Systematic List

THE AVON BIRD LIST

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Avon County

The county of Avon was formed in 1974 from parts of the traditional Gloucestershire and Somerset counties and the whole of Bristol city.

For ornithological purposes, the county of Avon was a very convenient geographical entity, comprising as it did of the main recording areas for our own Bristol Ornithological Club and also other bird societies around the Bristol area.

The local bird-watching fraternity quickly encompassed the convenience of the new county and the annual Avon Bird Report soon followed.

However, further local Government changes took place in the 1990’s and Avon county was formally abolished in 1996 to be replaced by four unitary authorities, namely:- South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and North Somerset.

Despite abolition, the defunct geographical boundary of the old county was still found to be very useful and so the local bird organizations decided to retain ‘Avon’ for the purpose of bird recording.

Species List

(The list is updated annually on publication of the latest county report)

The taxonomy of some species is complex and constantly under review by the various ornithological bodies. It is possible (even likely) that some races of currently accepted species will become full species in their own right as new scientific data and information comes to light.

The list follows the sequence of the British Ornithological Union 2007 and vernacular names are used throughout.

Species	Status

Mute Swan Cygnus olor	fairly common resident, especially at the larger bodies of water.

Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus	uncommon (and declining) winter visitor.

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus	very scarce winter visitor, not recorded every year

Bean Goose Anser fabalis	rare winter visitor. The origin of some birds is unknown. About six Avon records to date

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus	rare visitor, chiefly Oct-March period. The last county record was June 2002

White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons	uncommon (and declining) winter visitor.

Greylag Goose Anser anser	uncommon (introduced) resident. Summer migrants sometimes appear at CVL to moult.

Canada Goose Branta canadensis	fairly common (introduced) resident, largely at CVL/BL. Breeding at CVL is heavily controlled through egg pricking,

Barnacle Goose Branta leocopsis	scarce (introduced) resident/winter visitor & passage migrant.

Brent Goose Branta bernicla	pale-bellied Brent B.b.hrota is a rare winter visitor. Dark-bellied Brent B.b bernicla is an uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant. Both species are very scarce inland. Notable counts are 18 pale-bellied birds at severnside September 2009 and 119 dark-bellied birds here January 2009

Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis	very rare vagrant. 1 record, 1909

Egyptian Goose Alopchen aegyptiaca	very scarce visitor, either from the UK feral population or direct escapes from captivity.

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea	scarce summer/autumn visitor of unknown origin. Most records refer to moulting birds at CVL

Shelduck Tadorna tadorna	fairly common resident, breeds in small numbers. Uncommon inland except at CVL.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericuata	uncommon (introduced) resident.

Wigeon Anas penelope	fairly common winter visitor. Rare in summer.

American Wigeon Anas americana	very rare vagrant, 5 records, 1946, 1977-79 (2), 1988, 2009

Gadwall Anas strepera	fairly common resident/winter visitor. Small numbers breed.

Teal Anas crecca	common winter visitor/passage migrant.

Green-winged Teal Anas carolensis	rare winter visitor, about 13 records though perhaps overlooked in the Teal flocks.

Mallard Anas plathyrynchos	common and widespread breeding resident. Numbers increase with autumn migrants and winter visitors.

Pintail Anas acuta	uncommon autumn passage migrant/winter visitor. Most occur at CVL in autumn

Garganey Anas querquedula	scarce spring/autumn passage migrant and summer visitor.

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors	very rare visitor, 6 records, all at CVL, 1979, 1992, 1993 (2), 1995, 2003

Shoveler Anas clypeata	fairly common winter visitor/autumn passage migrant.

Red-crested Pochard Netta ruffina	uncommon visitor to the reservoirs, mainly in autumn.

Pochard Aythya ferina	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant.

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris	very scarce visitor.

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca	rare visitor with about 12 records to date, chiefly at the reservoirs.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula	common resident/winter visitor and passage migrant. Small numbers breed

Scaup Aythya marila	scarce passage migrant/winter visitor. Most occur at CVL

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis	very rare visitor, 5 records at the reservoirs: 2000(2), 2007(2), 2008(1)

Eider Somateria mollisimia	scarce winter visitor/passage migrant. Very rare inland.

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis	scarce passage migrant /winter visitor at all times, mainly at the reservoirs

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor. A few inland records each year, mainly from CVL.

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca	rare visitor at all times but has been recorded both at the coast and reservoirs

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula	fairly common winter visitor to CVL/BL but uncommon elsewhere.

