🔍 Overview A spectacular Mediterranean visitor that is becoming more regular in the UK. Occasionally breeds and increasingly reported on passage in Sussex. Bred once in 1955 in our area. 🪶 Key Identification Features Rainbow plumage with blue, yellow, chestnut Long, curved bill Graceful, swallow-like flight 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most sightings occur May–June and...
🔍 Overview A scarce but increasing visitor and occasional breeder in Sussex, especially in coastal wetlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Large white bird with spoon-shaped bill Black legs, yellowish breast patch in breeding season Often rests with neck tucked back 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Regular at Rye Harbour, Pagham Harbour, and Pulborough Brooks, mainly from...
Image Attribution: Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A rare and irregular vagrant in Sussex, the Gull-billed Tern resembles a large marsh tern and is occasionally spotted at coastal lagoons or gravel pits. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Mid-sized tern (33–38 cm) Plumage: White with grey wings and...
🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. A scarce but nearly annual migrant to Sussex, the Caspian Tern is a huge, carrot-billed tern often seen at coastal lagoons or inland gravel pits. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very large tern (48–56 cm) Plumage: White body, pale grey wings, black cap in breeding plumage Bill: Large, red-orange, and dagger-shaped...
🔍 Overview A scarce but regular North American vagrant. Typically appears in Sussex during autumn, often found among other waders on wetlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Slightly smaller than a Dunlin (21 cm) Plumage: Brown-streaked breast with sharp boundary to white belly Other: Yellowish legs, fine bill, upright posture 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best...
🔍 Overview Very scarce spring migrant. An elegant wader with extremely long pink legs. Once a major rarity, it is increasingly recorded in Sussex, bred in 2014 and 2021. 🪶 Key Identification Features Long, spindly pink legs Black wings and back contrast with white body Long straight black bill 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen...
🔍 Overview The most widespread and abundant pigeon in Sussex and across the UK. Common in gardens, farmland, parks, and woodlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large pigeon (38–44 cm) Plumage: Grey overall with pinkish breast, distinctive white neck patch and white wing bars visible in flight Other: Broad wings and long tail 🗺️ Habitat...
Image Attribution: Christoph Moning, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A southern European species, this cuckoo is a very rare spring overshoot in the UK. A Sussex record would be exceptional but possible. 🪶 Key Identification Features Longer tail than Common Cuckoo Pale grey head, black-and-white speckled wings Crest and yellowish underparts 🗺️...
Image Attribution:Muhammad Mahdi Karim (GFDL 1.2 or FAL), via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview Common resident. The Feral Pigeon is one of Sussex’s most familiar birds, found in towns, cities, villages and around farms. Descended from the wild Rock Dove, it is highly adaptable and can be seen throughout the year. 🪶 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...
