Rare Birds in Gloucestershire
74 species matching this filter.
Gloucestershire's diverse landscapes — from the Severn Estuary mudflats to the ancient woodlands of the Forest of Dean and the rolling Cotswold hills — occasionally attract some truly remarkable avian visitors. With 74 species classified as rare in the county, patient birders may be rewarded with sightings of elusive species such as Great Grey Shrike, Bluethroat, Arctic Jaeger, and Grasshopper Warbler. The county's mix of wetlands, river valleys, and open countryside creates the varied habitats that draw these uncommon birds, making each encounter a memorable event.
Showing 47–69 of 74 species
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A rare winter visitor from upland breeding grounds, seen dashing low over farmland and marshes from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
A rare passage visitor in April and May, occasionally heard singing in dense scrub. Gloucestershire lies at the edge of its breeding range.
Apr–May
Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeusLC
A rare passage visitor in June, occasionally noted at heathland edges in the Forest of Dean area.
Jun
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare and secretive raptor breeding in the Forest of Dean's dense woodlands. Best spotted soaring over the canopy in early spring.
Oct–Jun
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
A rare but eagerly anticipated passage migrant in spring and autumn, seen fishing at reservoirs and the Cotswold Water Park.
Apr–Sep
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare Nearctic wader appearing on autumn passage in August–September, typically at Slimbridge or Cotswold Water Park scrapes.
Aug–Sep
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
A rare winter visitor to the Severn Vale, occasionally joining other goose flocks on flooded grasslands and wetlands during cold spells.
Oct–May
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare resident of conifer plantations in the Forest of Dean, using its crossed bill to extract seeds from spruce and pine cones.
Oct–Aug
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Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
A rare visitor to the Severn Estuary, mainly in winter and during passage. Small flocks occasionally feed on the mudflats.
Jul–Apr
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufinaLC
A rare but year-round resident, most likely seen at Cotswold Water Park gravel pits. Numbers in southern England are slowly increasing.
Year-round
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A scarce resident of arable farmland and open fields, most often encountered in the Cotswolds and lowland areas.
Year-round
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally spotted on the Cotswold escarpment in April as it heads to upland breeding grounds.
Apr
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor found along the Severn Estuary shoreline in winter. Occasionally recorded at inland reservoirs on passage.
Sep–Mar
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare breeding-season visitor, occasionally seen at Severn Estuary mudflats and reservoir margins from May to September.
May–Sep
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to open grassland and marshes from October to March. Most likely on the Severn floodplain in harsh winters.
Oct–Mar
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescensLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally appearing among wild goose flocks at Slimbridge, though feral origin is often suspected.
Oct–Mar
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A secretive resident of mature woodland and parkland, rarely seen but its hooting call carries through the Forest of Dean and Cotswold valleys.
Year-round
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckiiLC
A rare passage migrant, occasionally stopping at freshwater scrapes and muddy pool edges in May and again in autumn.
May–Nov
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare summer breeder arriving in April, favouring open woodland and heathland edges in the Forest of Dean and Cotswold escarpment.
Apr–Sep
Tundra Bean Goose
Anser serrirostrisLC
A rare passage visitor to the Severn Vale, occasionally seen among other goose flocks in winter and late summer.
Jul–Feb
Water Pipit
Anthus spinolettaLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally found at watercress beds and wet margins in October and November.
Oct–Nov
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly on open grassland and scrubby margins during spring and autumn migration.
Apr–Sep
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally turning up on Severn floodwaters or at Slimbridge WWT between October and March.
Oct–Mar