Rare Birds in Nottinghamshire
76 species matching this filter.
Nottinghamshire may be a landlocked county, but its diverse habitats — from the wetlands of the Idle Valley and Attenborough Nature Reserve to the ancient woodlands of Sherwood Forest — attract a surprising variety of rare bird species. With 76 species classified as rare, patient birdwatchers may be rewarded with sightings of elusive visitors such as Bohemian Waxwing, Eurasian Bittern, Hawfinch, and passage migrants like Arctic Tern and Greenshank. The county's gravel pits, reservoirs, and river corridors serve as vital stopover points for scarce migrants and occasional winter wanderers.
Showing 47–69 of 76 species
Parrot Crossbill
Loxia pytyopsittacusLC
An extremely rare irruptive visitor; occasionally recorded in conifer plantations during invasion years.
Dec
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotosLC
A rare Nearctic vagrant appearing on autumn passage in September and October. A prized find at any of the county's wetland reserves.
Sep–Oct
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
A rare but year-round resident, nesting on tall buildings in Nottingham city centre. Occasionally seen hunting over wetland reserves.
Year-round
Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchusLC
Rare but regular, mainly seen in winter and early spring on Trent valley farmland. Skeins are sometimes spotted overhead during autumn migration.
Sep–May
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare and irruptive visitor to conifer plantations, most likely in autumn and late winter. Numbers vary greatly between years.
Oct–Apr
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
Once persecuted to near-extinction, now slowly recolonising. Seen year-round soaring over farmland and woodland edges.
Year-round
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare resident of arable farmland, occasionally encountered on open fields but far less numerous than the Common Pheasant.
Year-round
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare winter vagrant, very occasionally turning up on larger lakes and reservoirs during December cold spells.
Dec
Spotted something?
Upload a photo to identify it
Identify
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare spring passage migrant, briefly passing through in April en route to upland breeding grounds. Occasionally recorded on open heathland and hilltops.
Apr
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
A rare breeding bird on bare gravel and reservoir margins, with small numbers on passage at wetland sites from March to October.
Mar–Oct
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Alexandrinus krameriLC
A rare resident, part of the slowly expanding feral population. Occasionally seen around suburban parks and gardens in the county.
Aug–Jun
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare resident, now largely eradicated through national culling programmes. Any remaining birds on county lakes are increasingly unusual sightings.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
A rare passage visitor in May, this coastal wader occasionally turns up at inland reservoirs and gravel pits in the county.
May
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare but near year-round visitor to shallow scrapes and flooded fields. Small numbers linger at key wetland reserves along the Trent Valley.
Jul–May
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare inland passage migrant, occasionally noted at reservoir edges and gravel pits in May. Far more typical on coastal beaches.
May
Smew
Mergellus albellusLC
A rare and prized winter visitor, with smart black-and-white drakes occasionally appearing on Trent Valley lakes in cold winters.
Nov–Mar
Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striataLC
A rare and declining summer breeder, arriving in May to nest in mature woodland edges and parkland. Sherwood Forest holds occasional pairs.
May–Sep
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare autumn passage wader, occasionally stopping at muddy reservoir edges and gravel pits during September.
Sep
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A scarce but resident owl of mature woodland, including Sherwood Forest. Its familiar hooting carries through Nottinghamshire's ancient oaks on still nights.
Year-round
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialisLC
A rare summer breeder arriving in April, favouring heathland and open woodland clearings. Its distinctive parachuting song flight is a highlight.
Apr–Jul
Tundra Swan
Cygnus columbianusLC
A rare winter visitor, occasionally turning up on Trent valley floodwaters or larger reservoirs, typically in harsh weather further north.
Jan
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
A rare but increasing resident, breeding at wetland reserves such as Attenborough and Idle Valley with their extensive reedbeds.
Year-round
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
A rare passage visitor seen on open farmland and gravel pits in spring and autumn, rarely lingering long.
Mar–Sep