British Birds
I have been birdwatching for almost 30 years now and a number of species have become favourites of mine. Most of my favourite birds make my list because of something personal to me and not because they are rare, colourful or iconic species; in fact they are iconic, but perhaps only to me.
Here is my list of my ten favourite British Birds and there is a section at the end where you can vote for your favourite.
Birdwatchers who want to learn more about how to improve their birdwatching should read this lens: How to be a Good Birdwatcher.
Bird Guide: The Birds of Britain and Europe.
Bird Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009) 
Other Field Guides to British Birds
The New Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Birds of Britain & Europe (Collins Nature Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East: Over 3,000 Colour Illustrations (Collins Pocket Guide)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
Birds of Britain and Europe (Collins Field Guide)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/10/2009)
1. Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata)
The Dartford Warbler is the bird that got me into birdwatching, aged 7. Whilst on a family holiday in Cornwall my father would take me for walks along the gorse-covered cliffs to look at birds, flowers and other wildlife. One day we came across a Dartford Warbler, which at the time was very rare in England, and I was able to look through my father's binoculars at it. I come from Dartford in Kent, and was thrilled that we had out own bird, and this, combined with its rarity and beauty, quickly made it my favourite bird, which it still is today.My ultimate in birdwatching would be to see a Dartford Warbler in Dartford. With the increasing numbers of this bird in the UK, one day I may get my wish.
Although the Dartford Warbler seems to be one bird that can and will extend its range as a result of climate change, it is still under threat due to habitat loss.
Dartford Warbler Conservation
2. Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)
I grew up in an area where Corn Buntings were, and still are, common. Whenever I went out for a walk with my family, or with the dog, the sound of Corn Buntings came from the surrounding crops; barley, wheat, oilseed rape and peas. Although it is a rather dull bird in appearance, its distinctive call and preference for the same song posts year after year made this feel like "my bird".Whilst at university I did my dissertation on nesting habitat and songpost selection of Corn Buntings and found a distinct preference for barley, for spring-sown crops and for umbellifers (hogweed, cow parsley etc.) for songposts.
The Corn Bunting is in rapid decline across much of Europe and is a bird of conservation concern.
Visit my local Corn Bunting hotspot: The Butts at Hawley, Kent, UK.
3. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Pied Wagtails are a bird that every one can see and recognise as they strut around the street. I have always been a fan of Pied Wagtails but two events put them high up on my list.Firstly, the supermarket where I worked whilst studying was a major roost site for 100s of Pied Wagtails and it was amusing to see them flocking amongst the shoppers entering the store. Secondly, and more sadly, a Pied Wagtail was the last bird I watched with my father before he passed away in a hospice - we saw it walking around outside his room and as it was my father that got me interested in birdwatching, this seemed like an apropriate thing to be one of my last memories of him. Every time I see a Pied Wagtail now I think of my dad.
Pied Wagtails are common birds in the UK.
4. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
The mouse-like behaviour of Treecreepers is surely enough to make it one of everyone's favourite birds? Despite the fact that it is a fairly common bird, I am always pleased to see a Treecreeper.When I was younger, my family used to go on regular holidays to the New Forest and my mother would always get quite excited if we saw a Treecreeper, I guess it was one of the few birds that she could identify, and her enthusiasm for this species rubbed off on me. The sight of a Treecreeper always reminds me of family holidays in the New Forest.
The Treecreeper is a fairly common bird of woodland and has a stable population.
5. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Sanderling are one of the funniest little birds in the United Kingdom, running around at the water's edge on beaches and mudflats. In winter a trip to any beach should result in a sighting of Sanderling running to and fro as the waves come in and then recede. For many beginners, waders can be a tough group of birds to identify, but the very pale appearance and distinctive running action make Sanderling easy to identify.I have seen Sanderling all around the coast of Britain but for me Sanderling and Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey go together for some reason. The only problem is that when I am watching them at that location they often run onto the naturist beach and I am left with a quite unpleasant view and no doubt the resident naturists think I am some sort of peeping tom!
Sanderling is a fairly common winter visitor to Britain.
6. Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
To me, the sound of Skylarks is the sound of summer and the sound of home; skylarks have always been abundant in the hay field that is opposite the house that I grew up in. It is amazing to watch these little birds hover for ages, flapping their wings like crazy whilst perpetually blasting out their song. Quite how they have enough energy for this is incredible.Skylarks are one of those farmland birds which have declined in numbers along with modern farming practices but the introduction of Skylark Plots into arable farming has seen an increase in their numbers where these plots have been used. Skylark Plots were introduced into farming after research on the RSPB's Hope Farm: read more about Skylark Conservation here.
Skylarks, although still relatively common, are in rapid decline in the UK.
7. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Ruddy Turnstones (or simply Turnstones as they are usually called in Europe) do exactly what their name implies; they turn stones. Turnstones do this to search for food and it is quite interesting to watch them go about their business and sometimes it is quite surprising how large the stones that they turn are.I got very attached to turnstones when I was studying for my degree and my wife and I would often go to either Scarborough or Bridlington harbours to eat fish and chips in the winter. Turnstones would gather about us on the harbour walls and wait for us to throw pieces of chips, fish or batter to them and they would often get very close.
Sadly, the turnstones at both these locations suffered greatly from losing toes and I don't remember seeing a single bird that had intact feet, with many birds having almost no toes at all. It made me wonder if this ultimately led to their deaths.
Whilst wintering Turnstones are fairly common, they are still a bird of conservation concern.
8. Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
It is hard not to put the Avocet in my top ten, with its contrasting black and white plumage and upturned bill it is truely a striking bird. When I first got interested in birdwatching Avocets were very rare indeed in Britain and, for me, to see one was just a dream. In addition, the RSPB using an Avocet as their logo added an even further level of mythicality to this species.When eventually I did see my first Avocet at Minsmere it was not a disappointment and every time I go home to Kent I am pleased to see that Avocets have become ever increasingly common and I always make a trip to Cliffe or Elmley to see some Avocets when I go home to visit my family.
Although Avocets are increasing in number in Britain, their breeding habitat is under serious threat from any rise in sea level.
9. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Whilst the Pochard is a common winter visitor in Britain it breeds only in small numbers and it is because I found a Pochard nest when I was about 12 on my local patch that it became a favourite. Of course, its striking colours helped it into my favours but the sight of the female Pochard with a string of tiny ducklings was more than enough.In September 2006 I was watching some Pochard at RSPB Blacktoft Sands reserve in Lincolnshire and I began to time their dives. It turned out that every dive lasted between 12 and 15 seconds, with most dives lasting for 13 seconds. It was noticeable that the similar Tufted Ducks only dived for about 11 seconds.
Pochard are common winter visitors and scarce breeders in the UK.
10. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Grey Herons are magnificent birds, particularly when they fly; they look enormous. I used to live near some gravel pits where Grey Herons were failry common birds, but the site of two or three of them digesting their food in a field was always a treat.My most enduring memory of Grey Herons was when I came face to face (literally) with one that had been injured and was being cared for by a farmer. I was only a small kid at the time and the sheer size of the heron amazed me.
Even though Grey Herons are common, I am always happy to see them.
Grey Herons are common birds throughout Britain.
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Photos of Some British Birds
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cormorant, drying ou...
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British Birds
British Birds
British Birds
Gooderstone Water Ga...
Gooderstone Water Ga...
Gooderstone Water Ga...
Gooderstone Water Ga...
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I Hope You Enjoyed My Choice of Birds
Thanks for visiting reading about my favourite British birds, please leave your comments here.
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Reply
- WordCustard WordCustard Nov 5, 2009 @ 3:24 am
- I love this lens, such a good example of how a great lens is put together with just the right mix of knowledge, personal accounts, quality images and other relevant content. I'm looking forward to viewing all your other bird lenses.
I love birds but have never seen several of these here in the UK - partly due to my observation skills probably! My best bird moment was up Cairngorm mountain, sitting in the car, with a couple of snow buntings hopping about right in front of it. Then somebody let their kid chase them off.... Ah well!
I also love the Oyster Catcher. We get a lot of them around here.
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Reply
- nickupton nickupton Oct 27, 2009 @ 10:50 am
- Thank you.[in reply to annmackiemiller]
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Reply
- annmackiemiller annmackiemiller Oct 16, 2009 @ 5:07 am
- what a joy to find this lens nick - I look forward to viewing more of your lens.
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen May 21, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
- Hi,
My name is Elizabeth Jean Allen and I am the new group leader for the Nature and the Outdoors Group.
Welcome.
Lizzy
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Reply
- interstellaryeller interstellaryeller May 2, 2009 @ 5:49 pm
- great lens nickupton. thumbs up and fived.
101 Ways to Help Birds
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About The Lens Author
Lensmaster nickupton has been a member since June 23 2007, has rated 149 lenses, favorited 73, and has created 63 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Sneetches by Dr Seuss". See all my lenses
by nickupton
Having been a birdologist since the age of seven I am something of an ornithological recluse. However, I managed to gain adulthood, if only physic... (more)
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