mayfieldbirder.bsky.social
@mayfieldbirder.bsky.social
Sussex based birder (often across Kent border), outings organiser, walk leader and species account writer for Sussex Ornithological Society.
Flowers and berries at #RSPBDungeness for #WildflowerHour. Gorse and Sea Buckthorn on yesterday’s wild weather day.
November 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Common (L) and Spotted Redshank (R) at #RyeHarbourNR 22/11/25. Quite different in some ways but both have red shanks.
#ukbirding
#sussexbirding
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Although the presence of Black Redstart has been suggested as a symbol of economic decline and inactivity (see Cocker & Mabey) it is posted here purely because it is a beautiful Chat (this one at the decommissioning Dungeness power station recently).
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Heterobasidion annosum - Root Rot, a somewhat devastating parasite of conifers, though this one wasn’t on one. Seen at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren in the past week.
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
November 28, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Tadorna tadorna, the Shelduck, a female at #RyeHarbourNR this past weekend. Maybe a winter visitor or a scarce local breeder here. ‘Sheld’ is thought to derive from the Dutch (Schillede ie variegated but I think they call this duck Bergeend).
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
November 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Need a something to brighten up a gloomy day? How about colourful Yellow Brain, Tremella mesenterica, seen here on some dead and fallen branches along our High Weald lane this weeks. It is not a parasite of the wood but another fungi.
#fungi
#fungifriends
November 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM
A quiet scattering of Chroicocephalus ridibundus, the Black-headed Gull, at #RyeHarbourNR last weekend but late spring and summer there can be almost 700 noisy pairs here. Seen somewhere in Sussex every day of the year.
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 AM
In the past couple of weeks Plovers at #RyeHarbourNR have included: American Golden, European Golden, Grey and Ringed. Here are the Grey from the past weekend - largest winter numbers tend to be in West Sussex but enough can be found here.
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
November 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Dabchick, divy duck, divedapper or Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. Around 10 popping up and down like corks in front of Denny hide #RyeHarbourNR on Saturday. Some resident some perhaps visiting.
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
For #MushroomMonday a solitary Stubble Rosegill Volvopluteus gloiocephalus at #RSPBDungeness
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Through the Discovery Centre windows at #RyeHarbourNR on 22/11, not often one gets to watch Goosander over coffee & cake - I can highly recommend it on a wild windy day!
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#sussexbirding
#ukbirding
November 23, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Wild day at #RyeHarbourNR Saturday with a forceful SouSouWesterly and for birders peering through wind-buffeted bins at hunkered-down birds challenging! Waders to be found though, Spoonbill & Little Egret, a fine male Marsh Harrier quartering very close to the ground.
November 23, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros, one of at least 3 around Dungeness power station, a favoured spot, last Saturday - a scarce breeder and winter visitor.
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
November 22, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Tricholoma sulphureum the Sulpher Knight, or if you prefer it Stinky Knight - hiding its embarrassment amongst the fallen leaves along our High Weald lane.
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 AM
In among brown leaves, Bracken and Birch at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren yesterday some old Brown Birch Bolete Leccinum scabrum.
#FungiFriday
#fungifriends
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Piptoporus betulinus the Birch Polypore on a strickened Birch at #RSPBBroadwaterWarren last week. In the past it was called Razorstrop Fungus as it was hard enough to be used for this purpose. Nowadays we simply replace the unit in our electric shavers.
#fungi
#fungifriends
November 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Helvella crispa, White Saddle, from this morning’s walk up our High Weald lane today (before the snow!) perhaps with a face…
#fungi
#fungifriends
November 19, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Auricularia auricula-judae one of the heterobasidiomycetes or to put is easier: Jelly Ear, here growing on a tree on the edge of the drive (which is not a good sign).
#fungi
#fungifriends
November 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
In the absence of sunshine here is a cheerful, common and still flowering (at least here in the High Weald) Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris radicata.
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Mowers Mushroom, although I think this side of the Atlantic we more often call them Brown Mottlegill, which is mainly how I see them but variable so perhaps Panaeolina foenisecii…
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 18, 2025 at 8:10 AM
A pylon Peregrine in Saturday’s mist at Dungeness. Useful to have manmade ‘cliffs’ as there are none otherwise around the point.
#kentbirding
#ukbirding
November 18, 2025 at 7:21 AM
From today’s morning walk down our High Weald lane a nicely funnel shaped Trooping Funnel Infundibulicybe geotropa in time for #MushroomMonday
#Fungifriends
#fungi
November 17, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Sunny Side Up Mushroom for #MushroomMonday - a name perhaps used more the other side of the Atlantic, alternatives are Yellow Fieldcap, Egg-yolk Fungus, Bolbitius titubans. From #Dungeness at the weekend.
#fungifriends
#fungi
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
A red Red Valerian from the east side of Rye Bay to go with the white Red Valerian that I posted for last week’s #WildflowerHour but forgot to post in time for this week’s!
November 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans still in flower at Dungeness this weekend for #WildflowerHour
November 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM