List of countryside birds in more urban areas - Telegraph Wildlife List of countryside birds in more urban areas Countryside birds are increasingly moving into towns because the big freeze has meant food is harder to find, according to the RSPB. Follow Here is a list of the unusual visitors, courtesy of the RSPB: Redwing: Most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is Britain's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields. Fieldfare: Large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. Bittern: A thickset heron with all-over bright, pale, buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars. It flies on broad, rounded, bowed wings. Very difficult to see, as it moves silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish.

The males make a far-carrying, booming sound in spring. Its dependence on reedbeds and very small population make it a Red List species - one of the most threatened in the country. Woodcock: A large bulky wading bird with short legs, and a very long straight tapering bill. It is largely nocturnal, spending most of the day in dense cover. Most of the birds in the UK are residents; in the autumn birds move to the UK from Finland and Russia to winter here. Related Articles West Town Farm List | Wildlife , Birds , Bird Life At West Town Farm Our approach to farming in managing the land organically, maintaining hedgrows, re-planting orchards, encouraging species rich grassland etc. provides the variety of habitat and food sources necessary to host the wide variety of birds in the list below. If you're ever out at the farm and you spot an interesting bird or take a good picture please do let us know, we'd love to be able to add it to the list! If you'd like to know a bit more about any of the birds below please visit the RSPB website as they're the experts and have given us permission to use this information.

Blackbird - The males live up to their name but, confusingly, females are brown often with spots and streaks on their breasts. The bright orange-yellow beak and eye-ring make adult male blackbirds one of the most striking garden birds. One of the commonest UK birds, its mellow song is also a favourite. You can find them just about anyweher on the farm at any time of year. They like to eat insects worms and berries. Blue tit - A colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green makes the blue tit one of our most attractive and most recognisable native birds. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search for food. A garden with four or five blue tits at a feeder at any one time may be feeding 20 or more. Gaggles of blue tits can often be found in the hedge right next to the farm gate as they flock to the bird feeder hanging outside the forge. Bullfinch - The male is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and the sad call note are usually the first signs of bullfinches being present.

They feed voraciously on the buds of various trees in spring and were once a 'pest' of fruit crops so look out for them in the Orchards! Buzzard - Now the commonest and most widespread UK bird of prey. It is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow 'V' and the tail is fanned. Birds are variable in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail. Their plaintive mewing call could be mistaken for a cat. A family of Buzzards live in Chillies Copse but you can see them all over the farm as the soar above the fields searching for small mammals and other tasty meals. The farm staff really enjoy watching the young Buzzards learning to fly, it's a very noisy process with lots of verbal encouragement between siblings! Carrion crow - The all-black carrion crow is one of the cleverest, most adaptable of our birds. It is often quite fearless, although it can be wary of man. They are fairly solitary, usually found alone or in pairs.

The closely related hooded crow has recently been split as a separate species. Chaffinch - The chaffinch is the UK's second commonest breeding bird, and is arguably the most colourful of the UK's finches. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. It does not feed openly on bird feeders - it prefers to hop about under the bird table or under the hedge. You'll usually hear chaffinches before you see them, with their loud song and varied calls. Coal tit - Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the coal tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. Its smaller, more slender bill than blue or great tits means it can feed more successfully in conifers. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food. Collared Dove - Collared doves are a pale, pinky-brown grey colour, with a distinctive black neck collar (as the name suggests). They have deep red eyes and reddish feet.

Their monotonous cooing will be a familiar sound to many of you. Although you'll often see them on their own or in pairs, flocks may form where there is a lot of food (seeds and grain) available. Dunnock - A small brown and grey bird. Quiet and unobtrusive, it is often seen on its own, creeping along the edge of a flower bed or near to a bush, moving with a rather nervous, shuffling gait, often flicking its wings as it goes. When two rival males come together they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling. It likes to eat insects, spiders, worms and seeds. Fieldfares - Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. These straggling, chuckling flocks that roam the UK's countryside are a delightful and attractive part of the winter scene. They begin to arrive from October and numbers build up as the winter progresses.

Birds start to return in March and some may stay into May.Best looked for in the countryside, along hedges and in fields. Hawthorn hedges with berries are a favourite feeding area. In late winter grass fields, playing fields and arable fields with nearby trees and hedges are a favourite place. They've been spotted in The Paddock and Orchards at West Town Farm in the past. Goldfinch - A highly coloured finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. Sociable, often breeding in loose colonies, they have a delightful liquid twittering song and call. Their long fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly they are visiting birdtables and feeders. In winter many UK goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain. They're fairly common on the farm but, as they particularly like rough ground, with scattered bushes, trees, thistles and other seeding plants you might look out for them up at the Quarry. Great tit - The largest UK tit - green and yellow with a striking glossy black head with white cheeks and a distinctive two-syllable song. It is a woodland bird which has readily adapted to man-made habitats to become a familiar garden visitor.

