🔍 Overview A streaky, coastal pipit often found on rocky shores and harbour walls in winter. Scarce resident and scarce winter visitor; very rare away from the coast. 🪶 Key Identification Features Dark olive-brown overall Heavily streaked underparts Slightly downcurved bill and tail-flicking behaviour 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Winter visitor to Brighton Marina, Shoreham Harbour,...
📍 Local Expert Tip “At Shoreham Harbour, birds regularly roost at high tide on the old wooden jetty on the west side but can be hard to spot. Shortly before and after high tide, birds can feed relatively close on the concrete ledges of the western harbour arm.” 🔍 Overview A hardy wader of rocky...
🔍 Overview The world’s fastest bird, this powerful falcon is now a regular breeder on cliffs and urban buildings in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Slate-grey upperparts Heavy black moustache mark Bullet-shaped in flight with rapid wingbeats and steep dives 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Breeds on Shoreham Cement Works, Chichester Cathedral. Seen on Shoreham Harbour...
📍 Local Expert Tip “The Oystercatcher is a distinctive and noisy local resident which is adapting to man by breeding on flat roofs close to the river such as at Ricardo’s factory, on the airfield and even on apartment block roofs in Shoreham town centre.” 🔍 Overview Bold, black-and-white with a vivid orange bill, the...
📍 Local Expert Tip “The Wheatear is a a regular passage migrant in Spring and Autumn. Shoreham Fort often records the first birds heading north in Spring from mid-March but can be found anywhere along the coast. Regularly seen during Autumn migration in the Downs along the Monarch’s Way footpath, Truleigh Hill, Cissbury Ring etc.” 🔍...
🔍 Overview A striking Arctic duck, usually seen off the Sussex coast in winter. Rare inland. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male winter: White head and body, dark cheek patch, long tail Female: Dusky with pale face Compact body, agile diver 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most often seen in Brooklands and off Shoreham Harbour, and Lancing...
🔍 Overview A tiny Arctic-breeding wader seen on passage, especially in autumn. One of the smallest shorebirds in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Small, delicate wader with fine bill and short legs Sandy brown above, white below Juveniles show neat scaly pattern 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Passage migrant at Pagham Harbour, Rye Harbour, and Medmerry...
🔍 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 flash of electric blue by Sussex waters — the Kingfisher is small but striking, and the emblem of healthy rivers. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Tiny (16–17 cm)Plumage: Bright blue back, orange underpartsDistinctive Marks: Large head, dagger billBill: Long and blackTail: Short and squareFlight: Fast, direct, just above water 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
🔍 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...
