🔍 Overview A striking small grebe, known for its golden ear tufts and jet-black breeding plumage. It is a scarce winter visitor and passage migrant in Sussex, with occasional summering birds. 🪶 Key Identification Features Breeding: black neck and head, golden ear fans Winter: dusky back and flanks, white cheeks Bright red eye and upturned...
Image Attribution: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview Rare passage migrant; formerly bred. A shy and elusive rail, the Corncrake is mostly extinct as a breeder in England, but rare passage birds occasionally turn up in Sussex during spring or autumn. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size:...
Image Attribution: Mike Prince, India, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. A large, fast-flying swift rarely seen in Sussex, Alpine Swifts are scarce spring and summer visitors, typically after strong southerly winds. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large swift (20–22 cm) Plumage: Dark brown above with striking white belly and throat...
🔍 Overview A rare North American sea duck occasionally recorded off Sussex during winter gales, especially after storms. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Black with large white patches on head and nape, colourful swollen bill Female: Brown with pale cheek patches Size: Larger than a Common Scoter (48–55 cm) 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best looked...
🔍 Overview A scarce winter visitor to Sussex, especially on larger lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: white flanks, dark back, rounded head Female: brown with white around bill base Blue-grey bill and black nail 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen at Arlington Reservoir, Pagham Harbour, or offshore from Selsey Bill....
🔍 Overview A rare winter visitor to Sussex, usually involving vagrants from Norfolk or Scotland. Increasingly recorded. 🪶 Key Identification Features Smaller and slimmer than Greylag Pink bill band and legs Grey-brown plumage, darker head 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Seen in winter flocks of geese, especially Cuckmere Valley, Amberley Wild Brooks, and Rye Harbour. 🎶...
🔍 Overview A large, robust gull mainly seen in Sussex in late summer and early autumn, with a few year-round. 🪶 Key Identification Features Grey mantle darker than Herring Gull Yellow legs and red spot on bill Fierce-looking eyes with dark surround 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most common at Brighton Marina, Shoreham Harbour, Goring Gap,...
🔍 Overview A bulky sea duck seen off the Sussex coast in winter, usually among flocks of Common Scoter. Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor along the coast; rare inland. 🪶 Key Identification Features All-black plumage (male) Distinct white wing flashes in flight Female duller brown with faint face patches 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best...
🔍 OverviewA sturdy, energetic wader found along Sussex shingle and rocky coasts in all seasons. Known for flipping stones to find prey. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small wader (22–24 cm) Plumage: Bold black-and-white in summer; duller in winter Distinctive Marks: Orange legs, short stubby bill Bill: Slightly upturned and strong Tail: Short with white...
🔍 Overview A sleek wader often found in Sussex on passage and in small numbers in winter. Scarce passage migrant and very scarce winter visitor. 🪶 Key Identification Features Longer-legged and slimmer than Redshank Straight, slightly upturned bill Grey in winter; black with white spots in breeding plumage 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most regular at...
