Rare Birds in Tyne and Wear

89 species matching this filter.

All birds in Tyne and Wear

Tyne and Wear may be one of England's most urbanised counties, but its diverse habitats — from the North Sea coastline and estuarine mudflats of the Tyne and Wear rivers to pockets of woodland and parkland — attract a surprising variety of rare bird species. With 89 species classified as rare in the region, patient observers may encounter anything from the elusive Barn Owl and Eurasian Woodcock in quieter rural fringes to scarce passage migrants such as Bluethroat, Little Stint and Greenshank along the coast. Notable winter visitors like the Iceland Gull and breeding-season specialities such as the Garden Warbler add further interest throughout the year.

Firecrest
FirecrestSmallest · 9cm
to
Whooper Swan
Whooper SwanLargest · 165cm
Ranges from the Firecrest (9cm) to the Whooper Swan (165cm)35 families represented18 year-round residents

Showing 24–46 of 89 species

Eurasian Scops-owl

Eurasian Scops-owl

Otus scopsLC

An exceptionally rare autumn vagrant, recorded in September. One of the scarcest visitors to the region.

Sep

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

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticolaLC

A rare winter visitor from October to March, skulking in woodland and damp scrubby areas. Cold-weather influxes can boost numbers.

Oct–Mar

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 March, at the edge of its range. Favours parkland and open woodland with ant-rich grassland.

Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
European Pied Flycatcher

European Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula hypoleucaLC

A rare passage migrant in September, occasionally spotted in coastal scrub and woodland edges on its southward migration.

Sep

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

European Storm-petrel

Hydrobates pelagicusLC

A rare July passage visitor, occasionally driven close to shore by storms. Best spotted on seawatches from the coast.

Jul

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

Firecrest

Regulus ignicapillaLC

A rare autumn passage visitor in October and November, favouring sheltered coastal scrub. Often found alongside Goldcrests.

Oct–Nov

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

Garden Warbler

Sylvia borinLC

A rare breeding visitor from April to September, skulking in dense deciduous woodland with thick understorey. Easily overlooked but has a rich, melodious song.

Apr–Sep

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

Garganey

Spatula querquedulaLC

A rare passage migrant seen briefly in spring and late summer at freshwater wetlands such as Washington WWT and Big Waters.

Apr–Aug

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

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Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreusLC

A rare winter visitor from the Arctic, occasionally spotted among gull flocks at harbours and tips from November to March.

Nov–Mar

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

Great White Egret

Ardea albaLC

A rare but increasingly reported passage visitor in late summer. Look for this tall white heron at wetlands and river margins in August and September.

Aug–Sep

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

Greater Scaup

Aythya marilaLC

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters and sheltered bays. Small numbers appear from autumn to spring, often near harbour areas.

Sep–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 winter visitor, occasionally turning up among other goose flocks on farmland or wetlands between December and March.

Dec–Mar

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

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropusLC

A rare visitor to freshwater pools and stream edges, most often seen during passage from midsummer into autumn, bobbing distinctively.

Mar–Nov

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

Greenshank

Tringa nebulariaLC

A rare passage migrant from July to October, pausing at coastal pools and estuarine mudflats on its southward journey.

Jul–Oct

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

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarolaLC

A rare wader found on coastal mudflats and beaches, mainly from late summer through autumn, with silvery plumage in non-breeding dress.

Aug–Jan

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

Hobby

Falco subbuteoLC

A rare passage visitor, occasionally recorded in June as birds overshoot their usual southern breeding range.

Jun

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

Hoopoe

Upupa epopsLC

A rare and exotic spring overshoot, occasionally turning up in May. Always a crowd-drawing find in the region.

May

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

Horned Grebe

Podiceps auritusVU

A rare passage visitor, occasionally spotted on coastal waters or reservoirs in February, typically in winter plumage.

Feb

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

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoidesLC

A rare winter visitor from the Arctic, occasionally spotted among gull flocks at the coast or reservoirs from November to April.

Nov–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 margins and wetlands, rarely flushed from cover. Present from October to March but easily overlooked.

Oct–Mar

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

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, with September records along the coast. Favours short coastal grassland and stubble fields.

Sep

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

Little Auk

Alle alleLC

A rare winter visitor, sometimes driven close inshore by autumn gales. Most records come from late October to December.

Oct–Jan

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

Little Egret

Egretta garzettaLC

A rare but increasingly regular resident, reflecting a dramatic northward spread. Seen at estuarine and wetland sites across the region.

Year-round

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