexbirding

There were still at least 2 well camouflaged Common Tern chicks at #RyeHarbourNR at the weekend but within a month or so they will have departed to winter off the African coast. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social #sussexbirding

Motacilla cinerea, Grey Wagtail in North Devon from my recent visit. The breeding season can be long at it looks like at least one was still feeding chicks. #Devonbirding

For my #BigButterflyCount today in sunny East Sussex flowering Fleabane attracted: Painted Lady (2); Holly Blue (1); Small White (1); Gatekeeper (2): Meadow Brown (3). @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A somewhat quiet #WCBS today in East Sussex with only a few Meadow Brown amongst the dry field grass and only slightly more on a rare nectar source: Red Admiral; Green-veined White; Gatekeeper; Small White. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

The well camouflaged Hipparchus Semele - the Grayling. Not a butterfly I have seen here in Sussex, or indeed anywhere to my recollection, so very pleased to see this on hot #RSPBArne heathland last week. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Celastrina argiolus the Holly Blue unusually displaying its upper wings (at least for me) revealing this is a second brood female (#RSPBArne last week). @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A distant flock of Curlew Numenius arquata at #RSPBArne last week, always a welcome sight. The U.K. supports roughly a quarter of the world population, but worryingly they are one of the U.K.’s fastest declining bird (See Colwell in a recent @britishwildlife.bsky.social article) #ukbirding

Speckled - both Lepidopteran and botanical for #WildWebWednesday. For the Speckled Wood a resting place inbetween seeing off rivals. (North Devon last week.) @savebutterflies.bsky.social

On my walk yesterday, the other side of our High Weald village, before the sun was too hot, Silver-washed Fritillary, Painted Lady, masses of Gatekeeper and slightly smaller numbers of Meadow Brown. Today much the same but no Painted Lady and instead Common Blue. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Cervus nippon the Sika Deer introduced to Britain from Japan in the 19th century. This at #RSPBArne last week. First time I recall seeing one (Fallow and occasional Roe and the ones I see in Sussex) but despite waiting patiently for this stag to pose properly it didn’t.

A Dipper before breakfast - not a bird I get to see in Sussex, this one was in Exmoor when I was there for a quick visit this past week. The White-throated Dipper or Cinclus cinclus to give it its full name. #ukbirding

Montbretia for #WildflowerHour from the North Devon East Lyn river, apparently a cross between two South African plants in France in 1879 that by 1907 was recorded in the wild in the U.K…

Me and my shadow - Vanessa atalanta, a Red Admiral, at #RSPBArne this past week on, needless to say, a hot sunny day. Wonder whether this will be less inclined to cross the Channel at the end of the summer and instead overwinter here? @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A lot of hard living this summer for this Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia in North Devon this past week, trimmed a bit but still the largest species I saw on the wing in the sunshine. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Calling all wildlife artists! 🎨🦅 A reminder to submit your work for the Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition The Natural Eye at Mall Galleries ➡️ www.mallgalleries.or... We’re also excited to offer our BTO Award of £500 again this year. 🙌 🎨 Early morning Avocets by Richard Allen

A hot sun yellow Clouded Yellow Coleus croceus on holiday on Exmoor this week, almost as hot as it’s likely starting point in the Mediterranean basin. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #butterflies

Still in time for #fungifriday a splendidly sulphureus Laetiporus sulphureus the Chicken of the Woods here in the woods above the East Lyn River in North Devon this week. #fungifriends #fungi

Phoenicurus phoenicurus - encouraging evidence for confirmed breeding of Common Redstart at #OldLodgeNR with quite a number of Common Redstart fledglings to be found at the weekend. Recorded in only 81 Sx tetrads. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social #sussexbirding #ukbirding

At #OldLodgeNR yesterday a single worn Ringlet but butterflies in better condition included: Common Blue; Gatekeeper (many); Large Skipper; Large White; Meadow Brown; Red Admiral; Small Copper; Speckled Wood @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Walked down one of our fields this morning and the required grass was shrivelled and brown but Common Fleabane was growing vigorously!

wildflowerhour@wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 3w ago

Phew it’s been so hot lately!This week’s challenge is to find those wild & naturalised plants that are surviving the drought conditions & are #StillFlowering! Share your finds for #wildflowerhour this Sunday 8-9pm!

Orthetrum coerulescens the Keeled Skimmer at #OldLodgeNR on 18/7/26, here on the easternmost edge of their U.K. range. Several showing well yesterday. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Easily the most common butterfly on both my #WCBS and #BBC yesterday here in East Sussex: Maniola jurtina the Meadow Brown. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

As ever whether on my BTO square for BBS or today WCBS I have enthusiastic helpers though it turns out they are better showing me flies than butterflies and hopeless at identification. #WCBS @savebutterflies.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social