🔍 Overview A lively summer visitor, the Sand Martin nests in colonies along sandy riverbanks and quarries in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (12–13 cm)Plumage: Brown above, white below with brown chest bandDistinctive Marks: Narrow breast bandBill: SmallTail: Slightly forkedFlight: Swift and erratic 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Breeds at Goring Gap, Upper Adur Valley....
🔍 Overview Often overlooked, the Reed Bunting is a hardy year-round resident of Sussex wetlands, with striking plumage in spring. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Sparrow-sized (13–15 cm)Plumage: Males have black head, white collar; females streakyDistinctive Marks: White outer tail feathersBill: Short and strongTail: LongFlight: Fluttery, low 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Wetlands like Adur Valley and...
🔍 Overview A secretive, common summer visitor to Sussex reedbeds, the Reed Warbler is best located by its repetitive, rhythmic song during breeding season. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Small (13 cm) Plumage: Warm brown upperparts, pale buff underparts Bill: Slender and pointed Tail: Medium length, often flicked Behaviour: Skulking and rarely leaves reeds 🗺️...
🔍 Overview A striking green parrot with a growing presence in Sussex, especially around urban parks and gardens. Scarce introduced resident; has bred. 🪶 Key Identification Features Bright green plumage Long pointed tail Male: pink and black neck ring Loud, squawky flight call 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Established in parts of Brighton, Crawley, and Eastbourne,...
📍 Local Expert Tip ” The Ringed Plover is much declined but still a regular sight in autumn and winter on the mudflats opposite Coronation Green / Town Quay and between the Railway and Toll Bridges. Also found roosting at high tide on the beach by Widewater often with Dunlin. Numbers peak in late August as...
🔍 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 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 A small, elusive bird that visits Sussex in summer. More often heard than seen. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size of a starling Brown with striped back and pale belly Short-tailed and rounded wings 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Prefers long grass and arable fields in warm summers. Unpredictable but has been recorded on the...
