Rare Birds in Merseyside

93 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)33 families represented17 year-round residents

Showing 70–92 of 93 species

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit

Anthus petrosusLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to Merseyside's rocky shorelines and sea walls, most likely seen from autumn through to early spring.

Aug–Mar

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

Roseate Tern

Sterna dougalliiLC

A rare and prized breeding visitor from May to August, with Seaforth Nature Reserve offering one of the UK's few nesting sites.

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Ross's Goose

Ross's Goose

Anser rossiiLC

An extremely rare passage visitor, recorded in October. Any sighting requires careful separation from the similar Snow Goose.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sabine's Gull

Sabine's Gull

Xema sabiniLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, best seen from coastal headlands during westerly gales in September and October.

Sep–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeusLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal marshes and rough grassland, hunting low over the ground from October to March.

Oct–Mar

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

Smew

Mergellus albellusLC

A rare midwinter passage visitor, very occasionally turning up on sheltered lakes and reservoirs across the region.

Dec–Mar

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

Snow Bunting

Plectrophenax nivalisLC

A scarce winter visitor to Merseyside's beaches and dune systems, most likely along the Sefton coast from November to February.

Nov–Feb

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

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescensLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally seen among wintering goose flocks on the Mersey estuary and surrounding farmland in winter and spring.

Dec–Apr

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

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Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striataLC

A rare and declining summer breeder, arriving in May and favouring woodland clearings and mature gardens with open perches.

May–Sep

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

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropusLC

A rare wader found on Merseyside's estuarine mudflats, present in small numbers for much of the year. Often feeds alongside commoner redshank on tidal creeks.

Jun–Apr

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

Tawny Owl

Strix alucoLC

A rare resident, thinly distributed in mature woodland and parkland; more often heard calling at dusk than seen.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Temminck's Stint

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckiiLC

A rare spring passage migrant, briefly recorded in May. Favours muddy pool edges and is easily overlooked among other stints.

May

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

Tree Pipit

Anthus trivialisLC

A rare passage migrant recorded briefly in April and August, pausing on migration through open scrubby habitats.

Apr–Aug

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

Twite

Linaria flavirostrisLC

A rare winter visitor, occasionally found on saltmarshes and coastal stubble fields around the Mersey estuary from November to February.

Nov–Feb

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

Water Pipit

Anthus spinolettaLC

A rare winter visitor to wet grassland and marshes, occasionally recorded at coastal sites between November and March.

Nov–Mar

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

Whinchat

Saxicola rubetraLC

A rare passage migrant seen on coastal scrub and rough grassland in spring and autumn, pausing briefly on migration.

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterusLC

A rare passage vagrant in September. Any sighting over coastal pools or marshes is a notable event for Merseyside birders.

Sep

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

Whooper Swan

Cygnus cygnusLC

A rare winter visitor from Iceland, sometimes seen on coastal marshes and fields from October to March.

Oct–Mar

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

Willow Tit

Poecile montanusLC

A rare passage visitor in autumn, reflecting the species' severe national decline. Occasional records in October and November.

Oct–Nov

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wilson's Phalarope

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolorLC

A rare Nearctic vagrant, occasionally recorded on passage in September. Any sighting at coastal pools attracts keen interest.

Sep

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

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareolaLC

A rare passage migrant, occasionally stopping at Merseyside's freshwater pools in May and August. A scarce but regular visitor to sites like Marshside and Seaforth.

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatusLC

A rare but eagerly sought autumn passage migrant from Siberia, occasionally found in coastal scrub and gardens in October.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellisLC

A rare but year-round presence, occasionally picked out among large gull flocks at Seaforth Nature Reserve or along the Mersey estuary.

Year-round

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