Otmoor Birding

Systematic list of birds that have been recorded on Otmoor 

Mute Swan  Cygnus olor

Common breeding resident, sometimes in large numbers.

Bewick’s Swan  Cygnus columbianus

An infrequent winter visitor. They often associate with the mute swan flock or drop in briefly on passage.

Whooper Swan  Cygnus Cygnus

An even more infrequent winter visitor.

Bean Goose Anser fabalis

Very rare winter visitor. Only one recent record from Feb 1999 of two, tundra subspecies a.f.rossicus.

Pink –Footed Goose  Anser brachyrynchus

Rare winter visitor. The only recent record is from 2008 of a single individual with four white fronted geese.

White –fronted Goose  Anser albifrons

Infrequent winter visitor. Birds are recorded most winters after the New Year usually in small parties that may stay for several weeks. In May 2004 two individuals thought to be of one of the North American taiga races were present. There is a detailed article on their identification and finding in the 2004 O.O.S. Annual Report

Greylag Goose Anser anser

A common breeding resident. Numbers of this species have increased greatly over the last few years.

Canada Goose  Branta Canadensis

A very common breeding resident

Brent Goose Branta bernicla

A very rare winter visitor with only two records in the last ten years.

Barnacle Goose   Branta leucopsis

An occasional feral visitor. A feral bird is often seen in the company of Canada Geese.

Egyptian Goose  Alopochen aegyptiacus

An occasional feral visitor.

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

A Spring and Autumn visitor. These birds often visit in pairs and given suitable nest boxes would possibly breed.

Mandarin   Aix galericulata

An occasional feral visitor.

Wigeon Anas Penelope

A common winter visitor with at least four birds summering here in 2008 and demonstrating breeding behaviour. Numbers peak in the two months after Christmas with a maxima of 3500.

Gadwall  Anas strepera

A frequent resident breeder.

Teal  Anas crecca

A common winter visitor with a regular maximum of 3000.  Smaller numbers of birds are present throughout the year and breeding is quite likely but difficult to substantiate.

Green-winged Teal  Anas carolinensis

Only one record of a drake in May 2003

Mallard  Anas platyrynchus

A common breeding resident

Pintail Anas acuta

A regular winter visitor with numbers peaking in February.

Garganey Anas querquedula

A regular but rare and secretive summer visitor. This is another bird that may well breed in the vicinity of Otmoor but is difficult to substantiate.

Shoveler Anas clypeata

A regular breeding resident with numbers rising in the autumn and winter.

Red-crested Pochard  Netta rufina

An occasional feral visitor

Pochard   Aythea farina

A common winter visitor and resident breeder.

Ring-necked Duck   Aythya collaris

A very rare winter/spring vagrant. With only two records.

Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula

A common breeding resident

Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula

A rare visitor with only two records

Smew  Mergellus albellus

Only one record of  a redhead that was present from 23 January until 15 March 2003.

Red-breasted Merganser  Mergus serrator

Only one record of  a female in the spring of 2007

Goosander  Mergus merganser

Birds are recorded most years in late winter / early spring.

Ruddy Duck  Oxyura jamaicensis

An occasional visitor and breeder.

White-headed Duck  Oxyura leucocephala

A rare vagrant with two records that may or may not relate to wild birds.

Red-legged Partridge  Alectoris rufa

A common species that has bred on the reserve . Numbers are augmented by releases for shooting.

Grey Partridge. Perdix perdix

A bird that has bred on the reserve but is becoming increasingly uncommon.

Pheasant  Phasianus colchicus

Common breeder.

Quail  Coturnix coturnix

Occurs most summers, almost certainly breeds and is rarely seen but often heard

Great Northern Diver  Gavia immer

One was seen to fly over the reserve by one of the assistant wardens in 2000. This was at the same time that a bird was later recorded at Farmoor.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

A common breeding resident

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus

A regular breeder on the reserve with up to three pairs present.

Black-necked Grebe  Podiceps nigricollis

One record from Dec 2002

Red-necked Grebe  Podiceps grisagena

One possible record from Nov 2008

Gannet    Morus bassanus

There is one record of a flyover in Sept 2000

Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo

A common non breeding resident

Bittern  Botaurus stellaris

A regular winter visitor since 2001.

Night Heron   Nycticorax nycticorax

A bird visited in March 2002 but was considered to be an escape as its bill appeared to be slightly crossed and it was too confiding.

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Now a resident and possibly the next new breeding species for the area. In ten years it has gone from being a local rarity to having 25 feeding together on Ashgrave.

Great White Egret   Egretta alba

First recorded in 2008 it has since made another appearance in Feb 2009 and stayed for four days.

