Birds to See in Somerset in October
145 bird species on our list for Somerset are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Jackdaw. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Common Merganser and Goldeneye and 11 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
From Somerset’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 145 birds in October
145 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.69% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.54% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.43% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 3.23% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.71% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.21% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisWinter visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.05% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.61% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.56% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.52% in Oct
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentCommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.43% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentCommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentCommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.36% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Jan · 0.23% in Oct
Common CraneGrus grusWinter visitorUncommon100–130 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.22% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.20% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.19% in Oct
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentUncommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.16% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.15% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentUncommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.11% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.11% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Oct
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaWinter visitorUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.08% in Oct
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisWinter visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.08% in Oct
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Oct
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusPassage migrantUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Oct
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorCommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaSummer visitorUncommon80–90 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusPassage migrantUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Oct
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Oct
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellarisSummer visitorCommon69–81 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Red-crested PochardNetta rufinaWinter visitorUncommon53–57 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.04% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
GarganeySpatula querquedulaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaSummer visitorRare32–34 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusWinter visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentRare43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Oct
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Oct
OspreyPandion haliaetusPassage migrantUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantRare17–18 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.01% in Oct
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made