Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 3h

A Pipistrelle hunted above my head as I walked down the lane at twilight - I hadn’t realised that it and its kin constituted more than 1/4 of mammal species in this country and I am probably not the only one…

Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · 1d

Its #BiologyWeek

#DYK There are 1,500 species of bats in the world (as of September 2025), and more are still being described. Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK and around 20% of all mammal species worldwide. www.bats.org.uk/about-bats

2

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 13h

A walk in our section of an Ancient Wood after field duties this morning turned up a Russula, perhaps a Rosy Brittlegill, a single splash of colour on a dull brown sylvian floor. Ectomycorrhizal connection possible to nearby Ash, Oak and Alder, perhaps all!
#FungiFriends

9

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 14h

So that is where the blue sky has gone

1 1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 18h

From Sunday’s @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at #CissburyRing : a posing female Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, a species found in 50% of Sussex tetrads, and a non-posing Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, found in 33% (Sussex Bird Report 2023).
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding

3 22

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

😄 they like muck heaps - I usually get 1 or 2 at ours most winters.

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

An unexpectedly quiet survey today birdwise (the usual noisy flocks of Jackdaw & Rook passed me heading away before I reached the start for example).

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

Some birds were AWOL or skulking for the first of my @btobirds.bsky.social WINBS transepts here in the Sussex High Weald but: Chiffchaff, Blue, Coal, Great & LT Tit; Goldcrest, the reliable Robin, etc, turned up, plus a fleeting Grey Wagtail at a field muck heap. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

2 8

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

That took me a bit of searching!

1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

King George I may have been on the throne when this Oak was emerging from an acorn for #ThickTrunkTuesday today with King Charles III. Sunshine at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren last week.

24

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 1d

Vanessa atalanta, the Red Admiral on the Monarch’s Way I saw on 12/10 had been in the wars but perhaps still heading to the Channel and across on a southerly migration, or perhaps it may overwinter?
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

2 10

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

A handy summary to Recent Sightings

Sussex Ornithology @sussexornitholo.bsky.social · 2d

Our weekly round up now available🦢

Thanks to the Sussex Recorder for making this happen each week and for his picture of a Bearded Tit (or Bearded Reedling)

www.sos.org.uk/recent-sight...
#sussexbirds

7

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

😂

1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

Tough but somebody has to do it but obviously it is not Weir Wood!

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

More BTO Autumn News: bird olfactory senses better than one might think and if you have wondered how sexually monomorphic birds avoid embarrassing mating attempts an explanation that it is through a good exploratory sniff…

2

Reposted

Kent Field Club @kentfieldclub.bsky.social · 2d

Last chance to book for the Kent Wildlife Conference on 25 October. tinyurl.com/kentwildconf

Poster reading:
Kent Wildlife Conference 2025 - Citizen Science and Urban Biodiversity

Saturday 25th October, 10am to 4pm

Darwin Conference Suite, Darwin College, University of Kent

Ten Speakers
Buffet lunch
Refreshments

All for just £22 per person or £15 for students

For full details and to book, go to https://tinyurl.com/kentwildconf

Organised by Kent Field Club - the Natural History Society of Kent and
Kent & Medway Biological Records Centre

4 3

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

Amanita artwork for #MushroomMonday from #RSPBBroadwaterWarren on 10/10/25.
#FungiFriends

1 10

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

😂

1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 2d

Cattle and Cattle Egret at Denge Marsh #RSPBDungeness at the weekend. From the hide Great and Little Egret, Grey Heron and Bittern also seen in an Ardeidae bonanza.
#kentbirding
#ukbirding

1 13

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 3d

12 joined me for a @sussexornitholo.bsky.social walk at a Sussex Iron Age fort (Cissbury Ring) today. Sadly no Mountain Blackbird but instead: Buzzard; Chiffchaff; Goldfinch; Green & Great WP; Jay; Kestrel; Linnet; Mistle & Song Thrush; Sparrowhawk; Siskin; Stonechat; Yellowhammer
#ukbirding

1 10

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 5d

First I have seen this Autumn so hopefully you will see them soon in your area too.

1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 5d

Another from the forest floor at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren from my walk there yesterday (9/10/25): White Saddle (Helvella crispa). Perhaps it looks like a saddle for elves??
#FungiFriday
#FungiFriends

1 7

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 5d

Yellow Stagshorn, Calocera viscosa) brightening up the ground at #RSPBBRoadwaterWarren on 9/10/25
#FungiFriday
#FungiFriends

2 26

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 6d

Beautiful day at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren today. My first Crossbill there this year, calling and eventually briefly located to the top of a Pine. Also: Buzzard; Chiffchaff; Goldcrest; Great Spotted & Green WP; Nuthatch; Stonechat (3 - 2 flycatching); Woodlark (singing)
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social

5

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 7d

I hope you did find a bit of hope - it is a bit in short supply

1 1

mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social · 7d

Possibly, but pale and solitary? I have been puzzling over masses of similar fungi that have suddenly appeared all over our wood.

1 1