Helena Dollimore MP raised the issue of Bio-beads at Prime Minister's Question Time. 🚨Deadline to sign the petition in 26 January 2026🚨 Sign here: www.helenadollimore.com/binthebeads #BinTheBeads

Do you have lots of blackthorn and sloes locally, mixed with hawthorn? If so, check for split stones, a sign that Hawfinches are present, as here at Ardingly. Watch from just before sunrise to actually see the birds. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @kneppwilding.bsky.social

Can you help your Society by taking on a volunteer role? We urgently need an Editor for the Sussex Bird Report. We often need species account writers too, so that is another opportunity to help out. Do please get in touch now if you’d like to find out more. www.sos.org.uk/archives/6624

A bird sound challenge: Hawfinch recorded near Wakehurst, Sussex, with a Jay imitating Buzzard and Goshawk (?). @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.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...

🚨 SIGN THE PETITION 🚨 We're backing MP Helena Dollimore's petition to end the use of bio-beads across the UK. Modern, safer alternatives exist – water companies must use them. 👉 Sign now: https://f.mtr.cool/ktkpksyvix Every signature counts. Together we can protect our coastline.

Two of 15 Hawfinches at a post-roost site near Staplefield this morning. First ones arrived very early, 10 minutes before sunrise. Hornbeam, sloes, haws & field maple attract them. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Great to see three of our Sussex birders involved in co-authoring the LSW paper in the Dec copy of British Birds. PAM will be an important tool in the next National Bird Atlas. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @mallalieum.bsky.social @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social

1/ A new study from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social & BTO in @britishbirds.bsky.social looks at how passive acoustic monitoring is an effective way of surveying Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ➡️ www.bto.org/LSWBioacoust... #bioacoustics #ornithology @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social

This is a brilliant initiative. Woodpecker Network is working with BTO to develop a passive acoustic monitoring module for Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Trials have proved successful in reliably detecting their drums and calls, revealing many new locations.

This is a brilliant opportunity to support the Society and our birds. Please contact me if you'd like to know more.

Parking and entry is free but if you are not a member and you see it, a donation of a fiver would be lovely...and good value! 😀 @sussexwildlife.bsky.social sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/make-a-diffe...

Another excellent bird report from Sussex. Thanks to everyone involved in producing such a high quality publication. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

The mysterious Jerdon's Courser has been rediscovered outside its known range for the first time in more than a century:

youtu.be/Rv1MuCIf3Q4 for #superseabirdsunday @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Watch our Director of Conservation, Henri Brocklebank on BBC SouthEast News tonight. Find out why Sussex Wildlife Trust has launched a legal challenge to stop dumping in Marine Conservation Zone & how this exposes the current inadequate protection given to marine protected areas. buff.ly/xMVkeK1

Super-proud of my colleagues that we are taking a stand. Marine protected sites are all too often protected in name only. Great to be working with Leigh Day and the Environmental Law Foundation Please read the blog for the full story and details of how you can help @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

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

Red Bartsia Bees only take pollen from that plant and are mainly a chalk downland species in Sussex, but several today in a Red Bartsia-rich meadow at Weir Wood Reservoir in the High Weald, attended by their parasitic Blunthorn Nomad Bees. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

We require a knowledgeable birdwatcher to lead the team that produces the highly respected annual Sussex Bird Report, described by @birdguides.bsky.social as ‘a gold standard of county bird reports’. Please share with your networks. Full brief in link here; tinyurl.com/y9nz7acd

Ragwort is a valuable haven for wildlife, when allowed to grow in the right places, & a crucial foodplant for the Cinnabar Moth caterpillar - whose numbers have been in decline. We leave Ragwort to grow on our reserves whenever possible. Read more here 📷Alan Price, Bob Eade buff.ly/5QSTIOK

One of nine juvenile Goshawks seen over 16 sq. km of Sussex woodland this morning, this one a female. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A bonus bird from Song Meter passive recorder set on a cherry tree in NW Sussex for Hawfinch. Tracks along base are TD purring. Also Little Owl detected. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Honey-buzzard over Ashdown Forest today. The next 30 days are crucial for monitoring Sussex's Honey-buzzard population, so I'd welcome details of sightings and photos by email: [email protected] Thanks. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Final chance to submit photos for inclusion in the 2024 Sussex bird report. Pls follow instrcutions below. Many thanks!

