Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Anser ("Goose") brachyrhynchus ("short bill")

Flock of Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) Onager Hill, Norfolk - March 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 1.5-3.5kg  /  Length: 60-75cm  /  Wingspan: 135-170cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pink-footed Goose is probably one of the best examples in the UK of a bird that could be described as locally common.  It visits Britain in the Winter in huge numbers in the areas surrounding some of the major estuary areas such as the Wash, but outside of these it occurs as a vagrant, often associated with other geese species.  This particular one for instance was associating with a large flock of Greylag Geese - a common species in the UK which it's worth checking the flocks of for other grey geese in Winter.  The birds that visit the UK have bred in Greenland and Iceland, while a second population from Svalbard Winters in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anser
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally numerous Winter visitor to certain sites - rare elsewhere.

 - Various locations around The Wash, a single bird at Eyebrooke Reservoir in November 2014. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Anthus ("small bird mentioned by Pliny") trivialis ("common or ordinary")

Adult Tree Pipit (subspecies A. t. trivialis) at Ashdown Forest, East Sussex - June 2014

Featured Subspecies: Anthus trivialis trivialis
Weight: 19-25g  /  Length: 14-15.5cm  /  Wingspan: 25-27cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Tree Pipit is a far later addition to this website than realistically it has any right to be given its numbers and proximity to London, however, there are a couple of reasons which have conspired to delay its addition.  The first is that at a glance it looks very similar to the Meadow Pipit, a far more numerous species found in similar habitats and others besides, and requires a fairly good view to be able to see the diagnostic features (fine "pencil-line" like streaks on the side, pink legs, differences in song and behaviour and a few more subtle things) and secondly that it is a heathland specialist and summer migrant, and heathland, while having a few unique species found in no other UK habitat, is a habitat likely to produce far fewer wildlife sightings per hour than most other habitats.   I finally did a Summer visit to Ashdown forest in the vague hope of seeing a Short Toed Eagle that had been present there, and while failing to see that, I did manage to add this to my list.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Anthus
Subspecies: A. t. trivialis, A. t. haringtoni

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Sparsely distributed but locally common summer migrant breeding species (88,000 territories)

 - Single bird seen singing at Ashdown Forest in June 2014

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

OTHER NAMES: Rufous Nightingale, Western Nightingale, Nightingale

Latin Etymology: Luscinia ("Nightingale") megarhynchos ("great bill")

                             Adult male Common Nightingale (subspecies L. m. megarhynchos) at Cliffe Pools, Kent - May 2014

Featured Subspecies: Luscinia megarhynchos megarhynchos

Weight: 20g  /  Length: 15-16cm  /  Wingspan: 20-22.5cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The Nightingale is in theory one of the most iconic of British birds, though perhaps uniquely, more famed for its song than it's fairly average appearance.  It does indeed have a very distinctive song - powerful, elaborate, varied and much more rich sounding than any other bird in the UK.  It is however, a difficult bird to hear and an even more difficult one to see - it is increasingly rare in much of its range and very skulking where it is difficult to observe in the deep brambles and thickets where it lives.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Luscinia
Subspecies: L. m. megarhynchos, L. m. africana, L. m. golzii

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A breeding Summer Migrant to the South (6700 males)

 - A number seen and heard around Cliffe Pools in May 2014, heard arpund Rye Harbour in May 2012.

SPAIN - Spanish - Ruiseñor común ("Common Nightingale")

A locally common Summer migrant

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several heard near Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common along the river at El Pardo 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Woodlark (Lullula arborea)

OTHER NAMES: Wood Lark
Latin Etymology: Lullula (diminutive from French onomatopoeia "lulu") arborea ("of a tree")

Adult Woodlark (subspecies L. a. arborea) at Thursley Common - April 2013

Featured Subspecies: Lullula arborea arborea
Weight: 24-36g  /  Length: 13.5-15cm  /  Wingspan: 27-30cm
UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Woodlark is one of the few UK bird species which is a heath specialist, and thus far rarer than it's most similar relations, the Skylark.  It is however a much "stubbier" bird that the Skylark with a shorter body and tail without the notable crest of the skylark.  The also have a different song to the iconic one of the skylark while still be "lark" enough to be identifiable as such.  I heard this bird on my first visit to Thursley Common, but it wasn't until the second that I actually managed to catch sight of it.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Lullula
Subspecies: L. a. arborea, L. a. pallida

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce and local breeding species (3,100 pairs)

 - Birds seen and heard at Thursley Common in April 2013.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)

OTHER NAMES: Strawsmear, Small straw, Haychat, Pettychaps

Latin Etymology: Sylvia ("woodland sprite") borin (Genoese name for species)

Adult Garden Warbler (subspecies S. b. borin) in Geddington Chase, Northants - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Sylvia borin borin
Weight: 16-22g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

It could easily be argued that the Garden warbler is the most drab species of bird in the UK - you can even take this to the point where most guides I've seen note its lack of distinguishing features as its distinguishing feature! In general though, the slightly short beak and relatively heavy build set it apart from most warblers. Its song is very similar to the blackcap, but as that has radically different plumage if you see it it shouldn't be a problem. Supposedly quite numerous, the biggest issue with this bird is that it is a skulker.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes 
Family: Sylviidae 
Genus: Sylvia 
Subspecies: S. b. borin, S. b. woodwardi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common breeding Summer migrant (170,000 territories)