Smew Mergallus albellus	scarce winter visitor to the reservoirs. Very low numbers and mostly refer only to ‘redheads’. Rare at the coast.

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator	scarce winter visitor/passage migrant.

Goosander Mergus merganser	fairly common winter visitor to CVL though in reduced numbers (since 1990’s). Rare at the estuary

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis	common winter visitor to CVL/BL, scarce in summer. Culls are carried out at CVL/BL by order of Government agencies

Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa	fairly common resident though local in distribution with most reports from the Marshfield area.

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix	an uncommon (and declining) resident, again with local distribution. Most records from the Marshfield area.

Quail Coturnix coturnix	scarce summer visitor (and presumably breeds) to the eastern parts of the county around the Marshfield area

Pheasant Phasianus colchinus	fairly common throughout the area. Many birds are released for ‘sporting’ purposes

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata	very scarce rare passage migrant/winter visitor, recorded both at the coast and the reservoirs.

Pacific Diver Gavia pacifica	very rare. One record November 2009 at Severn Beach.

Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica	rare passage migrant/winter visitor. Generally the rarest of our three Divers.

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer	very scarce passage migrant/winter visitor, not recorded every year

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps	very rare. One record 1964-68 was the 1st European record of this species. The Club logo is Pied-billed Grebe

Little Grebe Tachybaptus rufficollis	fairly common breeding resident. Rare at the estuary, normally seen only in the harshest winters

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus	fairly common resident. Peak numbers occur in autumn at the reservoirs

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena	very scarce visitor to the reservoirs, The rarest of our Avon grebes

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus	scarce winter visitor/passage migrant. Rare at the estuary

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis	scarce passage migrant. Very rare at the estuary.

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis	an uncommon visitor, most records relate to storm-driven birds in period April-October. Rare inland.

Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 2000, 2004

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1962, 1971, 1974

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus	uncommon visitor. Most records relate to storm-driven birds. Occasional mid-summer feeding flocks noted.Rare inland.

Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus	very rare vagrant, 2 records 1988, 2008

Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus	scarce visitor in small numbers. Most records are of storm-driven birds in the April-October period. Rare inland.

Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa	scarce visitor in very small numbers, Most records are of storm-driven birds in the October-March period. Rare inland.

Gannet Morus bassanus	scarce visitor, usually in the April-October period during gales. Rare inland.

Cormorant Phalocrocorax carbo	fairly common resident/ winter visitor.

Shag Phalocrocorax aristotelis	very uncommon visitor, usually in the autumn/winter period. Rare inland.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris	scarce winter visitor, mainly to CVL

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus	very rare vagrant,5 records, 1789, 1912, 1916, 1958, 1993

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax	very rare vagrant, 6 records, 1971, 1983, 1986, 1992, 1999, 2001

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides	very rare vagrant,3 records, 1867, 1973, 1977

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1993, 2005, 2007, 2009

Little Egret Egretta garzeta	scarce resident in small numbers. Huge expansion since 1990's

Great White Egret Ardea alba	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 2002, 2003, 2006

Grey Heron Ardera cinera	common resident in small numbers

Purple Heron Ardera purpurea	rare vagrant, 8 records, 1963, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1983, 2001, 2009

Black Stork Ciconia nigra	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1988, 1992

White Stork Ciconia ciconia	very rare vagrant, 7 records, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2006

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus	very rare, 1 record in 2007 and several records in 2009 (national influx)

Spoonbill Platalea leucrodia	rare vagrant, about 25 records

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus	rare vagrant, about 14 records, mainly in the late spring or early summer period.

Black Kite Milvus migrans	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1983, 1994 ,2009

Red Kite Milvus milvus	scarce spring/early summer passage migrant. A possible breeder for the future

White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla	now effectively extinct to our area with just some very old records 1861, 1871, 1919, 1927

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus	scarce summer visitor/passage migrant. Some of our records may involve wandering birds from the Somerset levels

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	scarce winter visitor/passage migrant, most records from the coastal areas

Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus	rare summer visitor/passage migrant, 8 records, 1958, 1962, 1982, 1991, 1994(2), 1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008

Goshawk Accipiter gentilis	scarce resident, has bred in the south Gloucestershire locality in recent years

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus	fairly common breeding resident, widely distributed

Buzzard Buteo buteo	fairly common breeding resident. Numbers have increased steadily over the last 20 years .

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus	very rare vagrant, 3 very old records, 1906, 1909/1910 with incomplete details. 1 recent record 1974

Osprey Pandion haliaetus	uncommon passage migrant, chiefly at the reservoirs

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus	fairly common breeding resident, widely distributed in suitable areas

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1967,1973, 1992

Merlin Falco columbarius	uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant, mostly to the coast. Rare inland.

Hobby Falco subbuteo	scarce breeding summer visitor/passage migrant.

Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1961/62, a wintering bird at CVL

Peregrine Falco peregrinus	uncommon resident but increasing as a breeding species. There is usually a small influx of wintering birds at the coast.

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus	uncommon breeding resident/winter visitor

Spotted Crake Porzana porzana	very scarce passage migrant, possibly under-recorded. Most records from the CVL reed beds in August/September

Little Crake Porzana parva	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1961, 1967

Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla	effectively extinct within the county, 2 very old records, 1840 and 1901, both in the W-s-M area

Corncrake Crex crex	rare summer passage migrant. Most records relate to calling birds in the arable fields around the Marshfield area.

Moorhen Gallinula chloropus	fairly common breeding resident, widely distributed. Best numbers come from the reservoirs in late summer/autumn

Coot Fulica atra	fairly common breeding resident, largest numbers at CVL and BL in late summer/autumn

Crane Grus grus	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1971, 2000, 2003, 2008

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus	fairly common resident along the coast but scarce inland. A few pairs breed inside Avonmouth/RPD docks most years

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus	rare passage migrant, mostly in spring,11 records, 1925,1949, 1959, 1968, 1988, 1989(2), 1991, 1999, 2006, 2008

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola	one very old record, some time prior to 1881

Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1964, 1988, 1993

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius	uncommon passage migrant, One or two pairs breed (or attempt to breed) most years

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula	fairly common passage migrant, most numerous in autumn. A few pairs breed inside Avonmouth/RPD docks most years

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1976

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus	rare vagrant, 14 records. Mostly seen in the May/September period hiding in the Ringed Plover flocks at the coast

Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1979

Dotterel Charadrius morinellus	rare spring/autumn passage migrant.

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1994, 2003

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	fairly common winter visitor, numbers vary greatly from year to year depending on weather conditions.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola	uncommon coastal winter visitor/passage migrant. Occasional on inland passage

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus	fairly common winter visitor, more numerous in harsh or wet winters. Small numbers breed most years.

Knot Calidris canutus	fairly common coastal winter visitor/passage migrant. Rare inland

Sanderling Calidris alba	uncommon passage migrant, mostly in spring. Rare in winter and inland.

Semi-palmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1990 (OPS) and 2009 (New Passage)

Little Stint Calidris minutus	uncommon spring/autumn passage migrant. Rare inland

Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii	rare vagrant, 6 records,1978, 1985, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2001

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 2001

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos	very uncommon vagrant but out most regular wader rarity . First recorded Sept 1935 at BG.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidtris ferruginea	scarce coastal passage migrant, mostly autumn. Rare in winter.

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima	scarce coastal winter visitor/spring passage migrant, now showing some signs of recovery after many lean years.

Dunlin Calidris alpina	common coastal winter visitor/passage migrant with a few non-breeding birds lingering on through summer.

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus	very rare vagrant, 2 records at the coast, 1983, 1988

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis	rare vagrant, 12 records, 1973(2), 1975, 1976(2), 1978, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 2003

Ruff Philomachus pugnax	uncommon passage migrant, mostly in autumn at the coast.

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus	uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant, but probably overlooked.

Snipe Gallinago gallinago	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant

Great Snipe Gallinago media	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1893, 1949, 1950

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus	very rare Nearctic vagrant, 2 records,1977,1978

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola	uncommon winter visitor but probably overlooked.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa	uncommon passage migrant, most numerous in autumn

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica	regular spring/autumn passage migrant at the coast but in varying numbers from year to year

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus	regular coastal passage migrant, fairly common in spring but scarce in autumn.

Curlew Numenius arquata	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant at the coast. A few non-breeding birds remain during the summer.

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda	very rare vagrant,1 record, 2005

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus	very scarce passage migrant, sometimes over-winters

Redshank Tringa totanus	fairly common passage migrant/winter visitor, mainly at the coast.