In winter it joins with blue tits and others to form roaming flocks which scour gardens and countryside for food. Great spotted woodpecker - About blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. It has a very distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the observer. Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown. Greenfinch - Its twittering and wheezing song, and flash of yellow and green as it flies, make this finch a truly colourful character. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at a food source. A common countryside bird found in woods and hedges, but mostly found close to man on farmland and in parks, town and village gardens and orchards. Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but increased dramatically during the 1990s.

A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease which prevents the birds from feeding properly. Green woodpecker - The green woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It is green on its upperparts with a paler belly, bright yellow rump and red on the top of its head. The black 'moustache' has a red centre in males. They have an undulating flight and a loud, laughing call and has been spotted on the telegraph poles around the farm. Grey heron - Grey herons are unmistakeable: tall, with long legs, a long beak and grey, black and white feathering. They can stand with their neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunched down with their neck bent over their chest. They eat lots of fish, but also small birds such as ducklings, small mammals like voles, and amphibians and conseuently can generally be found around any kind of water. At the farm that means look fr them by the stream or the pond in the Community Garden.

However after harvesting, grey herons can sometimes be seen in fields, looking for rodents. Grey partridge - A medium-sized, plump gamebird with a distinctive orange face. Flies with whirring wings and occasional glides, showing a chestnut tail. It is strictly a ground bird, never likely to be found in pear trees! Groups of 6-15 (known as coveys) are most usually seen outside the breeding season. Once very common and widespread, it has undergone serious declines throughout most of its range and is a Red List species. You're most likely to find them in the fields, particularly the specially planted seed field next to The Quarry, as they live off seeds, leaves and insects. Hawfinch- David, who comes to the farm to bird watch, took this picture. He says, "Note the very large hefty bill capable of cracking open cherry stones with a force of about 40 lbs per sq. inch. Now a rare breeding bird in the UK in part due to destruction of orchards where they used to breed. They are nervous birds and are difficult to approach. We think the ones we see here are from Europe driven by a lack of food.

They feed on Field Maple seeds and also Hornbeam." House martin - The house martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and, on close inspection, white feathers covering its legs and toes. It spends much of its time on the wing collecting insect prey. The bird's mud nest is usually sites below the eaves of buildings. They are summer migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Although still numerous and widespread, recent moderate declines earn them a place on the Amber List. House sparrow - Noisy and gregarious, these cheerful exploiters of man's rubbish and wastefulness, have managed to colonise most of the world. The ultimate avian opportunist perhaps. Monitoring suggests a severe decline in the UK house sparrow population, recently estimated as dropping by 71 per cent between 1977 and 2008 with substantial declines in both rural and urban populations. Whilst the decline in England continues, Breeding Bird Survey data indicate recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Jay - Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see.

They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a jay is about and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump. Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter. Chillies Copse is a good place to start looking for them, because there are some oaks there, but you might also try along the lane next to Wilderness Three and the Railway Cutting as it runs along the bottom of Three Corner field. Kingfisher - Kingfishers are small unmistakable bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface. So, look for them along the banks of the stream where they may be hunting for any small fish or aquatic insects. They are a vulnerable to hard winters and habitat degradation through pollution or unsympathetic management of watercourses, which is why good farm management is important.

Lesser spotted woodpecker - The lesser spotted woodpecker is the smallest and least common of the three woodpeckers that are resident in Britain. The male is distinguished from the female by his bright red crown. It tends to nest and feed higher up and is quieter in its tapping. Usually located by its call, and its drumming. When feeding it creeps along branches and flutters from branch to branch, flying with an undulating flight in the open. They're been seen in The Old Orchard where they were probably searching for larvae, spiders and wood-boring insects, which is what they subsist on. Linnet - A small, slim finch, widely distributed, and once very popular as a cage bird because of its melodious song. Males are attractively marked with crimson foreheads and breasts, females much browner. It has an undulating flight, usually twittering as it flies and may be seen in large flocks during the winter. Linnet numbers have dropped substantially over the past few decades, with the UK population estimated to have declined by 57 per cent between 1970 and 2008.

because of this Linnets are a Red Status listed bird but Christoph, one of the OrganicARTS volunteers, says there are some living in the brambles at the bottom of West Town Orchard. Little egret - The little egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Its colonization followed naturally from a range expansion intro western and northern France in previous decades. It is now at home on numerous south coast sites, such as the esturaries of Devon & Cornwall, both as a breeding species and as a winter visitor. It is included on the Amber List as rare breeding species. Long-tailed tit - The long-tailed tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring, a tail that is bigger than its body, and undulating flight. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes.

