Rare Birds in Merseyside

85 species matching this filter.

All birds in Merseyside

Merseyside's diverse coastal habitats, estuaries, and pockets of woodland provide occasional refuge for a fascinating array of rare bird species. With 85 species classified as rare across the county, patient birders may be rewarded with sightings of Arctic Jaeger and Great Skua offshore, Eurasian Woodcock in secluded woodland, or the striking European Green Woodpecker in parkland settings. The Mersey Estuary and Sefton Coast are particularly notable hotspots where uncommon visitors and scarce residents can turn up 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)32 families represented17 year-round residents

Showing 24–46 of 85 species

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanusLC

A rare resident found on farmland edges, scarcer than its House Sparrow cousin. Small colonies persist in rural parts of Merseyside.

Dec–Oct

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

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to Merseyside's woodlands and gardens in winter. This secretive wader is most often flushed unexpectedly from damp leaf litter.

Nov–Feb

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
European Green Woodpecker

European Green Woodpecker

Picus viridisLC

A rare passage visitor in April, occasionally turning up in parkland and woodland edges; scarce across Merseyside generally.

Apr

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

European Shag

Phalacrocorax aristotelisLC

A rare visitor to rocky shores and harbour walls, most likely in late autumn and winter, far scarcer than Cormorant here.

Aug–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
European Storm-petrel

European Storm-petrel

Hydrobates pelagicusLC

A rare October passage visitor, typically driven close to shore by strong westerly gales and seen from coastal watchpoints.

Oct

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

Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialisLC

A rare passage visitor in September, typically seen from seawatching points during strong onshore winds along the coast.

Sep

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

Garden Warbler

Sylvia borinLC

A rare passage visitor in late spring and autumn, occasionally found in dense scrub and woodland with thick undergrowth.

May–Aug

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

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare summer breeder, arriving in April and departing by June. Favours shallow freshwater pools with emergent vegetation.

Apr–Jun

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

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Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naeviaLC

A rare and declining summer breeder, best detected by its insect-like reeling song in dense scrub and rough grassland.

Apr–Jul

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

Great Skua

Catharacta skuaLC

A rare autumn passage visitor, seen offshore or from seawatching points in September and October. A powerful, bulky skua.

Sep–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Great White Egret

Great White Egret

Ardea albaLC

An increasingly regular sight at Merseyside wetlands, reflecting its national expansion. Absent only in early summer months.

Jul–Apr

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

Greater Scaup

Aythya marilaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor from October to April, occasionally found on the Mersey estuary or marine lakes.

Oct–Apr

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

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifronsLC

A rare spring passage visitor, occasionally turning up among Pink-footed Goose flocks on farmland near the coast.

Apr

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

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropusLC

A scarce but regular visitor to freshwater pools and ditches, most often encountered on autumn passage at inland wetland sites.

Jun–Apr

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

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

A scarce but year-round presence, favouring estuarine edges and coastal pools. Numbers peak on passage, with birds often seen singly.

Year-round

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

Grey Phalarope

Phalaropus fulicariusLC

A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally driven close to Merseyside's shores by Atlantic storms in September and October. A prized find for local birders.

Sep–Oct

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

Hen Harrier

Circus cyaneusLC

A rare winter visitor to Merseyside's coastal marshes and farmland, occasionally hunting over the Sefton coast and Martin Mere.

Oct–Mar

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

Hobby

Falco subbuteoLC

A rare summer breeder, this agile falcon hunts dragonflies and small birds over wetlands and open country from May to September.

May–Sep

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

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoidesLC

A rare spring visitor, occasionally appearing among gull flocks in April. Worth checking roosts at Seaforth and the Mersey.

Apr

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

Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes minimusLC

A secretive winter visitor to boggy marshes and wetland edges. Rarely seen, skulking in vegetation from October to March.

Oct–Mar

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

Kittiwake

Rissa tridactylaVU

A rare breeder in the region, present from spring through autumn. Declining nationally, making local sightings increasingly notable.

Mar–Oct

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

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicusLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded on coastal stubble fields and saltmarshes around the Sefton coast in November.

Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Leach's Storm-petrel

Leach's Storm-petrel

Hydrobates leucorhousVU

A rare but thrilling autumn passage bird, driven close to shore by Atlantic gales in September and October.

Sep–Oct

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