Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") cygnus ("swan")

Adult Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) in Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 8-11kg  /  Length: 1.4-1.6m  /  Wingspan: 2-2.8cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Whooper Swans are a large migratory swans that spend the Summer in Iceland and overwinter in the UK.  They are differentiated from Mute Swans by the yellow beak and from Bewick's swans by the larger size and the fact that the yellow on their beak is wedge shaped rather than rounded.  The wintering grounds are generally either in the North of the country, or in the general area of large estuaries such as the Wash and the Severn.  In the areas they frequent they can be seen grazing on fields in their family groups.  In Hokkaido, they are an abundant Winter visitor to wetlands and lakes, and can be seen easily even right next to towns. They are an important figure in Ainu mythology, regarded as a major divine spirit in the world.

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

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (9-15 pairs) and locally numerous Winter migrant (15,000 birds)

 - One flock seen at Nene Washes in November 2012

JAPAN - Japanese - オオハクチョウ  / Oo-hakuchou ("Large Whitebird")  ///   Ainu: Pepap chikap ("Water-ladle birds") 

Locally abundant Winter migrant in Northern Japan.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Abundant in Akkeshi and a number seen at Akan Crane Centre 

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

Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)

OTHER NAMES: Mountain Blackbird

Latin Etymology: Turdus ("thrush") torquatus ("collared")

Adult female Ring Ouzel (subspecies T. t. torquatus) at Blakenham, Norfolk - May 2022

Subspecies: Turdus torquatus torquatus
Weight: 90-138kg  /  Length: 23-24cm  /  Wingspan: 38-42cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Known as "The Mountain Blackbird", the Ring Ouzel is effectively just that - with the bright white collar around its neck being the only immediately obvious sign you are looking at a Ring Ouzel rather than a blackbird.  It is the only Summer-migrant thrush we have in the UK, arriving in March and April and leaving again in September.  It's habitat is upland where they breed amoung rocks, however, they can also be seen on passage in a wide variety of places, particularly along the East and South coasts, which are probably the closest to most people, but they can turn up anywhere and these two here turned up entirely unexpectedly in the Nene Washes!  Finally, a massive thanks to Paige Hunter for spotting my first two for me while I was looking at other things!

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Subspecies: T. t. torquatus, T. t. alpestris, T. t. amicorum

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce and very local breeding Summer migrant (6,200-7,500 pairs)

 - Two passage birds seen at Nene Washes in April 2012, 5 at Cold Ashby and 2 at Blakenham in Spring 2022

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

Common Crane (Grus grus)

OTHER NAMES: Eurasian Crane, Crane

Latin Etymology: Grus ("crane") grus ("crane")

Adult Common Crane (Grus grus) at Willow Tree Fen, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 3-6.1kg  /  Height: 100-130cm  /  Wingspan: 1.8-2.4m
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A huge bird, and one that has only recently returned from extinction in the UK after an absence since the 17th Century, the breeding population is still very small and localised to Eastern England with only around 6 pairs breeding.  There is however a slight influx of Wintering birds to a wider area - these birds here have apparently been around the Nene Washes near Peterborough this Winter, bizarrely for an incredibly endangered bird - visible from a cafe on a motorway feeding on the field opposite.  This is very much a bird which you'll have to track down to see, and as the breeding site is not made public, it might take a little bit of luck.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Gruidae
Genus: Grus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very rare resident breeder (9-14 pairs), rare Wintering species (c.52 birds) and very rare passage migrant.

 - A number of birds seen on several occasions in and around Nene Washes 

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

Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

OTHER NAMES: Tundra Swan

Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") columbianus ("of Colombia")

Three Adult Bewick's Swan (subspecies C. c. bewickii) at Nene Washes, Cambridgreshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Cygnus columbianus bewickii
Weight: 3.4-9.6g  /  Length: 115-150cm  /  Wingspan: 170-210cm,
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest of the three swans that are found in the UK, the Bewick's Swan is still a rather substantial bird.  Unlike the resident Mute Swan familiar to everyone, the other two species are purely Winter visitors, and are generally found at only a few sites where they congregate in very big numbers.  However, because they are migrants they can in theory turn up on any body of water big enough to support them.  Both migrant swans have yellow and black beaks rather than orange/black - the Bewick's can be differentiated by the yellow forming a round shape rather than a wedge as in the Whooper swan, and of course, the smaller size.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Cygnus
Subspecies: C. c. columbianus, C.c. bewickii

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly scarce and local Winter migrant (approx. 2600 birds)

 - Flock of four Wintering birds seen on Rutland Water in 2011, numerous birds at Nene Washes in February 2024

