🔍 Overview A tiny continental finch seen as a rare spring overshoot in Sussex, particularly in coastal locations. 🪶 Key Identification Features Very small, streaky yellow-green finch Males: bright yellow face and breast Stubby bill, fluttery flight 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Look for in coastal bushes, parkland, or plantation edges, especially at Beachy Head or...
🔍 Overview A dazzling thrush-like warbler, the Bluethroat is a scarce migrant in Sussex, most often encountered during spring or autumn passage. A single bird was reported at Brooklands in 2025. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: bright blue throat often with white or rust-red spot Female: plainer with pale throat and eyebrow Rusty flanks and...
🔍 Overview A scarce autumn migrant to Sussex from Siberia, increasing in frequency. 🪶 Key Identification Features Tiny greenish warbler Bold yellow supercilium and wingbars Constantly flitting through foliage 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Found in coastal trees and gardens, especially at Seaford Head, Beachy Head, and Pagham, mainly in late September–October. 🎶 Voice & Behaviour...
🔍 Overview A rare but increasingly regular spring and autumn vagrant in Sussex. Best seen at coastal watchpoints during migration. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Slightly larger than a Barn Swallow (17–19 cm) Plumage: Pale rump and underparts, reddish nape, dark crown Tail: Long forked tail with shorter streamers than Barn Swallow 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 Overview Now extremely scarce in Sussex and possibly extirpated as a breeding bird. Hard to separate from Marsh Tit without close observation. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small tit (11–12 cm) Plumage: Black cap, pale cheeks, buffy flanks Key ID: Pale wing panel, duller cap, and harsh “dzerr-dzerr” call 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Formerly...
🔍 Overview A striking winter visitor and scarce migrant to Sussex, favouring open habitats with scattered trees. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pale grey above, white below Bold black face mask and strong hooked bill Black wings and white outer tail 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Regular sightings in winter in areas like Ashdown Forest, Ambersham Common,...
🔍 Overview A scarce spring and autumn migrant in Sussex, mostly found in coastal scrub or gardens. Last bred in 1944. 🪶 Key Identification Features Grey-brown with intricate barring Long tail, cryptic plumage Snake-like neck twisting motion 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Seen at Cissbury and Chanctonbury in late August–September and April. 🎶 Voice & Behaviour Distinctive...
🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. An increasingly regular spring overshoot migrant from continental Europe, Black Kites are now annually recorded in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (60 cm; wingspan 150–170 cm) Plumage: Dark brown overall Tail: Slightly forked, less pronounced than Red Kite Flight: Graceful, with distinctive gliding 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Sightings peak...
🔍 Overview A scarce but regular passage migrant in Sussex, especially in spring and autumn, with small numbers possibly breeding nearby. 🪶 Key Identification Features Long tail with several dark bars Long neck and small pigeon-like head Variable plumage: from pale to dark morphs 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen at migration watchpoints like Beachy...
🔍 Overview A tiny heron and very rare visitor to Sussex, often recorded in spring at reedbeds. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very small heron (36 cm) Male: Black crown/back, buff underparts Female: Browner overall Flight: Fast and low with dangling legs 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Only recorded in Hove and Southwick during period 2000-2024....