Magpie - With its noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, there is nothing else quite like the magpie in the UK. When seen close-up its black plumage takes on an altogether more colourful hue with a purplish-blue iridescent sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. Magpies seem to be jacks of all trades - scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers, their challenging, almost arrogant attitude has won them few friends. Non-breeding birds will gather together in flocks and the farm does have a couple of these. Mostly they gather in the Community Garden where they have been known to steal eggs from the chickens. Mallard - The mallard is a large and heavy looking duck. It has a long body and a long and broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body. The female is mainly brown with an orange bill. It breeds in all parts of the UK in summer and winter, wherever there are suitable wetland habitats, on the farm that would be the stream and the pond in the Community Garden.

Mallards in the UK may be resident breeders or migrants - many of the birds that breed in Iceland and northern Europe spend the winter here. Mistle thrush - This is a pale, black-spotted thrush - large, aggressive and powerful. It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground while in flight, it has long wings and its tail has whitish edges. It is most likely to be noticed perched high at the top of a tree, singing its fluty song or giving its rattling call in flight. Moorhen - Moorhens are blackish with a red and yellow beak and long, green legs. Seen closer-up, they have a dark brown back and wings and a more bluish-black belly, with white stripes on the flanks. You can find them around any pond, lake, stream or river, or even ditches on farmland! Nuthatch - The nuthatch is a plump bird about the size of a great tit that resembles a small woodpecker. It is blue-grey above and whitish below, with chestnut on its sides and under its tail. It has a black stripe on its head, a long black pointed bill, and short legs.

It breeds in central and southern England and in Wales, and is resident, with birds seldom travelling far from the woods where they hatch so keep an eye out for it in Chillies Copse. Pheasant - A large, long-tailed gamebird. Males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on body and tail, with a dark green head and red face wattling. Females are mottled with paler brown and black. They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting. There are lots of Pheasants all over the farm as they wander in from the Perridge Estate next door, where they're raised for shooting. You are most likely to see them around the pig pens though because they like to eat leftover crumbs of pig food. You might also find a couple hanging in the staff kitchen. Pied wagtail - A delightful small, long-tailed and rather sprightly black and white bird. When not standing and frantically wagging its tail up and down it can be seen dashing about, particularly in the farmyard and farm house gardens.

It frequently calls when in its undulating flight and often gathers at dusk to form large roosts. Redwing - The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields. They'll often join flocks of fieldfares. Only a few pairs nest in the UK. Robin - The UK's favourite bird - with its bright red breast it is familar throughout the year and especially at Christmas! Males and females look identical, and young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown. Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away intruders. They will sing at night next to street lights. There are a few Robins around the farm but one in particular is quite tame and you're most likley to spot him on the cake stand at any farm event.

Song thrush - A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, especially on farmland making it a Red List species. Smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head. Sparrowhawks - Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey. They're adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces like dense woodland. Adult male sparrowhawks have bluish-grey back and wings and orangey-brown bars on their chest and belly. Females and young birds have brown back and wings, and brown bars underneath. Sparrowhawks have bright yellow or orangey eyes, long, yellow legs and long talons. Females are larger than males, as with most birds of prey. Sparrowhawks breed in the woodland and eat smaller birds, you could see them on the farm at any time of year but you might start by looking out for them in Chillies Copse, Easterbrooks and The Paddock, particularly in spring time when the males starting displaying their "rollercoaster" flight to impress females.

Starling - Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head, triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Their flight is fast and direct and they walk and run confidently on the ground. Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. Still one of the commonest of garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it a Red List species. Swallow - Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, red throats, pale underparts and long tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter. Swallow numbers in the UK have fluctuated over the last 30 years with pronounced regional variation in trends. The species is amber listed due to population declines across Europe.

The farm is lucky in that a group of swallows return here every year to breed in the rafters of farm buildings, they're particularly fond of the Old Grain Barn and last year Andy made a special hole for them in the roof of our brand new disabled toilet so they could continue to access one of their fvaourite nest building locations. Swallows are found in areas where there is a ready and accessible supply of small insects. They are particularly fond of open pasture and you can often see them swooping over the farm fields and farmyard at dusk, or watch them as they perch on the cables. Swift - The swift is a medium-sized aerial bird, which is a superb flier. It evens sleeps on the wing! It is plain sooty brown, but in flight against the sky it appears black. It has long, scythe-like wings and a short, forked tail. It is a summer visitor, breeding across the UK, but most numerously in the south and east. It winters in Africa. Treecreeper - The treecreeper is small, very active, bird that lives in trees. It has a long, slender, downcurved bill. It is speckly brown above and mainly white below.

It breeds in the UK and is resident here. Birds leave their breeding territories in autumn but most range no further than 20 km. Its population is mainly stable. Best looked for on the trunks of trees in suitable woodland on the farm. In autumn and winter, it often joins flocks of tits and other small birds, so if you come across such a flock in a wood, it is worth listening out for a treecreeper among them. Tree sparrow - Smaller than a house sparrow and more active, with its tail almost permanently cocked. It has a chestnut brown head and nape (rather than grey), and white cheeks and collar with a contrasting black cheek spot. They are shyer than house sparrows in the UK and are not associated with man, although in continental Europe they often nest in buildings just like house sparrows. The UK tree sparrow population has suffered a severe decline, estimated at 93 per cent between 1970 and 2008. However, recent Breeding Bird Survey data is encouraging, suggesting that numbers may have started to increase, albeit from a very low point.

They're still almost absent from the South West though so it's great to know we're providing appropriate habitat for them. Woodpigeon - The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, it is largely grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches, clearly visible in flight. Although shy in the countryside it can be tame and approachable in towns and cities. Its cooing call is a familiar sound in woodlands as is the loud clatter of its wings when it flies away. They like to eat crops like cabbages, sprouts and peas, consequently you're likely to find them in the Community Garden despite attempts to persuade them to be elsewhere. Wren - The wren is a tiny brown bird, although it is heavier, less slim, than the even smaller goldcrest. It is dumpy, almost rounded, with a fine bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail which is sometimes cocked up vertically. For such a small bird it has a remarkably loud voice. It is the commonest UK breeding bird, although it suffers declines during prolonged, severely cold winters.

Yellow wagtail - The yellow wagtail is a small, graceful, yellow and green bird, with a medium-length tail and slender black legs. It spends much time walking or running on the ground. As its name implies, it wags its tail from time to time. It is a summer visitor, migrating to winter in Africa. It breeds in a variety of habitats in the UK, including arable farmland, wet pastures and upland hay meadows, all of which can be found here at West Town. Serious declines in breeding numbers accross all of these habitats place the yellow wagtail on the red list of birds of conservation concern. The RSPB: Redwing Conservation status: Red The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields. Only a few pairs nest in the UK. Illustrations Winter birdwatching: Which wild birds will visit your garden? Shop my BRAND NEW spring collection for John Lewis!

>> Winter birdwatching: Which wild birds will visit your garden? Winter is a great time to see wild birds in your garden. There are two main reasons: migration and scarce food supplies.MigrationAround 40% of the world’s bird species are migratory according to the RSPB . Some of our resident birds like swallows head south to Africa to escape the cold and find food. But many species come to spend winter in Britain! Our climate is much milder than their native habitats in more northerly regions like Canada, Scandinavia and the Artic.In fact, if you spot any British garden stalwarts like tits, robins, blackbirds and starlings over winter, they may be visitors from Eastern Europe rather than resident birds.Bird migration depends on the weather and is never the same from year to year. If conditions are harsh in the birds’ native habitats, more of them will travel to warmer climates. But if not, many may not migrate.FoodThe biggest challenge facing birds during winter is finding enough food. Eating is vital for them to maintain body fat and stave off the cold. But food sources become scarce during the winter months.

The ground is frozen solid and snow, ice and frost hide seeds and berries.The search for food often sends more birds into our gardens. In fact, it can be a lifeline for hungry birds during harsh weather. You can help the birds by putting out some food for them, as well as fresh water when the ground is froze. Keep both topped up and replenish it little and often.Look out for bird activity first thing in the morning, as they replenish their energy, and in the evening to prepare for the cold night.Here are some of the visiting birds you might spot during winter. Brambling Bramblings breed in Scandinavia and Siberia, moving to southern Europe for winter. They like being around woodland but are common garden visitors and love to eat seeds. They can be found all across the UK except very north and west Scotland.Bramblings are similar to the chaffinch in size and shape, and they often join up with flocks of chaffinches. You might spot them at the feeding table – look out for an orange breast and distinctive white belly. Waxwing These are reddish brown with a striking crest and yellow-tipped tail.

They live and breed in Scandinavia and some arrive on the east coast of Britain in winter, from Scotland to East Anglia. They eat berries and love rowan and hawthorn, as well as cotoneaster.Waxwings do not visit the UK every winter. But every few years there is an ‘iruption’. This is an unusual mass migration to our shores when the waxwing population gets very large and food in Scandinavia becomes scarce. The birds are forced across the sea in search of berries. Blackcap These are grey-coloured warblers with a distinctive black ‘cap’ on top of their heads. They are primarily a summer visitor, but recently more and more birds from north-east Europe are spending winter in the UK.They eat insects and berries and live in woodland and parks, but are regular visitors to gardens. They have a distinctive call, which earned them the nickname ‘northern nightingale’. Redwing Redwings are the UK’s smallest true thrush. They have orange-red patches on the flank and live in the countryside and hedgerows.They can be found all across the UK during winter, especially in Scotland as they travel down from the north.

Redwings visit gardens when snow covers the fields, sending them looking elsewhere for food. Fieldfare These are large, colourful thrushes. They have a distinctive hopping movement and stand very upright. They are social birds and travel in large flocks. They can be found everywhere in the UK during winter.Fieldfare love to eat berries and insects and spend most of their time in the countryside, exploring fields and hedgerows. But they do come into gardens during snowy periods. Brent geese These are small dark geese that come from the Arctic to spend winter on our warmer shores. They mostly visit the east and south coasts of England and the coasts of Ireland.Brent geese eat vegetation, especially eelgrass, and stay by the coast or estuaries. But many are now venturing further inland to farmland for grass and cereals. Snow bunting Snow buntings are large buntings with white plumage. They are a fairly rare sight in Britain, mostly found in coastal gardens in Scotland and eastern England.Snow buntings are what is known as altitudinal migrants – they come down from higher ground in search of milder weather and food supplies. They breed in Scandinavia and Alaska.

Siskin Siskins are resident in the UK, especially in Scotland and Wales. But more birds arrive from Europe during winter and spread across England. They are becoming more common visitors to the garden during the cold months.Siskins are small finches with forked tails, black crowns and yellow-green plumage, especially on the wings and tail. They love to eat the seeds of conifers, alders and birch and can often be seen perched at the top of trees.Find out what natural food sources are available to birds in your garden. Plus read how to make your own healthy, tasty fat balls. And read more about winter garden birds at the RSPB. Related Posts Birds Inhabiting The Woods At The Wild Boar | English Lakes The Wild Boar Woods Birdlife The Wild Boar Woods Birdlife Visitors to the woods at The Wild Boar can expect to see a diversity of wildlife inhabiting these ancient lakeland woods. We have a provided below a list of some of the bird species visitors might encounter on a trek around the woods. Blackbird (Turdus merula) While male blackbirds live up to their name, confusingly, females are actually brown, often with spots and streaks on their breasts.

You'll quite often spot these birds hopping along the ground with their long tails up in the air. In winter, migrant blackbirds from northern Europe join our resident birds. Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) A colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green make the agile blue tit one of our most attractive garden visitors. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search for food - flitting onto bird feeders, or feeding on seeds and scraps left on bird tables and on the ground. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) The male is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and the sad call note are usually the first signs of bullfinches being present. They feed voraciously of the buds of various trees in spring and were once a 'pest' of fruit crops. Buzzard (Buteo buteo) The Buzzard is now the commonest and most widespread UK bird of prey. It is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail.

When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow 'V' and the tail is fanned. Birds are variable in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations; all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail. Their plaintive mewing call could be mistaken for a cat. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Arguably one of our most colourful finches, both male and female chaffinches have black and white wings, and a green rump. Males have a pinky face and breast and a blue-grey crown, while females are sandy brown. Its patterned plumage helps it to blend in when feeding on the ground and it becomes most obvious when it flies, revealing a flash of white on the wings and white outer tail feathers. It does not feed openly on bird feeders - it prefers to hop about under the bird table or under the hedge. You'll usually hear chaffinches before you see them, with their loud song and varied calls. Coal tit (Periparus ater) This small tit has a black head with white cheeks and a white stripe on the back of its head.

They are very active and agile birds, often seen in flocks with other small birds feeding in woods and hedgerows, as well as on feeders. They take any excess food and store it for eating later. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food. Coot (Fulica atra) All-black and larger than its cousin, the moorhen, it has a distinctive white beak and 'shield' above the beak which earns it the title 'bald'. Its feet have distinctive lobed flaps of skin on the toes, which act instead of webs when swimming. It patters noisily over the water before taking off and can be very aggressive towards others. Dunnock (Prunella modularis) A small brown and grey bird. Quiet and unobtrusive, it is often seen on its own, creeping along the edge of a flower bed or near to a bush, moving with a rather nervous, shuffling gait, often flicking its wings as it goes.

When two rival males come together they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) The Eagle Owl is one of the most powerful owls in the world. It is Eagle Owl an inhabitant of Europe and Asia, and is a rarity in Great Britain. It is characterized by its very large size (26 to 28 inches long), the two tufts of feathers on its head and the large orange eyes. It is the largest of the European owls Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) In October, watch out for fieldfares returning to spend the winter in the UK. Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a mistle thrush in general size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen or two to several hundred strong. These straggling, chuckling flocks that roam the UK's countryside are a delightful and attractive part of the winter scene. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) The goldcrest is the UK's smallest songbird and is dull green above and buff white below with a distinctive orange or yellow crown stripe.