 - Seen reasonably often around Geddington and Brigstock in appropriate habitat at the right time of year,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

OTHER NAMES: Redstart

Latin Etymology: Phoenicurus ("crimson tailed") phoenicurus ("crimson tailed")

Adult male Common Redstart (subspecies P. p. phoenicurus) at  Cold Ashby, Northants - April 2022

Featured Subspecies: Phoenicurus phoenicurus phoenicurus

Weight: 11-23g  /  Length: 13-14.5cm  /  Wingspan: 23-26cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Generally known just as the "Redstart" in the UK (the Black Redstart being only a modern coloniser after all) this is a species with a generally westerly bias to it's range in the UK, associating more with birch and oak woodland that most British woodland birds.  However, there are exceptions and there are also sites in the South East in which it can be found such as Thursley common.  It has a lot of overlap with the Robin in it's diet and behaviour, but unlike that species is a Summer migrant, and thus can also be found on passage, sometimes in small numbers together - such as the three females I saw together in the grounds of Alexandra Palace in September 2015.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Phoenicurus
Subspecies: P. p. phoenicurus, P. p. samamisicus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A local but fairly numerous Summer breeding migrant (100,000 pairs)

 - Birds seen on breeding territories at Derwent Water and Thursley Commom, and the park surrounding Alexandra Palace on passage

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

OTHER NAMES: Red-breasted Goosander, Red-breasted Sheldrake, Garbill, Sea Robin
Latin Etymology: Mergus (unidentified bird named by Pliny) serrator ("saw")

Adult male Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) at East Wemyss, Fife -  January 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 780-1350g  /  Length: 52-58cm  /  Wingspan: 70-86cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Red-breasted mergansers are the rarer species of "sawbill" found in the United Kingdom - they are far less numerous and more localised Goosanders - found more in the North and West of the country. They also Winter around the coast in other parts of the country. Smaller than Goosanders, the defining feature is the red neck of the name when comparing it against Goosanders.  I first came across this species while intentionally looking for them in the lake district, but have subsequently had the odd distance view along the Kent coast.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Mergus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce and local breeding species (2,400 pairs) and uncommon Wintering species (9000 birds)

 - A small flock seen on Derwent Water in April 2011.  Also on the sea off North Kent and Fife in the Winter.

JAPAN - Japanese - ウミアイサ / Umi-aisa  ("Sea merganser"/"Sea Autumn-Sand")

A Winter migrant

  - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen on the sea in Akkeshi.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)

OTHER NAMES: Barred-rumped Godwit, Pacific Ocean Godwit, Southern, Small Godwit

Latin Etymology: Limosa (species specific name) lapponica ("of Lapland")

Adult Winter Bar-tailed Godwit (subspecies L. l. lapponica) at Thornham Harbour, Norfolk - November 2021

Featured Subspecies: Limosa lapponica lapponica
Weight: 190-630g  /  Length: 37-41cm  /  Wingspan: 70-80cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Despite being, in theory at least, the more numerous of the two British Godwit species, I've personally found finding "Barwits" much harder than their counterpart. The reasons for this are relatively simple in some cases - unlike the Black-tailed, the Bar-tailed is essentially exclusively found on the coast and occasionally up the shores of the larger rivers. Telling the differences between Godwits isn't necessarily easy at first but can be acquired with some practice.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Limosa
Subspecies: L. l. lapponica, L. l. taymyrensis, L. l. menzbieri, L. l. baueri

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common Winter Vistor (41,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at Reculver,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Calidris (grey waterbird mentioned by Aristotle) maritima ("of the sea")

Adult  Purple Sandpiper  (Calidris maritima) at Bridlington Harbour, East Yorkshire -  April 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 50-105g  /  Length: 20-22cm  /  Wingspan: 40-46cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Purple Sandpiper is one of these birds where I cant really say where it's name comes from, it is only very slightly purple if you squint at it in certain lights. According to the RSPB, this bird is found mainly North of the Humber, but I found a trio of these fellows along a bit of rocky jetty in Herne Bay in Kent. Supposedly, South End and Margate are also good for them, so perhaps that area is worth checking out too. When identifying this bird look for the curved yellow beak and stubby yellow legs. These ones weren't too hard to photograph at all - they were relatively close to me and didn't seem bothered, although they had the benefit of a railing and a scramble across slippery rocks to their benefit if I had been trying to eat them or something.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Calidris
Subspecies - none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon and local Wintering species (13000 birds) and very rare breeding species (1-3 pairs)

 - A small number at Herne Bay in February 2012,associating with some roosting redshank.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sanderling (Calidris alba)

OTHER NAMES: White, Beach-bird, Ruddy Plover

Latin Etymology: Calidris (water bird mentioned by Aristotle) alba ("white")

