Rare Birds in Essex
85 species matching this filter.
Essex is home to an impressive array of rare bird species, with 82 recorded rarities that reward patient and dedicated birdwatchers. From the elusive Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in ancient woodlands to the striking Great Grey Shrike on coastal scrubland, the county's diverse habitats — including estuarine mudflats, grazing marshes, and remnant heathlands — attract an extraordinary range of uncommon visitors and declining residents. Notable species such as the Eurasian Stone-curlew, Grey Partridge, and Long-tailed Duck highlight the ecological richness of this often-underestimated county.
Showing 70–85 of 85 species
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare but year-round presence, occasionally seen on sandy shores and estuarine flats along the Essex coast.
Year-round
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare resident favouring coastal marshes and rough grassland, most visible in winter when birds quarter low over Essex estuaries.
Sep–May
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare winter visitor to the Essex coast, occasionally seen on shingle beaches and saltmarshes. Most records fall between November and January.
Nov–Jan
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, arriving in May. Favours woodland edges and mature gardens, sallying out from perches to catch insects.
May–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare but regular visitor to Essex estuaries, present most of the year. Often seen wading elegantly in channels alongside common redshanks.
Jan–Oct
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A secretive resident of mature woodland, more often heard than seen. Scarce in Essex due to limited large forest tracts.
Aug–Jun
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
A rare passage migrant, briefly visiting Essex scrapes and reservoir margins in May and again in August.
May–Aug
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare autumn passage migrant recorded briefly in August and September, typically at coastal sites and woodland clearings.
Aug–Sep
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Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally found on coastal marshes and arable fields. Most records come from December to February.
Dec–Feb
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
A rare winter visitor to Essex marshes and flooded fields, occasionally seen in small groups from November to February.
Nov–Feb
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare winter visitor to Essex coastal waters, occasionally seen off Southend or the Blackwater Estuary in late autumn and early winter.
Nov–Jan
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare winter visitor to Essex, favouring watercress beds, reservoir margins and coastal marshes. Most reliably seen between October and March.
Oct–Mar
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally noted in spring at reservoirs and coastal marshes. Far less regular here than in northern England.
Apr
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolorLC
A rare Nearctic vagrant, occasionally turning up at coastal pools and marshes in September during autumn passage.
Sep
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareolaLC
A rare passage migrant visiting freshwater scrapes and marshes, mainly in late summer. Most records come from coastal reserves in July to September.
May–Sep
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
A rare October passage migrant from Siberia, occasionally found in coastal scrub and gardens along the Essex coast.
Oct