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1982,1984

Greenshank Tringa nebularia	uncommon passage migrant, more numerous in autumn than in spring.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1967, 1984, 2006

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus	uncommon passage migrant with most records in autumn

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola	scarce passage migrant with most records from CVL in autumn

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus	very rare vagrant, 1 record 1986

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant. One or two over-winter

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius	very rare Nearctic vagrant,3 records, 1982, 2003, 2007

Turnstone Arenaria interpres	fairly common winter visitor and passage migrant at the coast. Rare inland.

Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor	rare Nearctic vagrant, 8 records, 1967, 1975, 1979(3), 1980, 1985, 1988

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus	very rare passage migrant, 8 records, 1921, 1965, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2008

Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius	very uncommon storm-driven visitor, usually in autumn at the reservoirs.

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomerinus	scarce spring passage migrant/storm-driven autumn or winter visitor.

Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus	uncommon spring passage migrant at the coast. Autumn records generally refer to wind-blown birds. Rare inland.

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus	rare vagrant, about 16 records, most in the autumn. The rarest of our skuas.

Great Skua Stercorarius skua	scarce spring passage migrant/autumn storm-driven visitor. Sometimes appears during winter gales. Rare inland.

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus	an uncommon resident (does not breed). Normally seen in company of Black-headed Gull flocks.

Laughing Gull Larus atricapilla	very rare Nearctic vagrant, 2 records, 1999, 2006

Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan	very rare Nearctic vagrant, 4 records, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2008

Little Gull Larus minutus	generally uncommon passage migrant. Good numbers sometimes occur during large Tern movements.

Sabine's Gull Larus sabini	rare autumn passage migrant, usually seen during or after severe westerly gales.

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus	abundant winter visitor throughout the area and a huge winter roost always present at CVL.

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis	very uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant, though probably overlooked

Common Gull Larus canus	common winter visitor/passage migrant. Huge roost at CVL

Lesser Black- backed Gull Larus fuscus	common and widespread and many in the city centre areas. Most birds are the western race L.f. graellsi. The Scandinavian race L.f. intermedius is an uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant and perhaps overlooked.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis	uncommon passage migrant/summer/winter visitor in very small numbers.

American Herring Gull Larus smithionius	Rare but possibly overlooked due to the problems in separating from other Herring Gull types. 3 records, 2007, 2008(2)

Herring Gull Larus argentatus	common and widespread. L.a. argenteus is a common winter visitor/passage migrant and breeding resident. L.a. argentatus is an uncommon winter visitor

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans	rare passage migrant/winter visitor, 7 records, 2002(2), 2004, 2006(2), 2007, 2008

Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides	very uncommon winter visitor, less than 30 records.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus	rare winter visitor (rarer than Iceland), less than 20 records

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus	uncommon resident, some pairs breed on Steep Holm and Denny Island (estuary)

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla	uncommon storm-driven visitor to the estuary though large flocks are sometimes recorded.

Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea	effectively extinct,1 record. 1864

Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscata	effectively extinct, 1 record 1885

Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1958

Little Tern Sternula albifrons	uncommon passage migrant.. The rarest of the ‘common’ Terns which regularly pass through our area.

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1988

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1959, 1983(2), 2006

Black Tern Chlidonias niger	uncommon spring/autumn passage migrant

White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus	rare vagrant, about 25 records

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis	uncommon passage migrant. Rare inland.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo	uncommon passage migrant. Sometimes large numbers are recorded at the coast in spring during ‘Tern’ years

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii	rare vagrant, about 10 records.

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea	uncommon passage migrant, usually in smaller numbers than Common Tern

Guillemot Uria aalge	uncommon storm-driven visitor to the estuary. No inland records

Razorbill Alca torda	scarce storm-driven visitor to the estuary. No inland records

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1896, 1988

Little Auk Alle alle	rare storm-driven visitor usually in the autumn and winter.

Puffin Fratercula acrtica	very rare visitor to the estuary

Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus	effectively extinct in our area, 1 record, 1863

Feral Pigeon Columba livia	very common breeding resident.

Stock Dove Columba oenas	fairly common breeding resident.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus	very common breeding resident.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto	very common breeding resident

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur	increasingly uncommon passage migrant (mainly spring).

Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri	status uncertain. Some records may refer to wandering individuals from the expanding south-eastern feral population

Cuckoo Cuculus canorus	uncommon spring migrant/breeding summer visitor. Numbers appear to have dropped dramatically in recent years

Barn Owl Tyto alba	uncommon breeding resident, recovering after years of decline. Some re-introduction has taken place to help recovery

Hawk Owl Surnia ulula	effectively extinct, 1 record, 1847

Little Owl Athene noctua	fairly common breeding resident

Tawny Owl Strix aluco	fairly common breeding resident

Long-eared Owl Asio otus	uncommon winter visitor/passage migrant, not recorded every year.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor, mainly along the coastal strip.

Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus	very uncommon passage migrant/occasional breeder

Swift Apus apus	common summer breeder/passage migrant.

Alpine Swift Apus melba	very rare vagrant, 8 records, 1960, 1967, 1969, 1993, 1998(2), 1999, 2002

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis	fairly common breeding resident. Post breeding birds often appear along the coast during early autumn.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster	very rare vagrant, 7 records, 1866, 1963, 1966, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2008

Roller Coracias garrulus	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1976

Hoopoe Upupa epops	very uncommon visitor, mainly in spring.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla	very scarce passage migrant, chiefly in autumn. Rare in spring.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis	fairly common breeding resident

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major	fairly common breeding resident

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor	uncommon breeding resident.

Woodlark Lullula arborea	very uncommon passage migrant, not recorded every year. Most records in autumn period.

Skylark Alauda arvensis	common breeding resident/passage and winter visitor. Possibly in decline.

Shore Lark Eromophila alpestris	very rare passage migrant/winter visitor, 9 records, 1894, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1977, 1983, 1994, 1997, 2004

Sand Martin Riparia riparia	fairly common passage migrant. Breeds in very small numbers.

Swallow Hirundo rustica	very common passage migrant/breeder.

House Martin Delichon urbica	very common passage migrant/breeder.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica	very rare summer vagrant, 4 records, 1970, 1977, 1988, 1990

Richard's Pipit Anthus richardii	rare passage migrant, chiefly in autumn at the coast. Less than 20 records

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1971, 1982, 1993,

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis	uncommon passage migrant (mostly in spring)/very scarce breeder.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis	fairly common passage migrant/winter visitor. A few pairs breed each year.

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1973, 1979

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus	the nominate race A..p. petrosus is a fairly common passage migrant/winter visitor. A few pairs breed most years. Status of the northern race A.p. littoralis is unclear

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor, mainly at CVL. Scarce on the coast

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava	uncommon passage migrant/summer visitor. The last definite breeding record was in 1991.

Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla flava thunbergi	very rare, 1 record, Sept 2009 at Northwick Warth

Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1996

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinera	fairly common breeding resident, passage migrant/winter visitor.

Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarelli	common breeding resident/ winter visitor/passage migrant

White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba	scarce passage migrant with most records in spring.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus	rare winter visitor normally only recorded in our area during irruptions.

Dipper Cinclus cinclus	uncommon breeding resident

Wren Troglodytes troglodytes	very common breeding resident

Dunnock Prunella modularis	very common breeding resident

Robin Erithacus rubecula	very common breeding resident

Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos	uncommon breeding summer visitor

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica	very rare vagrant, 5 records, 1968, 1971, 1985, 1988, 1998

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor. Has bred

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus	uncommon passage migrant, most records in spring at the coast.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra	uncommon passage migrant, most numerous in autumn at the coast.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor. A few pairs breed most years.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe	fairly common spring/autumn passage migrant, mainly at the coastal areas.

Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1997

White’s Thrush Zoothera daura	very rare vagrant, 1 old record, 1871

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus	scarce passage migrant (very uncommon in autumn), mainly at the coast.

Blackbird Turdus merula	very common breeding resident

Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1996

Fieldfare Turdus pilaris	common winter visitor/passage migrant. Numbers vary on severity of the weather and berry crop

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos	common breeding resident

Redwing Turdus iliacus	common winter visitor/passage migrant. Numbers vary on severity of the weather and berry crop

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus	uncommon breeding resident. Small post-breeding flocks are often recorded in late summer

Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti	uncommon resident and presumably breeds but nesting records are few. Now locally common in the reed beds at CVL

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia	uncommon passage migrant, some summer records suggest breeding.

Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinoides	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1960, 1980, 1986, 2001

Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola	rare vagrant, with about 15 records, nearly all in August. Most relate to birds trapped at ringing stations

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus	fairly common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor

Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1979(2), 1986, 1994

Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus	fairly common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1992, 2008

Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1992

Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta	very rare vagrant, 4 records, 1961, 1967, 1979, 1984, all in autumn

Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla	common passage migrant/winter visitor and breeding summer visitor.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin	fairly uncommon passage migrant/breeding summer visitor

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia corruca	fairly common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis	common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata	uncommon resident/passage migrant

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 2004

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis	very rare vagrant, 1 record 1965

Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus	very rare vagrant, 1 record 1996

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus	uncommon but almost annual autumn visitor. Not recorded until 1986.

