Month: December

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Yellow-browed Warbler
Bird

Yellow-browed Warbler

🔍 Overview A scarce autumn migrant to Sussex from Siberia, increasing in frequency. 🪶 Key Identification Features Tiny greenish warbler Bold yellow supercilium and wingbars Constantly flitting through foliage 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Found in coastal trees and gardens, especially at Seaford Head, Beachy Head, and Pagham, mainly in late September–October. 🎶 Voice & Behaviour...

Great Grey Shrike
Bird

Great Grey Shrike

🔍 Overview A striking winter visitor and scarce migrant to Sussex, favouring open habitats with scattered trees. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pale grey above, white below Bold black face mask and strong hooked bill Black wings and white outer tail 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Regular sightings in winter in areas like Ashdown Forest, Ambersham Common,...

Little Auk
Bird

Little Auk

Image Attribution: User:Jerzystrzelecki:Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons 🔍 Overview A tiny Arctic auk that becomes visible off Sussex during strong northerly gales in autumn and winter. 🪶 Key Identification Features Small, plump black-and-white seabird Short neck, stubby bill, fast wingbeats Flies low over the sea, often in ones or twos 🗺️ Habitat...

Glaucous Gull
Bird

Glaucous Gull

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 &...

Red-necked Grebe
Bird

Red-necked Grebe

🔍 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...

Woodpigeon
Bird

Woodpigeon

🔍 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...

Feral Pigeon
Bird

Feral Pigeon

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:...

Common Pheasant
Bird

Common Pheasant

Very common introduced resident. Population augmented annually by captive bred stock.

Greater Scaup
Bird

Greater Scaup

🔍 Overview A scarce winter visitor to Sussex, especially on larger lakes, reservoirs, and coastal bays. 🪶 Key Identification Features Male: white flanks, dark back, rounded head Female: brown with white around bill base Blue-grey bill and black nail 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen at Arlington Reservoir, Pagham Harbour, or offshore from Selsey Bill....