🔍 Overview Powerful and agile, the Arctic Skua is a pirate of the skies, best known in Sussex as a scarce but thrilling passage migrant. Fairly common spring and scarce autumn passage migrant; very scarce in summer and rare in winter. Most sightings occur along the coast, when they chase other seabirds to steal food...
🔍 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 A colourful spring overshoot from southern Europe. Seen annually in Sussex, often in gardens or open grassland. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pinkish-orange body Striking black-and-white wings Large crest often raised in display 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Favours golf courses, lawns, and grazed fields. Sightings from Brighton, Chichester, Beachy Head, and Ashdown Forest are...
Image Attribution: Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A scarce winter visitor to Sussex, typically seen along the coast. Most sightings involve immatures during colder months. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pale gull with no black in wings Long wings and small, rounded head Immatures: creamy-white plumage, dark eye, pink bill with black...
Image Attribution: Sowls, Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A large Arctic gull that appears along the Sussex coast in small numbers during late winter. 🪶 Key Identification Features Very large and bulky; pale grey back Adults: white wing tips (no black) Juveniles: uniformly pale biscuit-brown with pale bill base 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 Overview A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant to Sussex waters, mostly offshore. 🪶 Key Identification Features Breeding plumage: rufous neck, black crown Winter: duller with pale cheeks and dusky neck Larger and thicker-necked than other grebes 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen from sea-watching points like Worthing Beaches, Goring Gap, or Brighton Marina...
🔍 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 The most widespread and abundant pigeon in Sussex and across the UK. Common in gardens, farmland, parks, and woodlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large pigeon (38–44 cm) Plumage: Grey overall with pinkish breast, distinctive white neck patch and white wing bars visible in flight Other: Broad wings and long tail 🗺️ Habitat...
Image Attribution: Christoph Moning, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A southern European species, this cuckoo is a very rare spring overshoot in the UK. A Sussex record would be exceptional but possible. 🪶 Key Identification Features Longer tail than Common Cuckoo Pale grey head, black-and-white speckled wings Crest and yellowish underparts 🗺️...
Image Attribution:Muhammad Mahdi Karim (GFDL 1.2 or FAL), via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview Common resident. The Feral Pigeon is one of Sussex’s most familiar birds, found in towns, cities, villages and around farms. Descended from the wild Rock Dove, it is highly adaptable and can be seen throughout the year. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size:...