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 2004(2)

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix	uncommon spring passage migrant and rare in autumn.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita	common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor. Small numbers over-winter. Occasional records of the eastern races P.c. abietinus and P.c. tristis

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus	common passage migrant/breeding summer visitor.

Goldcrest Regulus regulus	common breeding resident/passage migrant and winter visitor. Numbers can drop badly in severe winters.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla	scarce passage migrant/winter visitor in small numbers

Spotted Flycatcher Musciapa striata	uncommon passage migrant/breeding summer visitor. Locally in decline in recent years

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca	an uncommon spring passage migrant/very scarce in autumn.

Bearded Tit Panurus biamicus	very uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor, mainly at CVL. Inexplicably uncommon in Avon

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus	common breeding resident

Blue Tit Cyanistes caerulus	common breeding resident

Great Tit Parus major	common breeding resident

Coal Tit Periparus ater	common breeding resident. Increase in records in autumn may suggest some passage birds.

Willow Tit Poecile montanus	very scarce resident and possibly over-looked. Not recorded every year

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris	uncommon breeding resident

Nuthatch Sitta europaea	fairly common breeding resident in well established woodland sites but scarce elsewhere.

Treecreeper Certia familiaris	fairly common breeding resident in well established woodland sites but scarce elsewhere.

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolis	rare summer vagrant.

Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio	rare vagrant. Last bred in the county in 1975

Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor	very rare vagrant, 1 record 1982

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor	rare passage migrant/winter visitor.

Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator	very rare vagrant, 5 records, 1887, 1989, 1993, 1994, 2005

Jay Garrulus glandarius	fairly common breeding resident. Some autumn influx of birds

Magpie Pica pica	common breeding resident

Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1968 (invasion year)

Chough Pyrrocorax pyrrocorax	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1900, 1941, 2006

Jackdaw Corvus monedula	common breeding resident

Rook Corvus frugilegus	common breeding resident

Carrion Crow Corvus corone	common breeding resident

Hooded Crow Corvus cornix	very rare vagrant

Raven Corvus corax	scarce breeding resident, increasing in recent years

Starling Sturnus vulgaris	common declining resident/winter visitor.

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus	very rare vagrant, 7 records, 1971, 1890, 1893, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004

House Sparrow Passer domesticus	common breeding resident. In decline in recent years

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus	very uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor.

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs	common breeding resident/passage migrant and winter visitor.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla	fairly common passage migrant/winter visitor but seldom in any large numbers in recent years.

Serin Serinus serinus	very rare vagrant, 2 records, 1983, 1986

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris	common breeding resident/ passage migrant and winter visitor

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis	common breeding resident/ passage migrant and winter visitor

Siskin Carduelis spinus	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant but almost entirely absent during summer

Linnet Carduelis cannabina	common breeding resident/passage migrant and winter visitor.

Twite Carduelis flavirostris	rare winter visitor to the coast

Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea	very scarce passage migrant/winter visitor in small numbers

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret	fairly common winter visitor/passage migrant (at the coast), but almost entirely absent from the area in summer

Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1895

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra	uncommon passage migrant/winter visitor but some large flocks do occur in irruption years.

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus	very rare vagrant, 3 records, 1985, 1999, 2006

Bullfinch Pyrrhuls pyrrhula	fairly common breeding resident

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes	very uncommon resident, not recorded every year. The last confirmed breeding record was in 1987

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata	very rare vagrant, 1 record, 1994

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus	very uncommon passage migrant/ winter visitor, mainly along the coast.

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis	very scarce winter visitor, not recorded every year. Rare inland.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella	common breeding resident, mainly at Marshfield area. Uncommon on the coast

Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus	formerly fairly common, now extremely rare and perhaps now lost to the County. Last recorded 1991

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla	very rare winter visitor, 4 records, 1976, 1986, 1996, 1998

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus	uncommon breeding resident/passage migrant.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra	uncommon breeding resident with a very local distribution at Marshfield area. Rare at the coast

Acknowledgments:

To birdwatchers past and present everywhere who are the ultimate source of this list by way of their contributions to our local bird societies and clubs and to Paul Bowerman who provided much of the basic information in systematic order