🔍 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...
🔍 Overview A North American species introduced to the UK, now nearly eradicated due to a control programme. Rare in Sussex today. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Chestnut body, sky-blue bill, stiff tail often held upright Female: Brown with dark cap and pale face Size: Small diving duck (35–43 cm) 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Formerly...
🔍 Overview Possibly a rare winter visitor and passage migrant although most records probably relate to escaped or naturalised birds. An attractive diving duck, recorded occasionally in Sussex. Can be of wild or feral origin. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Bright orange head, red bill, black breast, pale flanks Female: Dull brown with pale cheeks...
🔍 Overview A striking, exotic-looking waterfowl. Rare in Sussex; birds may be either wild wanderers from the continent or escapes from collections. Breeds in SE Europe and across central and east Asia with naturalised populations in central Europe. Rare vagrant from wild or naturalised populations or escape from captivity. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Slightly...
🔍 Overview A scarce winter visitor to Sussex, more regular in northern England but occasionally recorded in the south. 🪶 Key Identification Features Large white swan with long neck Yellow and black bill (yellow extends beyond nostrils) Loud, bugling call 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Occasionally seen at Amberley Wild Brooks, Pulborough, or Arlington Reservoir in...
🔍 Overview Britain’s largest bird of prey, occasionally spotted in Sussex skies thanks to reintroduction programs on the Isle of Wight. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Huge (wingspan up to 2.4 m) Plumage: Brown overall with paler head and neck Tail: Adults have white tail Bill: Large and hooked 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Rare visitor...
🔍 Overview Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. A highly variable medium-sized wader, best known for the male’s extravagant breeding plumage (rarely seen in Sussex). 🪶 Key Identification Features Long neck, small head Leg and plumage colour vary Males much larger than females (“reeves”) 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Passage migrant and winter visitor to Pagham...
🔍 Overview A lively summer visitor, the Sand Martin nests in colonies along sandy riverbanks and quarries in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (12–13 cm)Plumage: Brown above, white below with brown chest bandDistinctive Marks: Narrow breast bandBill: SmallTail: Slightly forkedFlight: Swift and erratic 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Breeds at Goring Gap, Upper Adur Valley....
🔍 Overview A powerful seabird seen offshore during migration. Rare but regular in Sussex seawatches. Passage migrant in variable numbers in spring; usually scarce; very scarce in autumn; rare in winter. 🪶 Key Identification Features Bulky skua with two twisted tail feathers in adults Pale, dark, or intermediate plumages Barrel-chested and aggressive 🗺️ Habitat &...