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

A common breeding resident. In 2008 two chicks were fledged. Heron numbers fluctuate and tend to peak in the late summer and autumn.

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea

One record of a vagrant juvenile in August 2007 that stayed a few days after leaving Farmoor.

White Stork   Ciconia ciconia

There is only one record from August 2003

Glossy Ibis  Plagadis falcinellus

Rare vagrant. Only two records the first of four birds that touched down briefly on the 6 Sept 2002. The second was of a longer staying individual present from 2 May until 20 June 2004.

Spoonbill   Platalea leucorodia.

One record of an individual seen in April 1997

Honey buzzard  Pernis apivorus

Scarce passage migrant.

Red Kite  Milvus milvus

Now a common resident that may well be breeding within the Greater Otmoor area.

Marsh Harrier  Circus aeruginosus

A regular spring and summer visitor with breeding potential.

Hen Harrier   Circus cyaneus

A regular winter visitor

Montagu’s Harrier  Circus pygargus

A rare autumn visitor post breeding season.

Sparrowhawk   Accipiter nisus

A resident breeding species.

Common Buzzard   Buteo buteo

A resident breeding bird that has increased in numbers greatly over the last few years.

Rough-legged Buzzard  Buteo lagopus

One record of a juvenile in Oct 2008

Osprey Pandion  haliaetus

Recorded most years on passage either in Spring or Autumn.

Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

A common breeding resident

Red-footed Falcon   Falco vespertinus

Rare vagrant. With two records one of a bird that stayed near Merton Borrow Pit on the edge of our area in 1997 and a very brief visitor to the reserve in June 2006. There is also a likely report of one feeding with hobbys in 2008.

Merlin  Falco columbarius

A regular winter visitor.

Hobby  Falco subbuteo

A regular summer visitor and breeder. Significant numbers can be seen hunting over the reserve in May just after they have arrived in the country.

Peregrine Falcon   Falco peregrinus

A regular visitor throughout the year.

Water Rail  Rallus aquaticus

A common but elusive resident breeder.

Spotted Crake   Porzana porzana

A scarce passage migrant. There are only a few records from the late summer early autumn. It is likely to be under recorded due to its very secretive nature.

Corncrake   Crex crex

One recent record from 30 May through to the 7 July 1999. The singing pattern suggested breeding but there was no evidence to substantiate this.

Moorhen   Gallinula chloropus

A common breeding resident

Coot   Fulica atra

A common breeding resident with major influxes outside the breeding season.

Common Crane   Grus grus

Crane was recorded in both 2006 and 2007. Records probably relate to the same individual that visited frequently throughout the spring and summer.

Oystercatcher   Haematopus ostralegus

A regular spring and summer visitor. That has attempted to breed but failed to fledge young.

Avocet    Recurvirostra avocetta

An occasional spring and summer visitor. A pair attempted breeding in 2005 but had the clutch predated.

Stone Curlew  Burhinus odicnemus

An individual bird was seen in the Autumn of 2008 and another in the spring of 1990 ?

Little Ringed Plover   Charadrius dubius.

A regular spring and summer visitor that breeds in small numbers

Ringed Plover   Charadrius hiaticula

A regular spring summer and autumn visitor

European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria

A common winter visitor often in very large flocks.

Grey Plover   Pluvialis squatarola

An occasional passage migrant.

Northern Lapwing   Vanellus vanellus

A common breeding resident with large numbers of migrants over wintering.

Knot Calidris canutus

An uncommon passage migrant

Sanderling  Calidris alba

An uncommon passage migrant

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Is usually recorded on passage most years

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii

Has been recorded on five occasions usually in the Spring passage.

Pectoral Sandpiper  Calidris melanotos

Has been recorded twice.

Curlew Sandpiper   Calidris ferruginea

An occasional passage migrant.

Dunlin   Calidris alpine

A regular visitor that may occur at any time but is most frequent and numerous on passage. 

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

A regular visitor most numerous in early spring.

Woodcock  Scolopax rusticola

Resident and winter visitor to the woodland and scrub fringes of the moor.

Jack Snipe   Lymnocrytes minimus

A regular but under recorded winter visitor.

Common Snipe   Gallinago gallinago

A common resident breeder with numbers swollen by migrants during the autumn and winter.

Black- tailed Godwit   Limosa limosa

A regular passage migrant in spring and autumn.

Bar-tailed Godwit   Limosa lapponica

An uncommon passage migrant.

Whimbrel   Numenius phaeopus.

A regular late spring passage migrant that may linger for several weeks.

Curlew   Numenius arquata

A common breeding migrant.

Common Sandpiper   Actitis hypoleuchos

A regular spring, summer and autumn visitor

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

A common spring, summer and autumn visitor with numbers peaking in midsummer post breeding.

