Dance of the Sandwich Terns A pair of displaying terns doing their courtship dance to establish a pair bond. Both have full black crowns - whereas most adults have started losing the black feathers. Video speeded up 4 times.

We hope that you were excited at seeing a Honey-buzzard chick in the live-streamed nest. The chick hatched on 23 June in the morning and has since been fed with wasp larvae and pieces of frog. 🐣 Read all about it here; tinyurl.com/4rwdbvtb #ukbirding #sussexbirds

Sussex is hosting the first ever live stream of UK Honey-buzzards on the nest. 🐝 More than 20 pairs of 'HB' now breed in Sussex, but they're elusive!  Well done Ashdown Forest @sussexornitholo.bsky.social and partners for this breakthrough. 

A chance encounter with ITV and Ash Walmsley of the Ashdown Conservators.... and Honey-buzzards....on the Forest today. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social www.itv.com/watch/news/h...

Birders are being given a rare opportunity to follow the breeding season of European Honey Buzzards in Sussex through a new nest livestream:

A chance encounter with ITV and Ash Walmsley of the Ashdown Conservators.... and Honey-buzzards....on the Forest today. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @sussexornitholo.bsky.social www.itv.com/watch/news/h...

Better news was 20 Hawfinches in early morning at Sherwood Rough, Arundel, including a flock of 15 adults and recently fledged juveniles. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Does anyone know how widespread Polecats are in Sussex? Sadly this one was a road casualty near Barlavington this morning. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

We are really excited to be hosting the Honey-buzzard live stream on our new website. As seen on Springwatch 2026. tinyurl.com/42ubayu8 The Society part-funded this work, which should contribute much to our understanding of the species’ breeding ecology in Sussex. Thanks to all partners.

This Bee Orchid was found in Bevendean, Brighton, by the Communities Team, after Brighton Permaculture Trust took action to plant fruit trees & stop mowing in the area.  It's possible to support incredible wildlife in urban spaces 📸 Katie Bell

Springwatch are featuring a LIVE Honey-buzzard nest camera we installed for Sussex Ornithological Society and the Conservators of Ashdown Forest (10th June 8pm). This is/will be a UK first! The nest camera will be live streamed on WW YouTube channel (+ partners websites) from Friday 12th June 0400.

Non-breeding Honey-buzzards in Sussex today: pair plus unpaired female, soaring with just fledged Goshawk. Nesting HBs much harder to see now. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Our #JKLMNOP #BirdoftheDay is Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This spring, audio monitoring may reveal that we have more of these elusive woodland dwellers than we thought. Find out more with @mallalieum.bsky.social and Chris Packham. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwft... 📷 @vaughnmatthews.bsky.social

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were detected at Bowyers Wood in East Sussex by acoustic monitoring. Chris Packham (Chief Ecologist for Ecotalk, who are restoring the woodland) interviews @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social & @mallalieum.bsky.social about all things LSW www.ecotalk.co.uk/community-st...

Why species surveys and the Bird Report are so important to support existing and new work with birds in Sussex. sos.org.uk/news/firecre... #sussexbirds #UkBirding

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Sussex hit the headlines again: www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/... @sussexornitholo.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Join the SOS and get THREE Sussex Bird Reports in your first year! We are able to offer new members the opportunity to sign up to the SOS and receive both the 2023 and 2024 Bird Reports now – and the 2025 Report when it is published in the autumn. Go to sos.org.uk/membership-a... #sussexbirds

The Woodpecker Network is encouraging birders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers by using passive acoustic sound recorders:

In a rare feat, Honey-buzzards were filmed on a nest in Sussex last year, allowing their behaviour to be recorded in intimate detail. Great footage from a project funded by @sussexornitholo.bsky.social https://f.mtr.cool/iebmyzxuro

A recent grant award by Sussex Ornithology helped provide equipment to document Sussex Honey-buzzards in 2025. Read all about it and watch the video here on our new website; sos.org.uk/news/honey-b... #Sussexbirds

My first local patch American Wigeon at Scotney today, many thanks to the finder Barrie Puttock for letting me know it was present when I met him in Dennis's Hide. The Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) still around the garden.

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.