🔍 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 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...
🔍 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 tip 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best seen from Brighton...
🔍 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 & Distribution Most often seen at harbours and landfill sites...
🔍 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...
Very common introduced resident. Population augmented annually by captive bred stock.
Common introduced resident. Population augmented annually by captive bred stock.
