📍 Local Expert Tip “The Whimbrel is a regular Spring and Autumn passage migrant with a few birds likely present most days from mid-April to end of May and again from mid-July to until end of September. Occasionally a bird will winter on the Adur Estuary.” 🔍 Overview A rare but regular spring and autumn passage...
🔍 Overview A shy and rare reedbed resident, hard to see but occasionally present in Sussex. Known for its booming call. 🪶 Key Identification Features Cryptic, streaked brown plumage Stocky body, thick neck, dagger-like bill Often freezes with neck raised 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Winter visitor and rare breeder in large reedbeds like Rye Harbour,...
🔍 Overview A striking summer migrant, the Common Redstart is a woodland gem in Sussex. Males are vibrant, and the species nests in old tree holes and clearings. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (13–14 cm)Plumage: Males: orange chest, grey back, black face; Females dullerDistinctive Marks: Flashing red tail, white forehead in malesBill: Thin and...
🔍 Overview A chunky finch with a unique bill adapted for extracting conifer seeds. Irregular breeder and irruptive winter visitor in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Brick-red body Female/juvenile: Greenish or yellow Other: Thick neck, crossed bill tips, heavy head 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best found in pine plantations like Ashdown Forest, St Leonard’s...
🔍 Overview Once rare, now a regular and expanding presence in Sussex, especially during winter. It is an increasing visitor and bred for the first time in 2020. 🪶 Key Identification Features Winter: White plumage, short yellow bill Breeding: Buff patches on head, chest, and back Other: Smaller and stockier than Little Egret 🗺️ Habitat...
🔍 Overview Striking and elegant, the Avocet is a rare but iconic wader in Sussex, most commonly spotted at coastal wetlands and saltmarshes. With its upturned bill and bold black-and-white plumage, it’s a conservation success story in the UK. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (43–45 cm) Plumage: Clean black and white Distinctive Marks: Black...
🔍 Overview A true summer migrant, the Barn Swallow brings the Sussex countryside to life with its graceful flight and cheerful chirping. It nests in barns and outbuildings, often returning to the same spot each year. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (17–19 cm) Plumage: Glossy blue-black upperparts, cream underparts Distinctive Marks: Long forked tail...
🔍 Overview Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant. Elegant and slender, the Bar-tailed Godwit is a regular passage and winter visitor to Sussex’s coastal mudflats, especially around Goring Gap, Widewater, Worthing Beaches and Lower Adur Valley. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large wader (37–41 cm)Plumage: Warm brown and buff; breeding males show rich chestnut underpartsDistinctive...