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

Occasional passage migrant with birds recorded most years.

Greenshank   Tringa nebularia

A common passage migrant with most birds being recorded in summer and autumn.

Lesser Yellowlegs   Tringa flavipes

Two records exist and both probably refer to the same bird that was seen first in Aug / Sept 1998 and then seen in May 1999.

Wood Sandpiper   Tringa glareola

Is recorded most years in small numbers.

Redshank   Tringa tetanus

Common breeding spring and summer visitor. Individuals may occur at other times.

Turnstone   Arenaria interpres

An uncommon passage migrant. A handful of records exist.

Black Headed Gull   Chroicocephalus ridibundus

The most commonly seen gull on Otmoor.

Mediterranean Gull   Larus melanocephalus

Has been formally recorded on three occasions but is probably under recorded.

Common Gull   Larus canus

Often seen in the company of B.H.G. s

Lesser Black-backed Gull   Larus fuscus

Frequently seen flying over the moor .Less frequently seen on the ground or water.

Herring Gull   Larus argentatus

Usually seen flying over.

Great Black-backed Gull   Larus marinus

Usually seen flying over.

Black Tern   Chlidonias niger

Occasionally recorded on spring passage.

Common Tern   Sterna hirundo

Regular breeding summer migrant.

Stock Dove   Columba oenas

Uncommon breeding resident

Woodpigeon   Columba palumbus

Very common breeding resident

Collared Dove  Streptopelia decaoto

A bird that occurs and breeds on the edges of the moor.

Turtle Dove   Strptopelia turur

A breeding summer migrant.

Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus

A common, breeding  summer migrant.

Barn Owl   Tyto alba

A regular breeding resident.

Little Owl  Athene noctua

A regular breeding resident

Tawny Owl   Strix aluco

A regular breeding resident

Long-eared Owl   Asio otus

A scarce breeding resident.

Short-eared Owl.   Asio flammeus

A regular winter visitor with numbers fluctuating probably in relation to the vole population.

European Nightjar   Caprimulgus europaeus

One was reported on the edge of the area in June 1998 and another in 2004

Common Swift  Apus

Common summer migrant

Kingfisher   Alcedo atthis

Present most of the year except during the breeding season, due to a lack of nest sites.

Hoopoe    Upupa epops

There are three records one from 1996 one from Beckley in 2006 and one from the middle of the reserve in June 2008.

Green Woodpecker   Picus viridis

A common breeding resident

Great Spotted Woodpecker   Dendrocopos major

A common breeding resident.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker   Dendrocopos minor

There are a handful of records of single birds in the car park field and in the spinney and Noke wood. They seem less likely to be encountered now that most of the old large willows have been polled.

Skylark   Alauda arvensis

A common breeding resident and winter visitor.

Sand Martin   Riparia riparia

A fairly common summer visitor.

Swallow   Hirundica rustica

A common summer visitor that breeds on or close to the moor.

House Martin   Delichon urbicon

A common summer visitor that breeds on houses all round the area.

Richards Pipit   Anthus richardi

There is one record from early autumn 2008.

Tree Pipit   Anthus trivialis

An uncommon breeding summer visitor that has virtually disappeared over the last five years.

Meadow Pipit   Anthus pratensis

A breeding resident and winter visitor in larger numbers.

Water Pipit   Anthus spinoletta.

There have been a few records but it has probably been overlooked and under recorded.

Yellow Wagtail   Motacilla flava

A summer passage migrant that breeds very occasionally. Numbers tend to peak in late summer early autumn. Numbers have declined over the last five years.

Grey Wagtail    Motacilla cinerea

Recorded as an occasional winter visitor most years.

Pied / White Wagtail   Motacilla alba

The pied wagtail is a common visitor and resident. The “white” subspecies is most frequently seen in the spring on passage.

Waxwing   Bombycilla garrulus

One record exists from late autumn 2008

Wren   Troglodytes troglodytes

A very common breeding resident

Dunnock    Prunella modularis

A very common breeding resident.

Robin   Erithacus rubecula

Very common breeding resident

Nightingale   Luscinia megahynchos

Once a regular breeding summer migrant, but now a rare spring visitor with only two records of singing males in the last six years. There is still a dwindling population in Whitecross Green Wood.

Common Redstart    Phoenicurus phoenicurus

A regular brief staying spring passage migrant with further birds being recorded in the late summer and early autumn.

Whinchat   Saxicola rubetra

A regular spring and autumn passage migrant which may have bred on the 100 acre field in 2006

European Stonechat   Saxicola rubicola

A frequent winter visitor arriving in early autumn and leaving in mid spring.

Northern Wheatear   Oenanthe oenanthe

A common Spring and Autumn passage migrant. Can occur in good numbers, both the Common and the Greenland subspecies are recorded.

Ring Ouzel   Turdus torquatus

There have been four records in the last three years and none previous to that.

Blackbird    Turdus merula

A common breeding resident with numbers swollen in the winter.

Fieldfare    Turdus pilaris

An abundant winter visitor.

Songthrush   Turdus philomelos

A regular breeding resident

Redwing   turdus iliacus

A common winter visitor

Mistle Thrush   Turdus viscivorus

An occasional visitor that breeds on the edge of the moor.

Cetti’s Warbler    Cettia cettia

After first being definitely recorded in Feb 2002 this species has become very well established and there are at least six and probably more singing males present,

Grasshopper Warbler   Locustella naevia

A regular breeding summer migrant. Numbers are holding steady but it has declined in last 15 years.

Sedge Warbler   Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

An abundant breeding summer migrant

Reed Warbler   Acrocephalus scirpaceus

An abundant breeding summer migrant

Blackcap   Sylvia atrapicilla

A regular breeding summer migrant.

Garden Warbler   Sylvia borin

A regular breeding summer migrant in small numbers.

Lesser Whitethroat   Sylvia curruca

A breeding summer migrant

Common Whitethroat   Sylvia communis

A common breeding summer migrant.

Dartford Warbler   Sylvia undata

There is a record of a bird in December 2001 that stayed for two weeks and another record from October 2005.

Wood Warbler    Phylloscopus sibilatrix.

There is just one record of a bird that stayed for three days in April 2005

Common Chiffchaff   Phylloscopus collybita.

A common summer breeding migrant with a few over wintering.

Willow Warbler   Phylloscopus trochilus

A common breeding summer migrant.

Goldcrest   Regulus regulus

A breeding resident.

Firecrest   Regulus ignicapilla

Just four records from autumn and early winter.

Spotted Flycatcher   Muscicapa striata

Summer visitor that breeds in adjacent woodland.

Bearded Tit   Panurus biarmicus

Recorded in 2004/5/6 but sadly no record since then.

Longtailed Tit   Aegithalus caudatus

A common breeding resident

Blue Tit   Cyanistes caeruleus

A common breeding resident

Great Tit    Parus major

A common breeding resident.

Coal Tit   Periparus ater

A resident, breeding in adjacent woodland.

Willow Tit   Poecile Montana

Willow tit has not been recorded on the moor since 2005. It never was common as Marsh tit, but could sometimes be seen on the feeders alongside it. Now it seems to have disappeared as it has in most of the county.

Marsh Tit   Poecile palustris

Not common but regularly seen both on the feeders and in scrub and woodland.

Nuthatch   Sitta europaea

Regular resident in adjacent woodlands.

Treecreeper   Certhia familiaris

Less common than it used to be. Particularly since many of the old gnarled willows have been polled.

Red-backed Shrike   Lanius collurio

Rare vagrant. Has been recorded twice recently on spring passage.

Jay   Garrulus glandarius

A breeding resident most obvious in the Autumn when it collects acorns.

Magpie    Pica pica

A very common breeding resident

Jackdaw   Corvus monedula

A very common breeding resident

Rook    Corvus frugilevus

A common breeding resident

Carrion Crow    Corvus corone

A common breeding resident.

Raven    Corvus corax

Still an uncommon visitor but is occurring more frequently.

House Sparrow   Passer domesticus

Breeds in barns on the moor and in surrounding villages.

Tree Sparrow    Passer montanus

Bred as recently as the nineties but now a very uncommon visitor.

Chaffinch     Fringilla coelebs

A common breeding resident

Brambling    Fringilla montifringilla

An occasional winter visitor, recently less common.

Greenfinch   Carduelis chloris 

A common breeding resident.

Goldfinch    Carduelis carduelis

A very common breeding resident

Siskin   Carduelis spinus

An occasional winter visitor and passage migrant

Linnet    Carduelis cannabina

A common breeding resident with numbers rising outside the breeding season.

Twite   Carduelis flavirostris

A very rare winter visitor with just one record from October 02.

Lesser Redpoll    Carduelis cabaret

An occasional winter visitor.

Common Crossbill    Loxia curvirostra

Just five records during the last fifteen years

Bullfinch    Pyrrhula pyrrhula

A common breeding resident.

Yellowhammer    Emberiza citronella

A common breeding resident with numbers increasing in the winter period.

Reed Bunting     Emberiza schoeniclus

A very common breeding resident.

Corn Bunting    Emberiza calandra

An occasional uncommon visitor. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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