Ducks, Geese & Swans in Cumbria

28 species matching this filter.

All birds in CumbriaView family page

Cumbria's diverse wetland habitats — from the expansive Solway Firth and Morecambe Bay estuaries to the tranquil lakes and tarns of the Lake District — make it an outstanding county for ducks, geese and swans. With 28 species recorded, birdwatchers can enjoy sightings ranging from large wintering flocks of Barnacle Geese and Eurasian Wigeon to resident breeders such as Common Shelduck and Greylag Goose. Scarcer visitors including Bar-headed Goose and Hooded Merganser add an element of surprise for keen observers.

Garganey
GarganeySmallest · 37cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Garganey (37cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)16 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 28 species

Bar-headed Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicusLC

A rare summer visitor, likely an escapee from wildfowl collections. Occasionally seen on lakes and wetlands in June and July.

Jun–Jul

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisLC

Present year-round, with Svalbard birds wintering on the Solway marshes alongside a small feral population.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Branta berniclaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to Cumbrian estuaries, mainly around Morecambe Bay. Present from autumn through to spring.

Sep–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canada Goose

Canada Goose

Branta canadensisLC

A common resident on lakes, rivers and parkland throughout the county, breeding readily on Cumbrian waters.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserLC

An uncommon year-round resident of fast-flowing rivers and upland lakes. Often seen fishing on the Eden and other Cumbrian rivers.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Scoter

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigraLC

A rare resident seen in small numbers offshore, often in rafts on the Irish Sea off the Cumbrian coast.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Shelduck

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadornaLC

An uncommon resident favouring the Solway and Morecambe Bay estuaries, nesting in rabbit burrows nearby.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Eider

Eider

Somateria mollissimaNT

An uncommon coastal resident, most easily seen around the Solway Firth and Walney Island throughout the year.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelopeLC

An uncommon year-round resident, with numbers swelling in winter on estuaries and flooded fields. Breeds sparingly on upland tarns.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Gadwall

Gadwall

Mareca streperaLC

An uncommon resident on lowland lakes and reservoirs, often overlooked among larger flocks of dabbling ducks.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Garganey

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare passage migrant glimpsed on freshwater pools in spring and again briefly in September.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Goldeneye

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangulaLC

An uncommon winter visitor to Cumbria's lakes and estuaries, arriving from autumn and lingering into spring.

Aug–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greater Scaup

Greater Scaup

Aythya marilaLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters and sheltered bays. Small numbers may appear on the Solway Firth or Morecambe Bay.

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greater White-fronted Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsLC

A rare winter passage visitor, occasionally seen in January and February on coastal marshes and estuarine fields.

Jan–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose

Anser anserLC

An uncommon year-round resident found on lakes, estuaries and farmland, with both feral and wild birds present.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatusLC

A rare spring vagrant of uncertain origin, occasionally recorded on Cumbrian lakes in April and May.

Apr–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare midwinter visitor, occasionally seen on coastal waters or large inland lakes. A scarce but prized find for local birders.

Jan

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mallard

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchosLC

A common resident found on virtually any waterbody, from upland tarns to town park ponds. Present year-round across the county.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulataLC

A rare resident found on wooded lakes and rivers. Small feral populations persist, favouring sheltered waterways with overhanging trees.

Dec–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Cygnus olorLC

A familiar sight on Cumbria's lakes and rivers year-round, nesting along waterways and in town centres.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Pintail

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to estuaries and coastal marshes, mainly from autumn to spring. Morecambe Bay is a key site.

Sep–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeataLC

An uncommon resident on shallow lakes and marshes, with numbers boosted by winter visitors. Scarcer during midsummer.

Aug–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Pink-footed Goose

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchusLC

Winters on estuaries and farmland in large flocks, notably around Morecambe Bay, arriving from Iceland in autumn.

Sep–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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