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

Last year a Badger wandered into the barn knocking over feed bins until I gave out and put out food for it. Sadly knocked over by a vehicle on our narrow lane, nightly visits ceased. This year the routine has started again, hopefully without lane crossing. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Chalcolestes viridis, the Willow Emerald Damselfly (or even Western Willow Spreadwing), actually my first though they were first recorded in Sussex in 1979. This one at #RyeHarbourNR towards #CastleWater at the weekend. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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

Althaea officinalis the Marsh-mallow in flower and living a quiet life at #RyeHarbourNR as the days of its roots being used for the sweets have long passed though it is still vital for the Marsh-mallow Moth. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Large White and Viper’s-bugloss for #WildWebsWednesday from Saturday at #RyeHarbourNR. @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

My first Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum, at #RyeHarbourNR (viewpoint), on 11/7/26, as it happens not too far from Pannel Valley, site of their first confirmed Sussex sighting in 2002. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Damselfly

A male Marsh Harrier feasting on a large duck at #RyeHarbourNR Castle Water on 11/7. I had seen the Harrier flying as I walked up, spotted it again from the hide, busily feeding, but didn’t see any dramatic hunting attack. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #sussexbirding

Thalasseus sandvicensis - a Sandwich Tern looking a bit worn and grumpy as the breeding season starts drawing to a close. This one at #RyeHarbourNR at the weekend as seen during the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social outing. #sussexbirding

9 joined me for the @sussexornitholo.bsky.social outing to #RyeHarbourNR on 11/7/26. My morning’s list had 47 species incl: Avocet; Common, Little & Sandwich Tern; Common Sandpiper; Curlew; Greenshank; Grey Plover; Little Egret; Peregrine; Redshank; Sand Martin @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Hopeless photo I know but they are tricky humming in briefly and unexpectedly - my first Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year this here in the ESx High Weald on 9/7/26. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A female Calopteryx virgo, the Beautiful Demoiselle, spotted on a sunny spot on the edge of an Ancient Wood the other side of the village before I peered into the stream that used to power the medieval furnaces and saw 2 jostling males. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Usually if there are 2 white pupils in the eye spot it is a Gatekeeper but not always… (Another from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren) @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Coenagrion puella the Azure Damselfly, a male pausing at the Decoy Pond at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren. Probably the commonest reported in Sussex although other Odonata are available. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Calopteryx virgo the Beautiful Demoiselle here at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren. The other side of the Atlantic Calopteryx damselflies are called Jewelwing. They certainly are winged jewels. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

This is post is not going to be *liked* - Chrysosplenium caecutiens the Splayed Deerfly, the female very efficient at extracting human (and other mammals) blood. I avoided this fate as it was sleepily resting near the Decoy Pond at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren @sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Pieris napi the Green-veined White, here at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren, perhaps overlooked or dismissed as a ‘cabbage white’ (it isn’t) but quietly subtle and worth a closer look when it allows. It only looks green veined… @savebutterflies.bsky.social

No lions to post here in East Sussex but at least a Ruddy Darter may be symbolic. This one was by the Decoy Pond at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren. It has a “bouncing and swinging movement” (Brooks & Lewington). @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Dyer’s Rocket at #RSPBDungeness - Kent was one of the principal growing regions for this ancient dye plant - with Viper’s Bugloss which also likes dry sandy soils - for #WildflowerHour.

A common Tufted Vetch (this from RSPBDungeness) for the #WildflowerHour #CLIMBINGPLANTS challenge.

Libellula quadrimaculata a male Four-spotted Chaser conveniently displaying 4 spots and chasing from a favourite reedbed perch at #RSPBDungeness. Too quick for me to see what was chased, didn’t see any females, but plenty of other males around. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

The nation’s favourite butterfly - the Peacock here at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren. A butterfly that spends much of its time asleep before emerging with wings of pomp & circumstance - as a consequence one of the longest lived of our butterflies. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Came across this small egg on heathland at RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday discarded from a successful hatching recently. Thought it might be something like Linnet or Willow Warblerbut it seems most have red spots: any suggestions? @btobirds.bsky.social #sussexbirding @rspbscience.bsky.social

Something for #FungiFriday from yesterday’s walk at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren : one of the common and quite varied Amanita which appear from summer to autumn. #fungifriends

Small Copper on Broad-leaved Everlasting-pea at #RSPBDungeness on 27/6 for #WildWebsWednesday @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Linaria cannabina. Perhaps the female Linnet is more often overlooked than noticed or perhaps doesn’t often hang around to be noticed? This Lintie, whin grey, furze linnet, however paused to grab my attention at #RSPBDungeness at the weekend. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Here is a simple bouquet of Field Bindweed from #RSPBDungeness that might have made it to #WildflowerHour if I hadn’t been distracted by the Canada vs RSA WC match. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Another in the series #RSPBDungeness welcomes the young: a mother Mallard shepherding her ducklings in Burrowes Pit yesterday - a widespread and common breeding species in Kent. #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

Male Common Large Red Damselfly were busy at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren but as they weren’t the only Red to be applied my walk yesterday was shorter and earlier but still had: Buzzard; Chiffchaff; Coal Tit; Garden Warbler; Whitethroat; Willow Warbler @sussexornitholo.bsky.social #sussexbirding

Mother Manderin and mini Mandarins - Aix galericulata at #BoughBeech at the weekend, to quote the Kent Bird Report: “Introduced species with a small but increasing breeding population, especially in the Weald” @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding