🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. An increasingly regular spring overshoot migrant from continental Europe, Black Kites are now annually recorded in Sussex. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (60 cm; wingspan 150–170 cm) Plumage: Dark brown overall Tail: Slightly forked, less pronounced than Red Kite Flight: Graceful, with distinctive gliding 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Sightings peak...
🔍 Overview A rare winter visitor to Sussex, usually during irruption years. Prefers open habitats and often confused with Common Buzzard. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Similar to Common Buzzard (50–60 cm) Plumage: Pale head and underparts, dark belly patch, white tail with dark band Flight: Hovers like a Kestrel, long-winged appearance 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 Overview A colourful spring overshoot from southern Europe. Seen annually in Sussex, often in gardens or open grassland. 🪶 Key Identification Features Pinkish-orange body Striking black-and-white wings Large crest often raised in display 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Favours golf courses, lawns, and grazed fields. Sightings from Brighton, Chichester, Beachy Head, and Ashdown Forest are...
🔍 Overview A tiny heron and very rare visitor to Sussex, often recorded in spring at reedbeds. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very small heron (36 cm) Male: Black crown/back, buff underparts Female: Browner overall Flight: Fast and low with dangling legs 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Only recorded in Hove and Southwick during period 2000-2024....
🔍 Overview A scarce and irregular spring/summer visitor. Often seen at dusk or dawn near water. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium heron (58–65 cm) Adult: Black crown/back, grey wings, red eye Juvenile: Streaky brown Flight: Steady, crow-like 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Occasional records from Pulborough Brooks, Arundel WWT, and Pagham Harbour, especially in spring...
🔍 Overview A striking and rare Mediterranean heron, sometimes turns up in Sussex during spring or summer. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Stocky and short-necked (44–47 cm) Plumage: Creamy buff with long plumes; transforms to bright white in flight Other: Short, stout bill; dark legs 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Has occurred at Pagham Harbour, Arundel...
🔍 Overview An uncommon migrant from continental Europe, Purple Heron is seen in Sussex primarily in spring and occasionally summer. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Slimmer than Grey Heron (78–90 cm) Plumage: Reddish-brown and slate-grey, with dark crown and chestnut neck streaks Flight: Long neck and legs, held retracted like other herons 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 Overview A mega-rarity from North America, the American Bittern has been recorded only a handful of times in the UK. Any sighting in Sussex would be exceptional. 🪶 Key Identification Features Shorter, chunkier build than Eurasian Bittern Bold black neck stripes and streaky underparts Tends to freeze with bill upward when alarmed 🗺️ Habitat...
🔍 Overview A critically endangered seabird from the western Mediterranean, seen irregularly off the Sussex coast on passage. Very scarce spring to autumn visitor. 🪶 Key Identification Features Dusky brown above, paler below Slender wings and rapid, shearing flight Typically darker overall than Manx Shearwater 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best spotted during sea-watches off Selsey...
🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. An elegant and elusive relative of the White Stork, Black Storks are rare spring and summer vagrants in Sussex, typically seen during continental drift migration. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Large (95–100 cm tall) Plumage: Glossy black with a green-purple sheen; white belly Bill & Legs: Red Flight: Soars with neck...
