Birds in the Locality

Bird Species visiting include:

Sort by:    Common Name       Latin Name
Barn Owl   (Tyto alba)
	Resident	The Barn Owls are currently nesting on a neighbouring farm but visit regularly. The nest box has been inspected but no residents yet.
	Breeding.
Blackbird   (Turdus merula)
	Resident	Can be seen anywhere, although buildings (and farm machinery) seem to be a favourite place to nest. Very tolerant of humans and will come close when being fed.
	Breeding.
Blue Tit   (Parus caeruleus)
	Resident	They will build nests almost anywhere, but prefer a small entrance hole. They are usually the first to investigate any new nestboxes erected. There always seem to be more in winter when they congregate around peanut and seed feeders.
	Breeding.
Buzzard   (Buteo buteo)
	Resident	I think buzzards scavenge as much as they hunt and are much maligned as killers. The sight and sound of several floating on thermals in summer is hypnotic. The pairs nest in the same place each year, but I never disturb the birds by trying to look in.
	Breeding.
Carrion Crow   (Corvus corone)
	Resident	Maybe people tend to dislike these birds because of their colour and their habit of preying on small bird nests. However they are very intelligent and good looking when close.
	Breeding.
Chaffinch   (Fringilla coelebs)
	Resident	This bird has always been very common in the hedgerows and scrubby areas and numbers are higher than ever. Flocks mix with Goldfinches and Greenfinches on stubbles and wild bird food plots. Squabbles can regularly break out round feeders.
	Breeding.
Coal Tit   (Periparus ater)
	Resident	A few of these little birds are present all year round, so I assume they must be nesting, but have never found a nest. Groups of 4 or 6 arrive at feeding stations during the winter.
	Breeding.
Collared Dove   (Streptopelia decaocta)
	Resident	Several of these quiet little birds have regularly been seen. Often taken by Sparrowhawks.
	Breeding.
Dunnock   (Prunella modularis)
	Resident	A very shy bird which is most often seen in winter at feeding stations. Many people will simply class it as a "sparrow". Never populous here but observations remain steady.
	Breeding.
Fieldfare   (Turdus pilaris)
	Winter Visitor.	Large numbers regularly seen on grassland during the winter along with redwings. I assume we are the first stop on a migration from Scandinavia.
	Not Breeding.
Goldfinch   (Carduelis carduelis)
	Resident	These birds have been thriving over the last few years and flocks of 50 -100 can been seen on the feeders. Listening to them, it is obvious why a group is called a "Charm".
	Not Breeding.
Great Spotted Woodpecker   (Dendrocopos major)
	Resident	A frequent visitor to the feeding station enjoying peanuts and anything fatty.
	Breeding.
Great Tit   (Parus major)
	Resident	We almost take these birds for granted as they are always around the steading in the woods or at the feeders.
	Breeding.
Green Woodpecker   (Picus viridis)
	Visitor	Occasionally seen but often heard, particularly in spring. I'm not sure if they nest here, but suspect they only visit for food.
	Not Breeding.
Greenfinch   (Carduelis chloris)
	Resident	A large number of these little birds who seem to enjoy the current cropping and winter feeding.
	Breeding.
Grey Partridge   (Perdix perdix)
	Resident	There have always been several 'coveys' of partridges on the farm and as we do not shoot (anything), the numbers have gradually increased over the years. When walking crops, a group can generally be found in almost every field. Every two years 50 day old chicks are raised and released.
	Not Breeding.
Grey Wagtail   (Motacilla cinerea)
	Resident	I always think these should named 'yellow' wagtails! They enjoy the streams and ponds we have but are seen round the farm buildings, picking insects from the walls and timbers.
	Not Breeding.
Greylag Goose   (Anser anser)
	Winter Visitor	Large skeins can regularly be seen flying over and small groups visit the farm through the winter.
	Not Breeding.
Hooded Crow   (Corvus cornix)
	Resident	As numerous as ever, there is confusion between Carrion and Hooded crows with the Hooded being grey rather than black. The call is almost identical.
	Breeding.
House Martin   (Delichon urbica)
	Summer Visitor	These birds, like swifts, are very selective as to nesting locations, but buildings with a large eaves overhang are favourite.
	Breeding.
House Sparrow   (Passer domesticus)
	Resident	As the old buildings slowly decay, more and more nest sites are created and used by these little birds. The population has always been good but is growing.
	Breeding.
Jackdaw   (Corvus monedula)
	Resident	These very intelligent birds are becoming more and more tolerant of humans in close proximity. They have a habit of choosing a nest spot then endlessly dropping twigs until a base for a nest develops.
	Breeding.
Jay   (Garrulus glandarius)
	Resident	Not common in these parts as apparently they enjoy acorns. Nevertheless they can be seen in the mature woodlands.
	Breeding.
Kestrel   (Falco tinnunculus)
	Resident	Probably my favourite bird - watching them hunt on a gentle breeze is fantastic. Numbers appear to be relatively low.
	Breeding.
Lapwing   (Vanellus vanellus)
	Resident	The number of Lapwings has remained constant and nests are built in the same areas annually. Most nest on rough grassland or areas left for this purpose. There is always a large influx during early autumn.
	Breeding.
Linnet   (Carduelis cannabina)
	Resident	Linnets are a comparatively recent arrival. Perhaps encouraged by OSR crops and attracted to the wild bird food plots which have millets and hemp.
	Breeding.
Long Tailed Tit   (Aegithalos caudatus)
	Resident	Easily spotted by it's very long tail and black and white colouring. They arrive in noisy groups of 10 to 12 during winter and raid any fatty foods provided. During the nesting season they are much more difficult to observe and nests are complete works of art.
