Ducks, Geese & Swans in East Riding of Yorkshire

33 species matching this filter.

All birds in East Riding of YorkshireView family page

The East Riding of Yorkshire is a superb destination for observing ducks, geese and swans, with 33 species recorded across the county's diverse wetland habitats. From the internationally important Humber Estuary to the coastal lagoons of Hornsea Mere and the flooded gravel pits of the lower Derwent Valley, the region supports impressive gatherings of wildfowl including Eurasian Wigeon, Common Shelduck, Greylag Goose and scarcer visitors such as Long-tailed Duck and Barnacle Goose. Notable rarities like Black Swan and Egyptian Goose also make occasional appearances, adding to the county's rich birding appeal.

Ruddy Duck
Ruddy DuckSmallest · 35cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Ruddy Duck (35cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)19 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 33 species

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisLC

A rare resident, with feral birds present year-round and occasional wild Arctic migrants in winter.

Aug–Jun

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

Black Swan

Cygnus atratusLC

A rare non-native vagrant, with occasional sightings likely involving escapees from wildfowl collections.

Oct–Jan

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

Brent Goose

Branta berniclaLC

An uncommon but regular visitor to the Humber Estuary and coast, grazing on eelgrass and saltmarsh in winter.

Aug–Jun

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

Canada Goose

Branta canadensisLC

An established but uncommon resident found on lakes, gravel pits, and parkland throughout the year.

Year-round

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

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to rivers and lakes, mainly from October to April. Less frequent here than in upland regions further west.

Oct–Apr

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

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigraLC

Uncommon but present year-round offshore, with flocks regularly seen passing Flamborough Head. Numbers peak during spring and autumn passage.

Year-round

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

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadornaLC

A common resident of the Humber Estuary and coastal marshes, nesting in rabbit burrows and banks.

Year-round

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

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacaLC

A rare but increasing feral resident, found year-round on lakes and gravel pits across the region.

Year-round

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

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Eider

Eider

Somateria mollissimaNT

A rare resident along the coast, most reliably seen off Flamborough Head and Bridlington. Small numbers are present year-round on nearshore waters.

Year-round

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

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelopeLC

Common year-round, with large winter flocks gathering on the Humber Estuary and flooded fields. Whistling calls are a characteristic sound of the lowlands.

Year-round

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

Gadwall

Mareca streperaLC

A common resident on lakes, gravel pits and marshes across the region. Often overlooked among Mallards but breeds readily at sites like Tophill Low.

Year-round

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

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare summer breeder on shallow wetlands, arriving in April and departing by October. A declining species in the UK.

Apr–Oct

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

Goldeneye

Bucephala clangulaLC

An uncommon winter visitor to inland lakes and reservoirs from October to April. Tophill Low and Hornsea Mere are reliable sites.

Oct–Apr

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

Greater Scaup

Aythya marilaLC

A rare diving duck, mainly seen in winter on the Humber Estuary and coastal waters. Occasionally lingers into spring at favoured sites.

Oct–Jul

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

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsLC

An uncommon winter visitor to low-lying farmland and wetlands, present from November to March in small numbers.

Nov–Mar

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

Greylag Goose

Anser anserLC

A common year-round resident found on lakes, rivers, and farmland. Feral and wild populations mix in winter.

Year-round

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

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters, arriving from October. Occasionally seen from headlands or in sheltered bays along the Holderness coast.

Oct–Jan

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

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchosLC

An abundant resident found on virtually any waterbody, from farm ponds to the Humber. Breeds widely across the region's wetlands and urban parks.

Year-round

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

Mute Swan

Cygnus olorLC

A familiar common resident on rivers, lakes, and ponds across the region, breeding widely each spring.

Year-round

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

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

An uncommon but elegant duck, present mainly in winter on the Humber and surrounding marshes. Absent during midsummer, returning from August.

Aug–May

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

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeataLC

A common resident on shallow lakes and wetlands, with numbers boosted by continental birds in winter.

Year-round

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

Pink-footed Goose

Anser brachyrhynchusLC

Uncommon but regular, with large skeins passing over in autumn and winter en route to and from roost sites.

Sep–May

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

Pochard

Aythya ferinaVU

A declining resident found on lakes and gravel pits year-round. Winter numbers are boosted by continental arrivals at sites like Hornsea Mere.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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Ducks, Geese & Swans in East Riding of Yorkshire | Birdfact