Birds of Inland Waters
The only significant inland water in Bexhill town is at Egerton Park and the first few birds shown here can all be found there. However outside the town, but still within the boundaries of Bexhill, we are fortunate to have the reedbeds and flood meadows in the Combe Valley and marshland at Hooe Levels. Many more birds can be seen there, some all year round and others mainly in winter.
Mallard
Our most common duck, the Mallard is the ancestor of the domestic duck. Male and female shown here and hybrids are often seen in Egerton Park.
Mute Swan
The largest common water bird, swans are frequently seen locally and several pairs breed every year in the Combe Valley.
Coot
Another very common resident waterbird, the coot is identified by the white patch on its brow, perhaps giving rise to the saying "as bald as a coot".
Moorhen
Similar in size to a coot but not so common, this bird has a distinctive red patch on its brow.
Grey Heron
These beautiful birds are a common sight in the Combe Valley Countryside Park, where they can be seen patiently hunting in the shallows.
Little Egret
Smaller than the heron, but pure white, these are commonly seen in the Combe Valley and occasionally in Egerton Park.
The following birds are mainly winter visitors, usually to the Combe Valley, although a few stay all year in small numbers and occasionally breed here.
Greylag Goose
Several pairs breed in the Combe Valley so they can be seen all year, and during winter they are joined by hundreds of migrant birds.
Canada Goose
These distinctive geese visit each winter, usually in small nuimbers although recently their numbers seem to be increasing.
Shelduck
A small number of these bulky ducks visit Combe Valley each winter and often seem to associate with the geese.
Shoveler
Easily recognised by its huge bill which it sweeps from side to side to feed at the surface. Nationally significant numbers were in the valley in the winter of 2020/21.
Wigeon
The male is easily recognised by its brown head with a yellow stripe but, as with most species of duck, the female has more mundane colouring.
Gadwall
Not very distinctive, but large numbers of these ducks visit the Combe Valley each winter. Male on the left.
And finally a bird that is rarely seen but there are several resident in the Combe Haven Valley and if you are lucky enough to see one they are unmistakeable, especially in flight as they are the only small bird with such bright irridescent blue wings.
Kingfisher
Rarely seen, but a delight when they are spotted, there are several resident in the Combe Valley