	Breeding.
Mistle Thrush   (Turdus viscivorus)
	resident	Similar to a song thrush but distinguishable by the male's song. Regularly heard before dawn, even in bad weather. More tolerant of man than the song thrush, so possibly why it is more easily observed.
	Breeding.
Oystercatcher   (Haematopus ostralegus)
	Resident	Although a wading bird, they are regularly seen wandering grass and arable fields and will regularly follow cultivation equipment with the various gulls. I have regularly found nests in spring barley several hundred metres from water.
	Breeding.
Pheasant   (Phasianus cochicus)
	Resident	Pheasants live here all year round and two nests were found last year.
	Breeding.
Pied Wagtail   (Motacilla alba)
	Resident	Several pairs nest in the old stone and slate farm buildings and more unusual places like farm machinery. The parents don't like to make the nest obvious but several screaming chicks can give the game away! It is great to watch adults walking about and catching flies from the air.
	Breeding.
Pink Footed Goose   (Anser brachyrhynchus)
	Winter Visitor	A regular winter visitor to the river estuary and fields adjacent. Very shy of humans and the most common sighting is hundreds of birds in large skeins at great altitude.
	Not Breeding.
Redwing   (Turdus iliacus)
	Winter Visitor	The numbers arriving from Scandinavia vary greatly year by year, but on the east coast we are the first stop for a snack. They love any berried tree but spend a lot of time on (old)pasture.
	Breeding.
Robin   (Erithacus rubecula)
	Resident	Probably the easiest bird to identify, the Robin seems to be happy to live alongside man. Whenever any work which exposes insects or worms is undertaken, the robin soon appears. A couple will even land on my hand for a treat.
	Breeding.
Rock Dove   (Columba livia)
	Resident	Rock Dove , Stock Dove and lost racing pigeons are now so interbred that there are no real defining colours. Many are 'traditional' with two dark bars on wings but others have dark plumage or even white patches.
	Breeding.
Rook   (Corvus frugilegus)
	Resident	Another species which has benefitted greatly from agriculture. Their powerful bills can dig for seed and groups can flatten large areas of almost ripe grain. Even among farmers there is a tendency to call any medium sized corvids "crows".
	Breeding.
Sand Martin   (Riparia riparia)
	Summer Visitor	There is a sandy riverbank which is impossible to get to by land where a colony of sand martins nest every year. On a summer's evening, dozens can be seen and heard skimming the river, collecting insects.
	Breeding.
Skylark   (Alauda arvensis)
	Resident	Everyone knows a skylark when they hear it, but spotting the bird in the sky can be difficult. Numbers appear static and contrary to popular belief they still nest in arable fields. Skylark plots have been trialled but it was found that birds of prey quickly discovered them too.
	Breeding.
Snipe   (Gallinago gallinago)
	Resident	Predominatly seen by the riverside, but regularly seen on open fields, especially when cultivating. Possibly coincidental but I frequently see a pair foraging with a covey of partridges. Their numbers appear static.
	Breeding.
Song Thrush   (Turdus philomelos)
	Resident	Difficult to identify from a Mistle Thrush, but are more common. They prefer the overgrown woodland or thick hedges. Several visit the feeders round the steading and enjoy anything with fat in it.
	Breeding.
Sparrowhawk   (Accipiter nisus)
	Resident	If a flock of sparrows hurtle through a farm shed, there is a good chance a Sparrowhawk is close behind! They have adapted their behaviour so that when a tractor drives up a hedgerow, they fly up the opposite side to catch birds exiting. Their preferred diet sems to be collared doves and lapwings however.
	Breeding.
Starling   (Sturnus vulgaris)
	Resident	Numbers have definitely reduced locally although a direct cause cannot be found. Nesting is successful and large groups feed on grassland and stubbles. It could be argued that 60 years ago they were too numerous with hundreds living in cattle sheds, sharing the food.
	Breeding.
Swallow   (Hirundo rustica)
	Summer Visitor	Many generations (50+ years) have been born in the same nests, predominately inside buildings which are cleaned and repaired each spring. There are two old barns where a pane of glass is removed from a window each year to allow ingress to the nests.
	Breeding.
Swift   (Apus apus)
	Summer Visitor	For some reason the swifts only return to, and nest on, certain buildings year after year, but I cannot fathom out any common factors why!
	Breeding.
Tree Sparrow   (Passer montanus)
	Resident	There has always been a good population of this species both round the steadings and in woodland. There does not appear to be any conflict with House Sparrows and numbers are increasing.
	Breeding.
Wood Pigeon   (Columba palumbus)
	Resident	This bird has benefitted greatly from modern farm cropping and is at the level of being a pest. Hundreds of birds can descend on Oilseed Rape or Clover crops with consequent damage. They are quite agressive, at feeders, preventing other birds from gaining access.
	Breeding.
Wren   (Troglodytes troglodytes)
	Resident	Very small, very vocal bird which can frquently be heard but not seen. There are several nest locations which are used each year although major refurbishment takes place. One nest in a superb location is used by 8 individuals during winter.
	Breeding.
Yellow Wagtail   (Motacilla flava)
	Resident	An active little bird which is seen quite often in farm buildings gathering insects, although they spend a majority of the time near water. The nests are difficult to spot as the parents are very careful not to show it's location.
	Breeding.
Yellowhammer   (Emberiza citrinella)
	Resident	As we have 17 km of hedgerows, some over 100 years old, successive generations of these birds have nested in the same location for over 50 years. They enjoy the wild bird seed plots during winter, but are harder to spot in summer.The song is unmistakable.
	Breeding.