Rare Birds in Leicestershire

70 species matching this filter.

All birds in Leicestershire

Leicestershire may be a landlocked county in the heart of England, but its diverse mix of reservoirs, farmland, woodland and heathland supports an impressive array of rare bird species. Around 70 species are classified as rare in the county, including elusive residents such as Barn Owl and Little Owl, secretive breeders like Grasshopper Warbler, and scarce visitors including Black-necked Grebe, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Key sites such as Rutland Water, Eyebrook Reservoir and Charnwood Forest provide vital habitats that attract these uncommon species throughout the year.

Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-browed WarblerSmallest · 10cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Yellow-browed Warbler (10cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)24 families represented11 year-round residents

Showing 1–23 of 70 species

Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaeaLC

A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally dropping in at reservoirs and gravel pits during April and May en route to Arctic breeding grounds.

Apr–May

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

Barn Owl

Tyto albaLC

A rare but year-round resident, hunting over farmland and rough grassland. Most active at dusk, favouring areas with old barns and hedgerow trees.

Nov–Sep

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

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsisLC

A rare breeder, likely from feral stock, present at scattered wetland sites from May through September.

May–Sep

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

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

A rare late-summer passage migrant, dipping gracefully over reservoir surfaces in August and September. Most records come from larger water bodies.

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-crowned Night-heron

Black-crowned Night-heron

Nycticorax nycticoraxLC

A rare spring passage visitor, with occasional April records. This secretive heron is a major county rarity, usually found near wooded waterways.

Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollisLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally turning up at larger reservoirs such as Rutland Water's fringes during August.

Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosaNT

A rare passage migrant through the county in late summer, pausing at reservoir edges and wet grassland between July and September.

Jul–Sep

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

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulusLC

A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, appearing in irruption years. Flocks descend on berry-laden trees in towns and supermarket car parks.

Dec–Feb

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

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Brambling

Brambling

Fringilla montifringillaLC

A rare winter visitor from Scandinavia, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in farmland and beech woodland from October to April.

Oct–Apr

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

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibisLC

A rare passage visitor in summer and early autumn, part of a recent range expansion into England. Occasionally seen near livestock at wetland sites.

Jun–Sep

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

Common Redstart

Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC

A rare passage migrant glimpsed briefly in April and August. Does not breed in the county but may stop over in wooded areas on migration.

Apr–Aug

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

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigraLC

A rare breeder in the county, occasionally seen on reservoirs during spring passage and again in October.

Apr–Oct

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

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadornaLC

A rare resident, thinly spread around reservoirs and gravel pits. Largely absent in midsummer during moult migration.

Aug–Jun

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

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinagoLC

A rare resident found in marshy areas and wet grassland. More conspicuous in winter when numbers are boosted.

Jul–Apr

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

Dunlin

Calidris alpinaLC

A rare passage migrant seen at reservoir edges and muddy scrapes, mainly in spring and late summer.

Apr–Aug

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

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacaLC

A rare but year-round resident of naturalised origin, found on lakes and parkland waters across the county.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanusLC

A rare and declining resident, now largely confined to farmland in the east of the county. Favours hedgerows and farm buildings with nest boxes.

Oct–Jun

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

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to woodland and hedgerows, most likely encountered during winter months. Its cryptic plumage makes detection difficult.

Nov–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
European Turtle-dove

European Turtle-dove

Streptopelia turturVU

A rare and rapidly declining passage visitor, now only occasionally recorded on farmland in late spring.

May–Jun

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

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare passage migrant, occasionally seen on shallow pools and reservoir margins in spring and early autumn.

Mar–Sep

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

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreusLC

A rare midwinter visitor from the Arctic, occasionally turning up among gull flocks at reservoirs and tips. A prized find for county birders.

Jan

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

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricariaLC

A rare passage visitor, sometimes seen in flocks on ploughed fields and wet grassland in autumn and winter.

Oct–Jan

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

Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naeviaLC

A rare and declining breeding visitor, best detected by its insect-like reeling song from dense scrub and rough grassland in spring.

Apr–Jul

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