Flock of adult Sanderling (Calidris alba) in non-breeding plumage at Margate, Kent -  October 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 40-100g  /  Length: 18-20cm  /  Wingspan: 43cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Sanderling is a very small wader which can be seen scuttling along the waters edge looking for food. It is really a winter migrant coastal bird, but odd individuals may occasionally turn up in later in other seasons - a very distant sighting of one at Rutland during the spring being an example of this. I found some photographable ones however as Swalecliff - literally only a few meters away from me, they were exceedingly easy to photograph.  In this country we only see them in their Winter plumage - a distinctively white and silver pattern, but while breeding they turn mottled brown, but as their breeding territory is largely in the arctic circle, this is not something we get to see.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae 
Genus: Calidris
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally common Winter migrant (17000 birds)

 - Often seen on sandy beaches in Winter.  Sites include Herne Bay, Reculver, and Camber Sands. Vagrants at Rutland Water and Trevose Head   

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)

OTHER NAMES: Brant Goose
Latin Etymology: Branta ("burnt" from Old Norse) bernicula ("barnacle")

Brent Goose (subspecies B. b. bernicula - "Dark-bellied Brent Goose") at Margate, Kent -  October 2018

Featured Subspecies: Branta bernicla bernicla (the "Dark-bellied Brent Goose")
Weight: 600-2200g  /  Length: 55-66cm  /  Wingspan: 106-121cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Brent Goose is probably a species most easily seen on the coast in the Winter - it forms large flocks which makes it easy to see and find, but conversely, it is probably quite thinly distributed in where these flocks turn up. Individuals or small groups may also sometimes appear, as in theno-cane case of the single Brent Goose which formed my first ever Brent Goose sighting - unfortunatly it was plonked on the far bank of the Thames beyond my photography range. The birds in the photograph however, were part of a very large flock near Reculver in Kent - and generally the North Kent Coast is going to be a reliable site for them, probably any site between Oare Marshes and Ramsgate during the Winter should have them pass by sooner of later.

Related Species:

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae 

Genus: Branta 
Subspecies: B. b. bernicla, B. b. hrota, B. b. nigricans, B. b. orientalis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally commom Winter visitor; B. b. bernicula (91,000 birds) and B. b. hrota (31,400 birds). B. b. nigricans an annual vagrant. 

 - Dark-bellied subspecies a locally abundant Winter visitor in North Kent; Herne Bay, Reculver and Oare Marshes being good sites. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus,  IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) montanus ("of the mountains")

Adult Willow Tit (subspecies P. m. kleinshcmidti) in Pitsford Reservoir, Northants -  January 2011

Featured Subspecies: Poecile montanus kleinschmidti
Weight: 12-13g  /  Length: 10-13cm  /  Wingspan: 19cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most pressing issue with the Willow Tit is the fact it is very very similar looking to the more common marsh tit, and indeed, often they can live in the same places and habitats. The Marsh Tit is by far the more common of the two around where I live, so generally, I tend to assume that a bird is a Marsh tit unless I have reason to doubt it. The are a few identifying features however - the pale panel on the wing and the roundness, which I've seen described as "bull necked" or "egg shaped". The real best feature for this species is the call, the standard call for each being very distinct - in the case of the Marsh tit, which is a fairly typical high pitched and slightly sneeze like tweeting, while these birds call with a deeper and more nasal "pchay chay chay". It's probably worth taking a look online to listen to the difference.  The is doing fine worldwide, it has suffered massive declines in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
Subspecies: P. m. kleinschmidti, P. m. rhenanus, P. m. salicarius, P. m. montanus, P. m. borealis, P. m. uralensis, P. m. baicalensis, P. m. anadyrensis, P. m. kamtschatkensis, P. m. sachalinensis, P. m. restrictus, P. m. songarus, P. m. affinis, P. m. stoetzneri   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but scarce and local breeding resident (3,400 pairs)

 - Occasional single birds seen at Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

OTHER NAMES: Knot

Latin Etymology: Calidris (grey waterbird mentioned by Aristotle) canuta (named for legendary King Canute)

Moulting Red Knot (subspecies C. c. islandica) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: Calidris canutus islandica
Weight: 100-200g  /  Length: 80-100cm  /  Wingspan: 121-160cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

 The name "knot" is derived from the legendary king Canute and his own inability to hold back the tide - pretty fitting for a shorebirds whose life is structured around their movements.  The knot is an exclusively coastal based wader (although, as with most birds, there are going to be occasional exceptions for vagrants) best known for the huge flocks it forms when roosting. It is primarily found in the mouths of major estuaries. The main downside to this bird is that it is present only in the Winter, and going near mudflats in Winter isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea. In its rather drab Winter colours it is not necessarily that easy to pick out amongst similarly drab dunlin, but it's main identifying feature is that it is the largest of the sandpiper-y waders, though not as the larger plovers like golden or grey.

Related Species:

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae

Genus: Calidris
Subspecies: C. c. roselaari, C. c. rufa, C. c. canutus, C. c. islandica, C. c. rogersi, C. c. piersmai

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant Winter migrant (320,000 birds)

 - A number seen at Elmley Marshes on Winter visits to the first hides.

  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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