🔍 Overview A stunning scarce winter visitor, usually seen among flocks of Brent or Barnacle Geese. Some may be of captive origin. 🪶 Key Identification Features Compact goose with bold black, white, and red plumage Red face and breast bordered with white Small bill, fast flight 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Occasionally recorded at Pagham Harbour,...
🔍 Overview A rare but regular vagrant to the UK from eastern Europe, often after easterly winds in autumn. 🪶 Key Identification Features Males: chestnut ear coverts, black bib, white belly Females/immatures: duller but still well-marked Streaked brown upperparts, strong face pattern 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Favour coastal scrub, reedbeds, or weedy margins, especially around...
🔍 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 rare but annual spring and autumn migrant to Sussex, typically recorded during coastal passage. Larger and paler than most pipits. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: About 16–17 cm Plumage: Sandy brown upperparts, plain pale underparts, less streaked than other pipits Other: Strong, straight bill; upright posture 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Occasional sightings...
🔍 Overview A rare but increasing vagrant from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Most Sussex records occur in late summer and autumn, particularly at coastal wetlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pale grey back, black legs Bright yellow face and underparts (adults) White secondary wingbars and long black tail 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best looked for...
🔍 Overview A very rare vagrant to Sussex and the UK, mostly detected by its subtle differences from other reed warblers and increasingly found in autumn on the east and south coast. 🪶 Key Identification Features Uniform grey-brown upperparts, slightly colder than Reed Warbler Short primary projection Rounded tail, faint supercilium 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
🔍 Overview Once bred in Sussex but now a rare passage migrant, mainly in spring. Rare in summer with no confirmed breeding records since 2010. 🪶 Key Identification Features Bright lemon-yellow throat and white underparts Clear-cut green back and crown Quicker and brighter than Willow or Chiffchaff 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Can be seen in...
🔍 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 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 A spectacular Mediterranean visitor that is becoming more regular in the UK. Occasionally breeds and increasingly reported on passage in Sussex. Bred once in 1955 in our area. 🪶 Key Identification Features Rainbow plumage with blue, yellow, chestnut Long, curved bill Graceful, swallow-like flight 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most sightings occur May–June and...
