Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 29d

Congratulations Jamie,

1

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · Aug 27

Nice walk in the Wyre forest good to hear LSW calling the second time in a week at this location

1 1 7

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 25

Thanks Julian, a well observed summary. It was great to catch up with you at the #BOUatEOU Woodland Birds meeting in Bangor.

2

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social · Aug 25

In the week the @eounion.bsky.social met @bangoruniversity.bsky.social, latest findings from @lesserspotnet.bsky.social provide hope for this hard-to-find bird.

@northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes also rounds up the week's scarcer sightings. #BirdingWales

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/experts...

Experts help unlock the secrets of our smallest woodpecker

Leading ornithologists from across the world met in Bangor last week as the University hosted the European Ornithologists Union conference. It is only the second time the UK has been the venue for...

www.birdnotes.wales

2 4 18

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Amy Leedale @amyleedale.bsky.social · Aug 18

I've made it to #EOU2025 in Bangor, and I'm starting with the #BOUatEOU symposium on #WoodlandBirds. Lovely talk by Ken Smith, who's been studying the nesting habits of #LesserSpottedWoodpeckers in the UK over decades. #CitizenScience @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @bou.org.uk @eounion.bsky.social

6 17

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

7 Acknowledgements - Thanks to all these Woodpecker Network volunteers for searching for and monitoring nests in 2025 and to many more who helped in this and previous years collecting this amazing data on our beautiful woodpecker

1 1 12

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

6 2025 was one of the warmest springs ever. As a result, all LSW nests hatched after the peak of caterpillars on 30th April and had to switch to an aphid diet. An abundance of aphids in 2025 let LSW escape from phenological mismatch with the caterpillars

1 1 8

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

5 LSW nesting is getting earlier. Throughout its range LSW is a late nesting woodpecker. This is probably adaptive to help the survival of small chicks. But in any year the earlier nesting birds are more successful. They can switch nestling diet to aphids once the caterpillars are gone.

1 1 3

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

4 Nationally there is a long-term decline in numbers of young fledged per nest (P=0.007) from about 4 to about 2 …but 2025 was the best year since our project started! The number of chicks fledged was the highest since we started the project in 2015

1 1 4

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

3 LSW excavate a nesting cavity each year, always in dead trees or in dead branches of live trees. The tree species has changed over the years now pioneers like Birch, Alder, Willow and Rowan are favoured

1 1 4

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

2 Since 1968 the LSW population has declined severely and their breeding distribution has contracted with birds lost from East Anglia, NE, central and SW England and Wales. Population estimated at 2000-3000 pairs. Breeding success is low compared with the rest of Europe

1 1 4

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 18

1 Pleased to be presenting the latest results gathered by Woodpecker-Network volunteers on Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers and what we can do to conserve them better #BOUatEOU www.woodpecker-netwo...

2 14 42

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 13

We will also be posting a BlueSky presentation alongside our talk at 12:15 on Monday, so look out for it. Details here. bou.org.uk/wp-content/u...

bou.org.uk

1 5

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Ken and Linda Smith @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social · Aug 13

We will be representing Woodpecker Network the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ We are both looking forward to it bou.org.uk/wp-content/u...

bou.org.uk

2 2 5

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 13

Ken & Linda Smith will be at the BOU Woodland Birds Conference on 18 August 2025 at Bangor. Ken is giving a talk ‘Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: how citizen science is contributing to our understanding of this enigmatic species’ Looking forward to seeing some of you there bou.org.uk/conferences-...

#BOUatEOU - Resources - British Ornithologists' Union

Woodland birds18 August 2025 - MALT Lecture Theatre, Bangor University, Wales, UK & BlueskyMain conference pagePresenter and attendee resourcesPROGRAMMEABSTRACT BOOKLETBOU GUIDE TO BLUESKY CONFERENCES...

bou.org.uk

1 2 10

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · Aug 12

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers like lots of woodland, but not woodland management and forestry. Interesting implications for the remaining populations in Britain: expanding unmanaged (or lightly managed) natural native woodland seems helpful. #ukbirding #ornithology

BOU @bou.org.uk · Aug 11

Effect of habitat quality and quantity on the occurrence and persistence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor) across two time periods | doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology #conservation 🪶🌎

1 10 40

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Aug 11

An interesting study of Lesser Spots in Sweden in different types of woodlands.

BOU @bou.org.uk · Aug 11

Effect of habitat quality and quantity on the occurrence and persistence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor) across two time periods | doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology #conservation 🪶🌎

1 13

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · Jul 27

Just arrived the plan for next spring the lesser spotted woodpecker survey for south and mid wales passive recording @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

1 10

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Jonathan Dodds @jdbirder.bsky.social · Jun 24

It was a privilege to invite @lesserspotnet.bsky.social to the Blean and help with their work on nest productivity for these three healthy chicks! Altogether, my woodland survey site within the Blean for the KOS LSW Survey held no less than six territories! #kentbirding @kentishplover.bsky.social

1 2 25

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

British Wildlife @britishwildlife.bsky.social · Jun 26

Upland oakwood on Dartmoor, one of the last refuges in Devon for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker #30DaysWild

@lesserspotnet.bsky.social‬ provided a comprehensive account of the decline and challenges facing this species in www.britishwildlife.com/article/arti...

1 6

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Jun 23

2025 was a record breeding season for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests monitored by our volunteers. None failed & where we were able to check the nest contents the number of chicks fledged was the highest since we started the project in 2015. Full story www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/ne...

Woodpecker Network - Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers – the 2025 breeding season

A forum to encourage and facilitate the study of woodpeckers in Britain and Ireland

www.woodpecker-network.org.uk

2 14 68

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Jonathan Dodds @jdbirder.bsky.social · Jun 23

After months of monitoring Lesser Spots in the Blean complex this spring, the ultimate highlight was finding an active nest late this season!!! Since then, three chicks have successfully fledged #kentbirding #ukbirding @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @kentishplover.bsky.social

1 4 72

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Jun 23

Well done Jonathan for finding this LSW nest and monitoring the outcome. Fledging 3 chicks is a real success.

1 2

Reposted by Lesser Spot Network

Mark Mallalieu @mallalieum.bsky.social · Jun 22

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

4 27

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · Jun 16

Excellent, Green Woodpeckers nest a bit later than Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers

1