🔍 Overview A winter coastal duck, the Red-breasted Merganser is slim, shaggy-headed, and a fast swimmer along the Sussex shoreline. Fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant along the coast. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (52–58 cm)Plumage: Males have green head, red chest, white neck collarDistinctive Marks: Thin red bill, punky crestBill: Long, serratedTail: ShortFlight:...
📍 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 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 &...
The Pintail is a sleek and elegant winter duck in Sussex, known for its long tail and graceful posture. A regular visitor to floodplains and estuaries. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (55–65 cm)Plumage: Chocolate-brown head (male), pale grey body, long tailDistinctive Marks: Needle-like tail, white neck stripeBill: Blue-greyTail: Long and pointed in malesFlight: Smooth and...
🔍 Overview A smart, black-and-white songbird seen mainly on spring and autumn passage in Sussex. Scarce breeder. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Black above, white below, white wing patches Female: Browner tones Slightly fidgety, flicks wings frequently 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Passage migrant in April–May and August–September, mostly in woodland and coastal scrub like Cissbury...
🔍 Overview A striking fish-eating raptor that passes through Sussex on spring and autumn migration. 🪶 Key Identification Features Large with long wings and narrow “M” shape in flight White underparts, dark eye-stripe Hovers over water before diving 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Regularly seen at Lower Adur Valley, and along the coast in March–May and...
An elusive summer visitor, the Nightjar haunts heathland and woodland clearings, emerging at dusk. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (26–28 cm)Plumage: Cryptic grey-brownDistinctive Marks: White wing spots (male), long wingsBill: Short but wideTail: LongFlight: Silent, fluttering 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Heathland and conifer plantations—especially Pulborough and Iping Common. 🎶 Voice & Behaviour Unmistakable “churring” trill...
🔍 Overview A large, graceful raptor of reedbeds and marshes. Recolonised Sussex in recent years after a long absence. Scarce breeder since 2004. 🪶 Key Identification Features Long wings held in a shallow “V” Male: Pale head and underwings Female/Juvenile: Dark with golden crown 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Seen at Chantry, Cissbury, and Upper Adur...
🔍 Overview An introduced species from Asia, now thriving in parts of Sussex. Arguably the most ornamental duck in Britain. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: Bright orange sail-like feathers, ornate and multicoloured Female: Subtly patterned grey with white eye-ring Small and short-tailed 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Resident in wooded lakes and slow rivers like Arundel...
🔍 Overview A summer breeder on Sussex’s shingle beaches, the Little Tern is small, agile, and highly vocal. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very small tern (22–24 cm)Plumage: Pale grey above, white belowDistinctive Marks: White forehead patch, yellow bill with black tipBill: Slender and pointedTail: ForkedFlight: Agile, hovers before diving 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Seen off...