It is a widespread species, closely associated with coniferous forest. In winter it will join with flocks of tits and other woodland species. In the UK it occurs widely save for in treeless areas such as on the Fens and in northern Scotland. It suffers in very cold winters and the recent successive mild winters are a cause for optimism. Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) A large hawk, almost as large as a Buzzard. Seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Its broad wings enable it to hunt at high speed, weaving in and out of trees, and its long legs and talons can catch its prey in flight. The female is substantially larger than the male. In late winter and spring it has a 'sky-dance' display. Goshawks are still persecuted and their nests are frequently robbed. Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) About blackbird-sized and striking black and white. It has a very distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the observer.

Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown. Great tit (Parus major) Great tits are green and yellow with striking glossy black heads, white cheeks and a distinctive two-syllable song. They feed on seeds and scraps either left on the ground, or on bird tables and in nut feeders, often using their bigger size to boss the other birds off the food! Green woodpecker (Picus viridis) The green woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It is greeny-grey on its upperparts with a bright green rump and red on the top of its head. They have an undulating flight. They climb up tree trunks and branches and will move around to be on the side away from anyone watching. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) With its twittering and wheezing song, and flash of yellow and green as it flies, greenfinches are truly colourful characters.

Females might be brown, but don't confuse them with female house sparrows - when she flies off, you'll see the yellow in her tail and wings. Nesting in a garden conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, it is a popular garden visitor, able to take advantage of food in town and city gardens at a time when intensive agriculture has deprived it of many weed seeds in the countryside. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at the bird table. Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) The largest European heron. It can stand with neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunch down with its neck bent over its chest. In flight it holds its neck retracted and has large rounded wings. It is usually solitary although several birds may feed fairly close together. It stalks its food, often standing motionless for some considerable time. It usually feeds close to the bank or shore, but may wade out into shallow water. Greylag goose (Anser anser) The ancestor of most domestic geese, the greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild geese native to the UK and Europe.

In many parts of the UK it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas, but the resulting flocks (often mixed with Canada geese) found around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs all year round in southern Britain tend to be semi-tame and uninspiring. The native birds and wintering flocks found in Scotland retain the special appeal of truly wild geese. Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a jay is about and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump. Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) A kestrel is often a familiar sight with its pointed wings and long tail, hovering beside a roadside verge.

Numbers of kestrels declined in the 1970s, probably as a result of changes in farming and so it is included on the Amber List. They have adapted readily to man-made environments and can survive right in the centre of cities. Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) A small, dumpy grebe which often appears to have a 'fluffy' rear end. It readily dives when disturbed, surfacing unseen some distance away. In summer it has a bright chestnut throat and cheeks and a pale gape patch at the base of the bill. It can be noisy, with a distinctive whinnying trill. Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Looking like a ball on a stick with their long tails and small bodies, you'll probably notice long-tailed tits most when they are in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Both males and females are black, white and pale pink, with distinctive white crowns. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds.

Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. Magpie (Pica pica) Magpies seem to be jacks of all trades - scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers; their challenging, almost arrogant attitude has won them few friends. With its noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, there is nothing else quite like the magpie in the UK. When seen close-up its black plumage takes on an altogether more colourful hue with a purplish-blue iridescent sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. Non breeding birds will gather together in flocks. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) The mallard is a large and heavy looking duck. It has a long body and a long and broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body. The female is mainly brown with an orange bill. It breeds in all parts of the UK in summer and winter, wherever there are suitable wetland habitats, although it is scarcer in upland areas.

Mallards in the UK may be resident breeders or migrants - many of the birds that breed in Iceland and northern Europe spend the winter here. Mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) This big, bold spotty thrush is very territorial when it comes to its favourite berry bushes. Listen for its harsh 'football rattle' call. This is a pale, black-spotted thrush - large, aggressive and powerful. It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground while in flight, it has long wings and its tail has whitish edges. It is most likely to be noticed perched high at the top of a tree, singing its fluty song or giving its rattling call in flight. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) The moorhen is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird, and is usually found near water. From a distance it looks black with a ragged white line along its body. Up close it is olive-brown on the back and the head and underneath it is blue-grey. It has a red bill with a yellow tip. It breeds in the UK in lowland areas, especially in central and eastern England.

