Regular rarities

Where are those long-staying rarities, and the difficult to find birds?  
Here are a few hints for some of our rarer birds.

Montagu's Harrier
In 2004 a pair nested at Frampton Marsh, Lincolnshire, and a viewpoint was set up - signed off A16 Kirton roundabout.

Marsh Harrier
Much more common again now, and can be seen along the East Anglian coast, and at places like Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancashire and Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire.

Hen Harrier
Try the winter evening roosts at Titchwell RSPB, Horsey Mere and Hickling Broad, Norfolk or Stodmarsh NR, Kent. 

Goshawk
Spring display flights make this a good time - try over the Forest of Dean from the watchpoint at New Fancy View, Gloucestershire, and see Raven, Peregrine, Goshawks and Buzzards at the same time.

Rough-legged Buzzard
Winter in small numbers (less than ten a year). Favoured sites have been Worlaby Carrs, Lincolnshire, Harty Marshes, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, Lantern Marshes, Suffolk and Lewes Brooks, East Sussex but previously Haddiscoe Marshes, Norfolk, was a favourite.

Golden Eagle
Without going north of the border, you'll have to try Haweswater RSPB watchpoint, Cumbria.

Osprey
Apart from Scotland, there are the regulars at Rutland Water, Leicestershire and also in Cumbria. For the Lake Bassenthwaite Osprey Watchpoint in Cumbria, take the A591 north of Keswick for 2 miles, park at Dodd Wood, NY235282 and walk uphill for 10 minutes. Also now a breeding pair near Porthmadog, Wales.

Golden Pheasant
Try in the woods between the A149 and Wolferton village - known as Wolferton Triangle, Norfolk. Just park the car on the either of the two roads that form the triangle, and wait for them to cross the road in front of you - it's easy! NB also good for Woodcock.

Spotted Crake
Autumn regulars at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk and Grove Ferry/ Stodmarsh, Kent, but can turn up at many places.

Common Crane
A small flock regularly reported between West Somerton and Waxham, Norfolk. 

Black-winged Stilt
Sammy the long-standing resident at Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk, hasn't been seen since mid May 2005, so their isn't a regular place to see a Stilt in the UK .

Stone Curlew
Another revival story but still perhaps best seen at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Weeting Heath, Norfolk, where you can also get good views of Woodlark. Nearly 100 pairs bred around Salisbury Plain in 2004.

Mediterranean Gull
Breeding now and becoming more common everywhere, but Great Yarmouth, Norfolk is consistent. Try the beach between the piers (eg. 19 on 27 February, 2000). Also, try around Southend Pier, Essex and the south-east corner of the Isle of Wight. The RSPB reports 110 breeding pairs at Langstone Harbour, Hampshire.

Ring-billed Gull
Try on the front at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex ,or Stromness Harbour, Orkney where there has been a wintering bird since 1989.

Glaucous Gull
More common in winter gull roosts, fishing ports and rubbish tips. Try King's Lynn Fisher Fleet, Norfolk or the tip at Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire, but the further north you go, the better your chances.

Roseate Tern
Still rare away from the north-east, where in 2005 there were 91 pairs on the RSPB's Coquet Island reserve in the Farne Islands, Northumberland. They can turn up regularly down the coast, eg as far Filey Brigg, North Yorkshire.

Ring-necked Parakeet
A big roost (around 1000 birds) at Esher Rugby Club, Surrey, and also some around Studland village in Dorset.

Bee-eaters
Nested and raised young in 2003 for the first time in England for ages at Bishop Middleham Quarry, County Durham. In 2005, a pair were feeding young at  Hampton Bishop RSPB viewing site, Herefordshire, but the nest was robbed by foxes, and the young lost. Unfortunately, there has been no repeat in subsequent years. In 2006 there was a nest-building attempt on M.O.D land in Dorset. Surely it can only be a matter of time before a successful breeding attempt?

Woodlark
Try Weeting Heath, Norfolk, where they frequently forage along the side of the field where the Stone Curlews can be seen, affording great views.

Shorelark
Regular flock winters at Holkham Gap, Norfolk plus flocks of Snow Bunting and Twite, but can turn up anywhere along the eastern coasts, from Landguard NR, Suffolk to Montrose Basin, Angus.

Water Pipit
Try Neston Old Quay, Cheshire or Cley Marshes, Norfolk.

Siberian Chiffchaffs
Small numbers often winter and a favourite environment seems to be sewage works - try your local facilities!

Yellow-browed Warbler
Regular on migration, sometimes in good numbers, and occasionally winters, eg. Helston sewage works, Cornwall in 2000-1; Stiffkey, Norfolk in 2002-3.

Firecrests
Try your local sewage works - eg. wintering birds in 2000 - 2001 at Llanfairfechan, Conwy and Fingringhoe sewage works, Essex. Birds regularly turn up at migration sites like Holkham Gap, Norfolk, Gibraltar Point NNR, Lincolnshire, Landguard NR, Suffolk, Dungeness RSPB, Kent, Durlston CP and Hengistbury Head, Dorset, even in winter.

Great Grey Shrike
They often return to the same wintering sites, including Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, Morden Bog, Dorset and Weather Heath, Suffolk.

Chough
Favourite site outside of Western Scotland is probably South Stack RSPB, Anglesey, but can be seen at other places in the north-west of Wales. It recolonised Cornwall in 2001, and now has a breeding population on The Lizard again.

Hooded Crow
Regularly turns up at South Stack RSPB, Anglesey.

Lapland Bunting
Several winter at Aldbrough, East Yorkshire (south of the caravan park), Grimston and East Newton, East Yorkshire. Generally found in the clifftop stubble fields. Also seen regularly at St. Mary's Island, North Tyneside and Long Nab, North Yorkshire.

Snow Buntings
Regularly winters on the coast from Yorkshire round to Suffolk, and often further afield, eg the North Wales and Lancashire coasts. Try at Holkham Gap or Cley Marshes, Norfolk, Kinmel Bay, Conwy or Point of Air, Flintshire.

Cirl Bunting
Can be seen all year round at Prawle Point, Devon. Park in the National trust car park, and bear left (east) along the coastal path, and keep your eyes open. They often feed on the ground in the long grass, and give good views in the hedges. Also still a small population behind the Old Exminster Hospital, Devon.