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, BirdGuides, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Asio (specific designate of Long-eared Owl) flammeus ("fiery" or "flammulated"")

Adult Short-Eared Owl (subspecies A. f. flammeus) at Nene Washes, Cambridgeshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Asio flammeus flammeus
Weight: 210-475g  /  Length: 32-43cm  /  Wingspan: 85-110cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Short-Eared Owl is perhaps one of the most visually striking UK owls, with its large yellow eyes.  Found on moorland for much of the year, it migrates south to more hospitible climes during the Winter where it may form roosts of multiple individuals, sometimes mixed with Long Earred Owls.  Unlike most owls, it is primarily a daylight flying bird, thus making it theoretically easier to see than all other species, it is however conversely more localised than Barn, Tawny or Little, so you actually need a reliable site to find them. 

Related Species:
Order:  Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Asio
Subspecies: A. f. flammeus, A. f. sandwichensis, A. f. domingensis, A. f. bogatensis, A. f. suinda, A. f. sanfordi, A. f. ponapensis, A. f. galapogoensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (600-2200 pairs) and scarce to locally abundant eruptive Winter visitor (5000-50000 birds)

 - Sites in good years have included Rutland Water, Harrington Airfield, Sheppey and Elmley Marshes

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

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow Wagtail

Latin Etymology: Motacilla ("wagtail") flava ("golden yellow")

 Adult Western Yellow Wagtail (subspecies M. f. flavissima) at Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: Motacilla flava flavissima
Weight: 16-22g  /  Length: 23-27cm  /  Wingspan: 23-27cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The least common of the UK's three Wagtails, the Yellow Wagtail can prove a little elusive to see as it has more specific habitat requirements. I've personally had luck around September by lakes and reservoirs but their favourite habitat is cow fields by water where the cows churn up the ground to give the wagtails places to feed. Photographing them is marginally more difficult than the other two wagtails once you actually find them, as they are not quite so urbanised, but they still allow fairly close approach compared to most species.  The other unusual feature of the Yellow Wagtail is that of all the UK species, it has the most variation between the subspecies, with some of the many subspecies found across it's range looking like entirely different birds to one another.

Related Species:
Order:  Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Subspecies: M.f. flava, M.f. flavissima, M.f. beema, M.f. leucocephala, M.f. cinereocapilla, M.f. iberiae, M.f. pygmaea, M.f. thunbergi, M.f. feldegg, M.f. melanogrisea, M.f. lutea  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Local Summer breeding migrant (15,000 territories)

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Nene Washes

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

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Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

OTHER NAMES: Brown Owl
Latin Etymology: Strix ("owl") aluco (Italian species specific name)

Adult Tawny Owl (subspecies S. a. sylvatica) at Eldernell, Cambridgeshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Strix aluco sylvatica
Weight: 470g  /  Length: 37-46cm  /  Wingspan: 81-105cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The UK's largest and most common established owl, the Tawny owl is the typical brown owl found in the UK. It is also the most obligate nocturnal of the five species, and can be one of the more difficult species to see in daylight. For the most part however, this is a bird far more often heard than seen, with it's iconic "twit-tuwoo"call, both at night and in the day, though it should be noted that this call is actually that of the male and female birds calling together.

Related Species:
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Subspecies: S. a. aluco, S. a. siberiae, S. a. sylvatica, S. a. mauritanica, S. a. willkonskii, S. a. sanctinicolai, S. a. harmsi, S. a. biddulphi  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but secretive resident (50,000 pairs)

 - Seen at Kensington Gardens, Nene Washes  and Geddington.    

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

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Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

OTHER NAMES: Oystercatcher, Sea Pie

Latin Etymology: Haematopus ("blood foot") ostralegus ("oyster gather")

Two Adult Eurasian Oystercatcher (subspecies  H. o. ostraegus) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - April 2018

Featured Subspecies: Haematopus ostralegus ostralegus
Weight: 540g

Length: 40-45cm

Wingspan: 83cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

Without much doubt one of our most distinctive and eye catching waders - the smart black and white with orange beak and legs make it very easily recognisable and identifiable, in addition to a distinctive call.  Its name is slightly misleading, as though it does eat oysters, mussels form a larger part of its diet. Mostly found on the coast, it is still present in smaller numbers in suitable habitat inland all year around making it one of the easier waders to find. It usually travels in small groups. Its large size and fairly bold nature makes it a little easier to get near them than some other waders.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Haematopodidae
Genus: Haematopus
Subspecies: H. o. ostralegus, H. o. longipes, H. o. osculans 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common breeding species (110,000 pairs) and locally abundant Winter visitor (340,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at a number of sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir, Herne Bay, Oare Marshes and Elmley Marshes

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