It is scarce in northern Scotland and the uplands of Wales and northern England. UK breeding birds are residents and seldom travel far. Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) The nuthatch is a plump bird about the size of a great tit that resembles a small woodpecker. It is blue-grey above and whitish below, with chestnut on its sides and under its tail. It has a black stripe on its head, a long black pointed bill, and short legs. It breeds in central and southern England and in Wales, and is resident, with birds seldom travelling far from the woods where they hatch. Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) The peregrine is a large and powerful falcon. It has long, broad, pointed wings and a relatively short tail. It is blue-grey above, with a blackish top of the head and an obvious black 'moustache' that contrasts with its white face. It is swift and agile in flight, chasing prey. The strongholds of the breeding birds in the UK are the uplands of the north and west and rocky seacoasts.

Peregrines have suffered illegal killing from gamekeepers and landowners, and been a target for egg collectors, but better legal protection and control of pesticides (which indirectly poisoned birds) have helped the population to recover considerably from a low in the 1960s. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) A large, long-tailed game bird. Males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on body and tail, with a dark green head and red face. Females are mottled with paler brown and black. They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting. Raven (Corvus corax) The raven is a big black bird, a member of the crow family. It is massive, bigger than a buzzard. It is all black with a large bill, and long wings. In flight, it shows a diamond-shaped tail. It breeds in the west and north only. Most birds are residents, but some birds, especially non-breeders and young birds wander from their breeding areas but do not travel far.

Redwing (Turdus iliacus) This winter visitor is the UK's smallest thrush, but still manages to reach our shores all the way from Scandinavia. The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields. Only a few pairs nest in the UK. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) The UK's favourite bird - with its bright red breast it is familiar throughout the year and especially at Christmas! Males and females look identical, and young birds have no red breast and are spotted with golden brown. Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away intruders. Despite its cute appearance, both males and females hold winter territories and will aggressively drive away intruders. They are the only garden birds to sing throughout winter.

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) Short-eared owls are medium sized owls with mottled brown bodies, pale under-wings and yellow eyes. They are commonly seen hunting during the day. In winter, there is an influx of continental birds. They are of European conservation concern and so are an Amber List species. Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) Speckle-breasted song thrushes are always a joy to see in the garden. A familiar and popular garden songbird, whose numbers are declining seriously. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) The broad, rounded wings and long tail of sparrowhawks are adapted for flying between trunks and branches enabling them to weave in and out of trees at high speed. They never hover like kestrels. Tawny owl (Strix aluco) The tawny owl is an owl the size of a pigeon. It has a rounded body and head, with a ring of dark feathers around its face surrounding the dark eyes.

It is mainly reddish brown above and paler underneath. It is a widespread breeding species in England, Wales and Scotland but not found in Ireland. Birds are mainly residents with established pairs probably never leaving their territories. Young birds disperse from breeding grounds in autumn. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) The treecreeper is small, very active, bird that lives in trees. It has a long, slender, down curved bill. It is speckled brown above and mainly white below. It breeds in the UK and is resident here. Birds leave their breeding territories in autumn but most range no further than 20 km. Its population is mainly stable Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) The woodcock is a large bulky wading bird with short legs, and a very long straight tapering bill. It is largely nocturnal, spending most of the day in dense cover. Most of the birds in the UK are residents; in the autumn birds move to the UK from Finland and Russia to winter here. The breeding population has been falling recent years, perhaps because of fewer habitats as conifer plantations become too mature for woodcocks to find open enough breeding areas.

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) Woodpigeons are our largest and commonest pigeon. They have small, round, grey heads, white neck patches, a pink breast, and greyish bodies. You've probably heard its cooing call and the loud clatter of its wings when it flies away. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) The wren is a tiny brown bird, although it is heavier, less slim, than the even smaller goldcrest. It is dumpy, almost rounded, with a fine bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail which is sometimes cocked up vertically. For such a small bird it has a remarkably loud voice. It is the commonest UK breeding bird, although it suffers declines during prolonged, severely cold winters. Contact us Birds 2 - Bury Wildlife Bury Wildlife Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch Woodlands, orchard and hedgerows. Best looked for at woodland edges scattered in bury.

Carduelis chloris Greenfinch Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens anywhere Fringilla coelebs Chaffinch Around the UK in woodlands, hedgerows, fields, parks and gardens anywhere Fringilla montifringilla Brambling Winter visitor who likes beech woodland, farmland fields near woods. Look in flocks of chaffinches and other finches. Scarse in Bury. Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch Anywhere there are scattered bushes and trees, rough ground with thistles and other seeding plants. Likes orchards, parks, gardens, heathland and commons Emberiza schoeniclus reed Bunting Predominantly a farmland and wetland bird. Typically found in wet vegetation but has recently spread into farmland and, in winter, into gardens. When singing the male usually perched on top of a bush, or reed. scattered in bury. Passer domesticus House Sparrow a severe decline in the UK house sparrow population, recently estimated as dropping by 71 per cent between 1977 and 2008 with substantial declines in both rural and urban populations. Red Staus.

