🔍 Overview A soaring success story, the Red Kite is increasingly spotted across Sussex, often gliding effortlessly with a forked tail. Fairly common breeding resident (first bred in 2004) and an increasing visitor. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (60–70 cm)Plumage: Reddish-brown with pale headDistinctive Marks: Forked tail, long wingsBill: HookedTail: Deeply forkedFlight: Buoyant and graceful...
🔍 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:...
🔍 Overview A sleek, elegant diver seen off the Sussex coast in winter. The Red-throated Diver is the commonest diver here. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (55–67 cm)Plumage: Grey above, pale below; breeding birds have red throat patchDistinctive Marks: Thin upturned billBill: Straight and slenderTail: ShortFlight: Strong and purposeful 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Wintering offshore...
🔍 Overview A tiny finch with a crimson cap, the Redpoll is a winter visitor to Sussex, occasionally forming flocks in birch woods and weedy patches. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (11–13 cm)Plumage: Brown streaky with red forehead and bibDistinctive Marks: Black chin, red foreheadBill: Small and conicalTail: ForkedFlight: Bouncing, finch-like 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
🔍 Overview A winter thrush from Scandinavia. Redwings arrive in Sussex around October and often form flocks with Fieldfares. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium (21 cm) Plumage: Brown back, pale belly with streaks Markings: Bold white eyebrow and red underwing flanks Flight: Fast and flitting 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Winters in hedgerows, orchards, fields,...
🔍 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 &...
🔍 Overview The Raven is a powerful and intelligent corvid, now increasingly common in Sussex, especially near cliffs and upland woods. Fairly common breeding resident; first bred in modern era in 2001. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very large (60–67 cm)Plumage: Glossy blackDistinctive Marks: Thick neck, heavy bill, diamond-shaped tailBill: Large and curvedTail: Wedge-shapedFlight: Soaring, acrobatic...
🔍 Overview The Razorbill is a chunky seabird seen off Sussex in winter or during migration. Related to puffins and guillemots. Common winter visitor and fairly common passage migrant; last bred in 1878. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium auk (37–39 cm)Plumage: Black above, white belowDistinctive Marks: Thick black bill with white lineBill: Stubby and deepTail:...
📍 Local Expert Tip “The Oystercatcher is a distinctive and noisy local resident which is adapting to man by breeding on flat roofs close to the river such as at Ricardo’s factory, on the airfield and even on apartment block roofs in Shoreham town centre.” 🔍 Overview Bold, black-and-white with a vivid orange bill, the...
🔍 Overview The world’s fastest bird, this powerful falcon is now a regular breeder on cliffs and urban buildings in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Slate-grey upperparts Heavy black moustache mark Bullet-shaped in flight with rapid wingbeats and steep dives 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Breeds on Shoreham Cement Works, Chichester Cathedral. Seen on Shoreham Harbour...
