🔍 Overview A rare but regular passage migrant, mostly seen offshore during autumn. Often confused with Arctic Skua, but more graceful in flight. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium skua (38–46 cm) Breeding adult: Pale belly, long pointed tail streamers Non-breeding/juvenile: Slim, tern-like, with finer markings than other skuas Flight: Buoyant, agile 🗺️ Habitat &...
🔍 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 & Distribution Seen during sea-watching from Selsey Bill, Worthing, or...
🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. A coastal auk of northern Britain, Black Guillemots are rare visitors to Sussex, most often seen in winter after storms. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Medium auk (32 cm) Winter Plumage: White with black wing patch Summer Plumage: Striking black with white wing panel Bill & Legs: Thin bill, red legs...
🔍 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 rare and irregular vagrant in Sussex, the Gull-billed Tern resembles a large marsh tern and is occasionally spotted at coastal lagoons or gravel pits. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Mid-sized tern (33–38 cm) Plumage: White with grey wings and black cap (in breeding plumage) Bill: Short, thick, and black—distinctive Flight: Smooth, buoyant...
🔍 Overview Rare vagrant. A scarce but nearly annual migrant to Sussex, the Caspian Tern is a huge, carrot-billed tern often seen at coastal lagoons or inland gravel pits. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Very large tern (48–56 cm) Plumage: White body, pale grey wings, black cap in breeding plumage Bill: Large, red-orange, and dagger-shaped...
🔍 Overview An exceptionally rare vagrant from tropical oceans. Extremely few UK records, but possible after hurricanes or major storms. 🪶 Key Identification Features Black upperparts, white underparts Black cap and nape, long pointed wings Sleek, agile flight 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Only expected after extreme Atlantic weather events; may be spotted offshore from Seaford,...
🔍 Overview One of the UK’s rarest breeding seabirds, occasionally seen in Sussex on spring or summer passage. 🪶 Key Identification Features Very pale plumage, long tail streamers Black cap, mostly black bill with reddish base Slight pink flush to underparts in breeding season 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Best chance at shoreline roosts or sea-watching...
🔍 Overview A beautiful and rare pelagic gull, most often seen off Sussex during strong westerly gales in autumn. 🪶 Key Identification Features Size: Slightly smaller than Black-headed Gull (27–33 cm) Adult: Black cap, grey nape, white head, and striking tri-coloured wings Juvenile: Similar but browner with dark W-pattern on wings 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution...
🔍 Overview A rare vagrant from North America, with a few well-documented Sussex records, especially after Atlantic storms. 🪶 Key Identification Features Medium-sized gull with long wings Adult: black hood, white eye arcs, dark red bill Immature: dark tail band and dusky plumage 🗺️ Habitat & Distribution Most likely at Brighton seafront, Shoreham, or large...
