🔍 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...
📍 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...
Image Attribution: Sumeet Moghe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 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...
🔍 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 Common resident; passage migrant and winter visitor. A highly mobile black-and-white bird with a constantly bobbing tail, common across Sussex towns and countryside. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (18 cm) Plumage: Black back and bib, white face, grey wings Tail: Long and always wagging Flight: Quick and bounding 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 Overview A majestic symbol of British waterways, the Mute Swan is common across Sussex’s lakes, rivers, and estuaries. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very large (140–160 cm wingspan)Plumage: All whiteDistinctive Marks: Orange bill with black knobBill: Large and curvedTail: ShortFlight: Heavy wingbeats with loud whoosh 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Seen across Sussex on rivers, lakes,...
📍 Local Expert Tip “The Wheatear is a a regular passage migrant in Spring and Autumn. Shoreham Fort often records the first birds heading north in Spring from mid-March but can be found anywhere along the coast. Regularly seen during Autumn migration in the Downs along the Monarch’s Way footpath, Truleigh Hill, Cissbury Ring etc.” 🔍...
🔍 Overview An acrobatic woodland resident that creeps down tree trunks headfirst. Widespread in Sussex’s mature broadleaf woodlands. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium-small (14 cm) Plumage: Blue-grey upperparts, buff underparts Markings: Bold black eye-stripe Posture: Often seen head-down on tree trunks 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Frequents deciduous woodlands, parks, and large gardens with mature...
🔍 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...
🔍 Overview Larger and bolder than the Song Thrush, Mistle Thrushes are widespread across Sussex in woodland edges, parks, and open countryside. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (27 cm) Plumage: Greyish-brown back, bold spots on pale chest Posture: Upright and alert Flight: Strong and direct 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Common in parkland, churchyards, and...
