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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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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