Spasmodic in Bury. Carduelis spinus Siskin Often seen in winter flocks eating seeds, especially of conifers, alders and birch, and some insects. Spasmodic in Bury Emberiza citrinella Yellowhammer20/07/2013W Not uncommon in the west of the County. Passer montanus Tree Sparrow19/10/2013O Not frequent this waas seen at Castleshaw Carduelis cabaret Lesser Redpoll 21/04/2013B Carduelis cannabina Linnet 27/04/2013B Aegithalos caudatus Long Tailed Tit, Found across the UK except for the far north and west of Scotland. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens. In winter they form flocks with other tit species. Common in Bury Poecile montanus Willow Tit Found in Bury around Elton but not common.

They are often, but by no means exclusively, found in willow thickets in damp places, such as the edge of lowland peat bogs, marshes, and around gravel pits. Cyanistes caeruleus Blue Tit common Parus major great tit varied songster common. Periparus ater Coal Tit woods common. Troglodytes troglodytes Wren common. Erithacus rubecula robin common. Turdus pilaris fieldfare. They begin to arrive from October and numbers build up as the winter progresses. Birds start to return in March and some may stay into May. Best looked for in the countryside, along hedges and in fields. Hawthorn hedges with berries are a favourite feeding area. not uncommon in Bury in winter. Turdus philomelos Song Thrush A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers are declining seriously, especially on farmland making it a Red List species. Smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases distinguish it from singing blackbirds. It likes to eat snails which it breaks into by smashing them against a stone with a flick of the head.

common Turdus merula Blackbird common. Turdus iliacus Redwing The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, Common in Bury winter. Oenanthe oenanthe Wheatear The wheatear is a small mainly ground-dwelling bird. It hops or runs on the ground. It is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed mainly in western and northern Britain. It winters in central Africa and return to upland areas of Bury in summer Alauda arvensis skylark Found everywhere in the UK. Likes open countryside, from lowland farmland to upland moorland. Often inconspicuous on the ground, it is easy to see when in its distinctive song flight.. Red status declining in Bury but not uncommon. Anthus petrosus Rock pipit It breeds around the coast where there are rocky beaches, and most of the birds that breed in the UK are residents, with only the young birds dispersing once they become independent.

Rare migrant through Bury Anthus pratensis meadow pipit Found across the UK but commonest in the west and north. In winter it moves south, to more lowland areas. Found in open country - upland moors to saltmarshes in summer, more agricultural land and marshes in winter. Fairly common in Bury Turdus viscivorus Mistle Thrush28/04/2012B Certhia familiaris Treecreeper Best looked for on the trunks of trees in suitable woodland. In autumn and winter. Eats Insects and spiders, and some seeds in winter.. Common in Bury woods. Sitta europaea Nuthatch, Best looked for in mature woods and established parkland of Bury. Quite common on the sides of tree trunks and underside of branches. Distinctive call. Saxicola rubetra Whinchat The whinchat is a summer visitor and passage migrant. Birds breed in upland areas of northern and western Britain. It winters in central and southern Africa. Declining but present in Bury Saxicola torquata Stonechat Birds are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes.

Heaths, conifer plantations or coastal sites, and present in Bury. Sturnus vulgaris Starling , Noisy and gregarious, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. Still one of the commonest of garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it a Red List species. Declining in Bury. Corvus monedula Jackdaw Can be found in fields, woods, parks and gardens. They're social birds and roost communally in woodlands. They're widespread and common Corvus corone Carrion Crow. common Garrulus glandarius Jay Shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover but eat anything. Corvus frugilegus Rook 06/04/2013B A bird of farmland breeds in Bury. Pica pica Magpie21/04/2013B Common. Corvus corax Raven 06/04/2013B Breeds in GM and not uncommon in Bury Bombycilla garrulus Waxwing.

Winter visitor, in some years in larger numbers, called irruptions, when the population on its breeding grounds Scandanavia gets too big for the food available. Spasmodic in Bury. Regulus regulus Goldcrest Common in Bury migrants also come from from Scandinavia like conifers.. Prunella modularis Dunnock Inhabits any well vegetated areas with scrub, brambles and hedges. Look in deciduous woodland, farmland edges, parks and gardens. Keeps largely on the ground. amber Phasianus colchicus Pheasant They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting. Fairly common in Bury. Columba palumbus Woodpigeon 21/04/2013B

Question: Which is the smallest true thrush normally seen in Britain?
Answer: Redwing