The RSPB now has more than 1 million members - making it one of the most popular societies in Britain. It protects disappearing and endangered habitats in the UK, playing a vital role in the protection of birds. There are some wonderful and varied RSPB reserves around the country. As well as providing an ideal opportunity to see many of the birds of Britain, they are also a great place to visit for a day out. Our favourites are Titchwell in Norfolk, Minsmere in Suffolk and Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire - as well as Loch Garten in Scotland.

 

The best guide to birds in Britain is the Collins Bird Guide, by Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstom and Grant - a book 15 years in the making.

 

The Following sites give excellent news and up-to-date e-mail subscription services for all ornithological matters in the UK:
birdguides
surfbirds

We have done some birding abroad as well as in the UK. See details of our recent birding in Peru.

 
Here is our UK birding list since May 2001. We're not particularly serious - more casual birders than anything - so the list won't break any records - but for what it's worth, its currently at 268.

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata A Skye, June 2001
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica A Titchwell Nov 2001 and March 2003
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer A Loch Buie - Mull June 2003
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A  
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus A  
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena A Little Paxton GP, 21 May 2003
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus A Loch Ruthven, June 2001
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis A  
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus A Shearwater Cruise, Bridlington 13/9/03
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus A Shearwater Cruise, Bridlington 13/9/03
Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa A Floddigarry, Skye, June 2003
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus A  
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A  
European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis A  
Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris A  
Little Bittern* Ixobrychus minutus A Dungeness, 13 May 2003
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A  
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea A  
White Stork Ciconia ciconia A  
Glossy Ibis* Plegadis falcinellus A Bowling Green Marsh, Devon 26 May 2003
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia A  
Mute Swan Cygnus olor AC  
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus A Welney, 28 Oct 2003
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus A Welney, 28 Oct 2003
Bean Goose Anser fabalis A Welney 10 Jan 2004
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus A  
Greylag Goose Anser anser AC  
Canada Goose Branta canadensis AC  
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis A Ludlow, October 2001
Brent Goose Branta bernicla A  
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus C  
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna A  
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata C  
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope A  
American Wigeon* Anas americana A Hybrid - Scotland June 2001
Gadwall Anas strepera AC  
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca A  
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos AC  
Northern Pintail Anas acuta A  
Garganey Anas querquedula A Denge Marsh, 13 May 2003
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata A  
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina A Hanninfield Resevoir, 4 Oct 2003
Common Pochard Aythya ferina A  
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca A Thetford, Summer 2001
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula A  
Greater Scaup Aythya marila A Snettisham, 6 Oct 2003, Fem on pit
Common Eider Somateria mollissima A  
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis A  
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra A  
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca A  
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula A  
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator A  
Goosander Mergus merganser A  
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis C  
Red Kite Milvus milvus AC High Wycombe, July 2001
White-tailed Eagle* Haliaeetus albicilla A Mull, June 2003
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus A  
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A Findhorn Valley, June 2003
Pallid Harrier* Circus macrourus A Norfolk, Winter 2003
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus A Minsmere, 30 April 2003
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A  
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo A  
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos A Skye, June 2001
Osprey Pandion haliaetus A  
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A  
Red-footed Falcon* Falco vespertinus A Wicken Fen, 25 August 2003 - 1st Summer Male
Merlin Falco columbarius A Mull, June 2003
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo A  
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus A Aviemore, June 2003
Willow Ptarmigan (Red Grouse) Lagopus lagopus A  
Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus A  
Western Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus BC Loch Garten, June 2003
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa C  
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix AC  
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus C  
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus A  
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana A Cantley Beet Factory, 30 Sep 2003
Corn Crake Crex crex A Iona, June 2003
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A  
Common Coot Fulica atra A  
Common Crane Grus grus A Waxham Sands 30 Sep 2003, 4 in flight
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus A  
Black-winged Stilt* Himantopus himantopus A  
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A  
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus A Wheeting Heath, June 2001
Little Plover Charadrius dubius A  
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula A  
Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus A Cairngorm, June 2001
European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria A  
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola A  
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus A  
Red Knot Calidris canutus A  
Sanderling Calidris alba A  
Little Stint Calidris minuta A Titchwell 23 Sep 2003
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos A Titchwell, June 2001
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea A Titchwell 23 Sep 2003
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima A Titchwell, 1 Jan 2001
Dunlin Calidris alpina A  
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis A Wicken Fen, 14 May 2003
Ruff Philomachus pugnax A  
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus A  
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago A  
Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola A Boat of Garten, June 2003
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa A  
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica A  
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A  
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata A  
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus A  
Common Redshank Tringa totanus A  
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia A  
Lesser Yellowlegs* Tringa flavipes A Amwel GP, 19 October 2002
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus A  
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola A  
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A  
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres A  
Wilson’s Phalarope* Phalaropus tricolor A Essex, Summer 2001
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus A Titchwell, 18 Oct 2003
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius A Grafham Water, 30 Sep 2003
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus A Dungeness, May 2002, Snettisham 3 Oct 2003, Juv
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus A Handa, June 2003
Great Skua Catharacta skua A Handa, June 2003
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus A  
Little Gull Larus minutus A  
Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini A Lowestoft South Pier, June 20 2003
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus A  
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis A Westcliffe on Sea, 4 Oct 2003
Mew Gull (Common Gull) Larus canus A  
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus A  
Herring Gull Larus argentatus A  
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus A  
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla A  
Gull-billed Tern* Sterna nilotica A  
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis A  
Common Tern Sterna hirundo A  
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea A Little Farne, 1 June 2002
Little Tern Sterna albifrons A  
Black Tern Chlidonias niger A Dungeness, May 2002
White-winged Tern* Chlidonias leucopterus A Snettisham, 3 Oct 2003, Juv
Common Guillemot Uria aalge A  
Razorbill Alca torda A  
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle A Oban June 2003
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica A  
Rock Pigeon Columba livia AC  
Stock Pigeon Columba oenas A  
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus A  
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto A  
European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur A  
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri C  
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus A  
Barn Owl Tyto alba A  
Snowy Owl* Nyctea scandiaca A Felixtowe, Nov 2001
Little Owl Athene noctua C  
Tawny Owl Strix aluco A  
Long-eared Owl Asio otus A Rye Harbour, 4 May 2003
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus A  
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A Salthouse, 27 May 2003
Common Swift Apus apus A  
Alpine Swift* Apus melba A Minsmere, 30 April 2003
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis A  
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster A Bishop Middleham Quarry, 5 June 2002 (Pair)
Hoopoe Upupa epops A Summer Leys, Wellingborough, 21 May 2003
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis A  
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major A  
Wood Lark Lullula arborea A  
Sky Lark Alauda arvensis A  
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris A  
Sand Martin Riparia riparia A  
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A  
Red-rumped Swallow* Hirundo daurica A Minsmere, 30 April 2003
House Martin Delichon urbica A  
Olive-backed Pipit* Anthus hodgsoni A Lybdford Arboraetum, Feb 2002
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis A  
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis A  
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus A  
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava A  
Citrine Wagtail* Motacilla citreola A Kelling Water Meadow, 25 August 2003 - 1st Winter
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A  
White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba A  
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus A  
White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus A  
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes A  
Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis A  
European Robin Erithacus rubecula A  
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos A Minsmere, 30 April 2003
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica A Minsmere, May 2001
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A Norfolk, Summer 2001
Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus A  
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra A  
Stonechat Saxicola torquata A  
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe A  
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus A Findhorn Valley, June 2003
Common Blackbird Turdus merula A  
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris A  
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos A  
Redwing Turdus iliacus A  
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus A  
Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti A  
Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides A Thornham Norfolk, May 2001
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus A  
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris A Kelling Water Meadow, June 19 2003
Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus A  
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata A  
Sardinian Warbler* Sylvia melanocephala A Hunstanton, 11 October 2002
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria A Juv, The Naze, 29 Sep 2003
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca A  
Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis A  
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin A  
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla A  
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus A Holkham, 11 October 2002
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A Stiffkey, October 2003, and Holme NOA 27 Sep 2003
Hume’s Leaf Warbler* Phylloscopus humei A Trimingham, Norfolk 18 Oct 2003
Radde’s Warbler* Phylloscopus schwarzi A Wells Wood, 11 October 2002
Dusky Warbler* Phylloscopus fuscatus A Waxham, 28 Oct 2003
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A RSPB Inversnaid, June 2003
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita A  
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus A  
Goldcrest Regulus regulus A  
Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla A Waxham, 18 Oct 2003
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata A  
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva A Wells Wood, 11 October 2002
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A RSPB Inversnaid, June 2003
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus A  
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus A  
Marsh Tit Parus palustris A Grafham Water, 30 Sep 2003
Willow Tit Parus montanus A  
Crested Tit Parus cristatus A Abernethy Forest, June 2001
Coal Tit Parus ater A  
Blue Tit Parus caeruleus A  
Great Tit Parus major A  
Wood Nuthatch Sitta europaea A  
Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris A  
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus A Lakenheath, July 2001
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A Minsmere, 2002
Lesser Grey Shrike* Lanius minor A Acle, 28 June 2003
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor A Holkham, October 11 2002 & Surrey, April 2003
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator A Langley, 2 May 2003, Langton Herring Dorset 26 May 2003
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius A  
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica A  
Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula A  
Rook Corvus frugilegus A  
Carrion Crow Corvus corone A  
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix A  
Common Raven Corvus corax A  
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris A  
Rosy Starling* Sturnus roseus A Kelling Water Meadow, Oct 3 2003 Juv
House Sparrow Passer domesticus A  
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A Hawthorn Corner, May 2002
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs A  
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla A  
European Serin Serinus serinus A Holkham Pines, 27 May 2003
European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris A  
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A  
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus A  
Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina A  
Twite Carduelis flavirostris A  
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret Titchwell, 1 Jan 2002
Mealy Redpoll Carduelis flammea A Titchwell, 1 Jan 2003
Arctic Redpoll* Carduelis hornemanni A Titchwell, 1 Jan 2004
Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra A Lyndford Arboaretum, Feb 2002
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus A Spurn - Beacon Lane 14/9/03 - dull and elusive juv.
Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula A  
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes A Lyndford Arboaretum, Feb 2002
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis A Cairngorm, June 2001
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella A  
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana A Sawardstone Marsh, Waltham Cross, 1 Oct 2003 - Juv
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla A Walsey Hills Cley, 28 Oct 2003
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus A  
Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra A Drying Barns, Titchwell


All content and images © Igor Czajkowski 2002