🔍 Overview Now a familiar sight across Sussex wetlands. First bred in the UK in the 1990s and has spread rapidly. 🪶 Key Identification Features All white plumage Long black bill, black legs, yellow feet Elegant and slender with neck held in an “S” shape 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Widespread at Adur Valley, Widewater, Goring...
🔍 Overview A powerful gull with dark slate-grey back, the Lesser Black-backed Gull winters along Sussex coast and inland waters. Scarce breeder. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large gull (55–60 cm)Plumage: White body; dark grey backDistinctive Marks: Yellow legs, white headBill: Yellow with red spotTail: White with dark bandFlight: Strong, steady glides 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
🔍 Overview A gorgeous winter wader, the Knot in plumage can appear almost white or deep cinnamon in spring plumage along coastlines. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Stocky wader (23–26 cm)Plumage: Mottled grey/white, red-brown breeding plumageDistinctive Marks: Short, straight billBill: Short and straightTail: Short and roundFlight: Barking calls in low flocks 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Wintering...
🔍 Overview A delicate, cliff-loving gull, the Kittiwake may be seen from Sussex headlands during passage or following ships. Common but very localised breeding species; fairly common or common winter visitor and passage migrant. Rare away from coast. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (37–40 cm)Plumage: White with grey wings and dark wingtipsDistinctive Marks: Thin, forked...
🔍 Overview The smallest UK crow, Jackdaws are common across Sussex’s farmlands, towns, and woodlands. Known for their curious, intelligent behaviour. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (33 cm) Plumage: Black with pale grey nape and cheeks Eyes: Pale blue or white Bill: Shorter and more delicate than other crows Flight: Agile and direct 🗺️...
Image Attribution: Chuck Homler d/b/a Focus On Wildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview The Hooded Crow is a rare vagrant in Sussex but occasionally spotted along coasts and estuaries. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (45–47 cm) Plumage: Grey body with black head, wings, and tail Distinctive Marks: Pale grey contrasted with black...
🔍 Overview A large and familiar gull, breeding on Sussex coast and present year-round on coastal and inland water bodies. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (55–66 cm) Plumage: Light grey back, white body Distinctive Marks: Pink legs, yellow bill with red spot Bill: Long and robust Tail: Square Flight: Powerful, gliding 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
📍 Local Expert Tip “A handful of birds can be seen most winters around the Adur Estuary and Goring Gap and Worthing beaches. A distinctive white-headed individual returned for at least five years from 2020 to the Adur Estuary favouring the section north of the Railway Bridge.” 🔍 Overview A robust, medium-large wader known for...
🔍 Overview A large, vocal tit common in Sussex gardens, woodlands, and parks year-round. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (14 cm) Plumage: Yellow belly and green back Distinctive Marks: Black head and bib, white cheeks Bill: Robust Tail: Medium Flight: Bouncy 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Everywhere—gardens, woodlands, hedgerows throughout Sussex. 🎶 Voice & Behaviour Two-syllable...
🔍 Overview Bold, powerful and unmistakable, the Great Skua (often known as the Bonxie) is the largest skua regularly seen in Sussex. An uncommon but regular passage migrant, it is seen mainly during autumn seawatches, with smaller numbers in spring. Unlike the more agile Arctic Skua, the Great Skua relies on its strength to dominate...
