Rare Birds in Buckinghamshire
51 species matching this filter.
Buckinghamshire is home to a surprising diversity of rare bird species, with 51 uncommon visitors and residents recorded across the county. From the ghostly Barn Owl hunting over farmland at dusk to the elusive Common Redstart found in mature woodlands, the county's mix of Chiltern Hills beechwoods, river valleys, and wetland reserves provides vital habitats for these scarce species. Waders such as Green Sandpiper and Greenshank can be spotted at gravel pits and reservoirs, while the charming Little Owl and striking Bullfinch reward patient observers in hedgerow-rich countryside.
Showing 1–23 of 51 species
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A rare passage record, likely involving a wandering individual in February. Breeding populations persist in the wider county but are thinly spread.
Feb
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, with occasional September records likely involving feral or wandering birds rather than true wild migrants.
Sep
Black Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
A rare visitor, likely an escapee from ornamental collections. Occasionally recorded on larger lakes in autumn.
Sep–Nov
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
A rare September passage migrant, occasionally seen hawking insects over reservoirs and gravel pits on autumn migration.
Sep
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
A rare passage migrant in July–August, pausing at reservoir edges and flooded fields on southward migration.
Jul–Aug
Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulusLC
A rare irruptive winter visitor, occasionally appearing in January to feed on berry-laden trees in parks and suburban areas during invasion years.
Jan
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in beech woodland and farmland, particularly in the Chiltern Hills.
Oct–Mar
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
A rare but year-round resident of hedgerows, orchards and woodland edges. Its soft piping call is often heard before the bird is seen.
Year-round
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Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
A rare but increasingly recorded resident, reflecting the species' ongoing range expansion south-eastward across England. Deep, resonant croaking calls may be heard over the Chiltern Hills.
Year-round
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from October to April, occasionally found in birch and alder woodland or visiting garden feeders alongside Lesser Redpolls.
Oct–Apr
Common Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A rare passage migrant glimpsed briefly in April and August, pausing in hedgerows and woodland edges on migration between African wintering grounds and northern breeding sites.
Apr–Aug
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
A rare November passage visitor, occasionally turning up on larger reservoirs. This sea duck is scarce inland.
Nov
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A rare resident, unusual this far inland. Small numbers occur on larger water bodies, with a gap in records during autumn.
Dec–Aug
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
A rare summer breeder on open arable farmland, singing its jangling song from fence posts. Severely declined and now a Red List species.
Apr–Jul
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
A rare breeding wader present from April to August, favouring wet grassland and gravel pit margins. Inland breeding records are increasingly scarce.
Apr–Aug
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
A rare breeding visitor from April to June, found in mature mixed woodland and conifer stands, particularly in the Chiltern Hills.
Apr–Jun
Garganey
Spatula querquedulaLC
A rare passage migrant recorded in late summer. Look for this scarce duck on shallow pools and reservoir margins in August–September.
Aug–Sep
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to ploughed fields and wet grassland from October to March. Flocks are usually small.
Oct–Mar
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangulaLC
A rare winter visitor from November to April, found on larger reservoirs and gravel pits. Numbers are typically very small.
Nov–Apr
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor mainly in winter months, occasionally seen loafing at larger reservoirs and gravel pits alongside other gulls.
Jul–Mar
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
A rare but increasingly recorded resident at wetlands and gravel pits. Part of a wider colonisation trend across southern England.
Jul–Apr
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
A rare but year-round visitor to waterways and gravel pits, often flushed from ditches and muddy pond edges with a distinctive bobbing flight.
Jun–Apr
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
Rare passage visitor in spring and autumn, pausing at reservoirs and flooded gravel pits. Its ringing call often betrays its presence.
Apr–Sep