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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 2h

A lovely soft light and a flat calm sea at Broomhill Sands, Rye where there were 4 Red-throated Diver, 100 Gannet - some close in - 200 Oystercatcher heading west, 75 Sandwich Tern and an Arctic Skua.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds

Wooden steps from the promenade down to a flat calm sea. The sky is cloudy.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 23h

Thats bad, Lisa, getting forced off your bike.☹ Problem is most drivers don't cycle. If they knew what it was like to have a car drive close-ish at speed, most wouldn't do it. They should give 1.5m at 30mph and increasingly more as speed increases. That's the guidance. Almost nobody follows it.

David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 1d

A bloke in a van, on his phone, nearly drove over me today. Very nearly. I'm a respectful cyclist. I do everything I can - and more - to share the roads safely. But I get treated like s**t by some drivers most times I cycle. But I won't be cowed. I won't stop cycling.
youtu.be/DHUes0dGjUI?...

Sea Power 'Machineries Of Joy'

YouTube video by Rough Trade Records

youtu.be

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 1d

In our garden Fleabane flowered forever 💛, and it was good enough to pass the baton onto Yarrow 🤍 (pictured) which is still going strong well in October. Hoverflies send their thanks.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social

A delicate white flower in front of a grassy sward.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 1d

An influx of Ibis, large numbers of big Egrets and the annual autumn wader-fest... September wildlife sightings at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlide
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Wildlife Sightings: September 2025 | Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

rye.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 1d

I took a few poor shots, which I binned. Sorry Emma.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 2d

Who else got absolutely swamped with 100s of Harlequin Ladybirds this afternoon?
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#insects

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 2d

A couple of Arctic Skuas were bothering Sandwich Terns close in at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this morning. Like they don't have enough to worry about, with a 4,000km journey to West Africa looming.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#birds

A shingle beach, with the sea beyond and a pleasant sky above.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 3d

Every morning I remind myself how lucky I am to have fresh water for a cup of tea and a wash. 'Woke' nonsense, some might say, but I find the thought helps me in lots of ways. Because we don't know we're born.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 4d

Windy on the edge of East Guldeford Level, East Sussex: Hobby, Peregrine, 81 Curlew, 65 Lapwing, 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Stonechat, 65 Skylark, 1 Corn Bunting, dozens of Meadow Pipit, 100s of House Martin & Swallow.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social

A single bush in a wide-open, flat landscape on the edge of Romney Marsh.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 5d

I love how each season changes how I feel about almost everything. Autumn brings melancholy, which used to throw me, before I realised it's not a gateway to sadness.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 6d

Just learned that 'Súitú' is an Irish-language word meaning the sound of waves pushing and pulling shingle up and down the seashore. Superb word.

A receding wave at the seashore with old wooden structures and the sea beyond.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 8d

This ichneumon wasp - likely Black Slip Wasp - just brought its shadow into the kitchen.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#wasps

A black insect, with bright orange legs, on a wooden table top.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 10d

The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve have loved leading a range of Rye Arts Festival events, closing with today's community wildlife art panel workshop, celebrating our wading birds. Thank you James Tomlinson!
Please join us.
ryeharbourfriends.net/join-us
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

Artist James Tomlinson next to a colourful work of art, including many birds on a blue background, created by visitors to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 10d

For 10 days there's been a constant flow - sometimes a trickle, sometimes a flood - of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins, in that order of prominence, over our Rye house. I know it must, but I really, really don't want it to end.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 10d

There are more ichneumon wasp species than there are bird and mammal species combined, yet most people have never heard of them. This one, at Castle Water, Rye Harbour NR, is Achaius oratorius, I think, but they are notoriously hard to ID.
#UKwildlife
#insects
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

A smart black and white wasp on a yellowish leaf.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 11d

This curious little creature, like a taxiing glider aircraft, has the wonderful name of Flutter Fly! This is Toxonevra muliebris, in Rye, East Sussex.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#flies
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 11d

Lovely Box Bug in our Rye garden today.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#bugs
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

A reddish-brown insect with long antennae on a glossy-green Holly leaf.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 12d

Here's a summary of wildlife sightings at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in August 2025, from the Sussex Wildlife Trust website.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Wildlife Sightings: August 2025 | Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

rye.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 12d

Extolling the virtues of Ivy as a super-supporter of wildlife, in Rye News.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#UKplants
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

In evergreen support of Ivy | Rye News

share.google

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 13d

I pay close attention to each passing Swallow because this elegant flow will soon become a trickle and then they'll be gone, but for a memory of sleek, blue-glossed transcendence.
#UKwildlife
#Sussexwildlife
#birds
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 14d

Camber Castle - sadly closed to the public now.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places...

Camber Castle

www.english-heritage.org.uk

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 14d

Thanks... then the one I saw in a ditch later in the day likely dropped out of the initial group of 10.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 14d

Castle Water today: 11 Glossy Ibis, 100s Swallow & Sand Martin (N), 500+ Meadow Pipit, c100 Pied Wagtail, 18 Siskin, c10 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Cattle & 10 Great White Egret, 120 Wigeon, Hobby, Peregrine, loadsa Chiffchaff etc
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#birds

A castle set in green fields, with a pleasant sky above.

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David Bentley @sussextangerine.bsky.social · 14d

10 Glossy Ibis over Camber Castle, Rye Harbour NR, then heading north... might've landed towards northern end of Castle Water.
@sussexwildlife.bsky.social
@sussexornitholo.bsky.social
#UKwildlife
#birds

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