1/ New blog! Discover how Passive Acoustic Monitoring can help in Nightjar monitoring ➡️ www.bto.org/our-work... #Orntihology #bioacoustics

Another Sussex Lower Greensand and coastal solitary bee off course in a clayey Haywards Heath wildflower meadow: female Pantaloon Bee on Knapweed today. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

So much wasted money, when natural regeneration may have created better wildlife outcomes at a fraction of the cost. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Four-banded Flower Bee on catmint, in garden, Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Verified 'Tzik' Hawfinch calls from a passive recorder on a cherry tree in NW Sussex: in this tetrad last breeding season Hawfinch record pre-2025 was 1980. Buy the man a coffee! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Get closer to nature this autumn 📷 Multi award-winning wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and author David Plummer shares his secrets in this one-day course at Woods Mill. A popular course, early booking recommended. #photography #fieldcraft buff.ly/3TYwbgp

Cheering news from @LesserSpotNet.bsky.social ⭐ A high of 24 active nests have been monitored across the UK - more than at any time in the last 10 years of monitoring. An average of 3.8 young fledged from nests too, signalling a productive spring. 📷 Derek Middleton

Another parasitic Sharp-tail Bee. This is Coelioxys elongata investigating a bee hotel used by leafcutter bees, its host genus, in a mid-Sussex garden. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Large Sharp-tail Bee Coelioxys conoidea, a dry heathland and coastal species of this parasitic genus, out of place in a small wildflower meadow in Haywards Heath today. Released after photos. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Peppered Moth caterpillar in Gabriel Oak rose bush in the garden this evening.

Ebernoe area in June: Goshawks, Hawfinches, Turtle Doves, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, lots of Nightingales, and Hares. Worth a visit. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

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

Spot 2 birds in the photo. Many of the "putlog" holes at Winchelsea church are now accommodation for Swifts. Some are tailor made and others are just made with stone part obscuring the hole. Putlog holes are holes made in walls to receive the ends of beams, called putlogs, to support a scaffolding.

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

Several of the elusive Coelioxys elongata Sharp-tail Bees in a small suburban mid-Sussex wildflower meadow just now, on Bird's-foot Trefoil. Host Leafcutter bees present too. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Tuesday is the BIG GIVE to support vital work for the Ferry Pool, Sidlesham. The project plans to restore the areas ecological value & become a key feeding, roosting & breeding site. The field is overlooked by one of Sussex's best birdwatching hides. tinyurl.com/bddp2ybu

Hawfinches eating male oak catkins in a Sussex Weald wood today. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

BBC South East visited the #KelpSummit2025 today. Watch out for a report on this evening's 6.30pm news featuring our Director of Conservation and Chair of @sussexkelp.bsky.social, Henri Brocklebank. @henribrocklebank.bsky.social

📢 SOS seeks Tree Pipit records from non-heathland sites in Sussex for 2025, outside of official surveys. Pls look out till mid-July & log sightings on BirdTrack/eBird with breeding evidence & habitat details. More info here; www.sos.org.uk/archives/6336

@sussexornitholo.bsky.social is anyone counting the gull night roost at Bewl Water in March and April? I'm interested to match up with 6.30am arrival from NW of small gulls at Pett Level. Thx.

A big day for the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve yesterday - receiving the Kings Award for Voluntary Service. A big THANK-YOU to all members of the Friends. You can join ryeharbourfriends.net/join-us Thanks to @chriscorrigan3.bsky.social of @sussexwildlife.bsky.social for your kind words.

Three local Sussex LSW sites checked so far. All occupied. 2-3 more sites to visit. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

High Weald early this morning. The only Sussex bird that makes Hawfinch fieldwork seem easy. bsky.app/profile/less...

Surrey Hawfinch record count safe as 'only' 200+ at Kingley Vale to Chilgrove today. @stevewg.bsky.social

Photographer Mike Hepworth spent six hours at Kingley Vale NR, West Sussex, yesterday, seeing swarms of Hawfinches, and reckoning recent estimate of c.400 to be very conservative, so even more seem to have arrived. Please visit from sunrise and count them! @sussexornitholo.bsky.social