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 47–69 of 89 species

Little Owl

Little Owl

Athene noctuaLC

A rare and secretive resident found on farmland with old buildings and hedgerows, mainly in the rural west of the region.

May–Feb

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

Little Stint

Calidris minutaLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally found on coastal scrapes and muddy pool edges in August and September.

Aug–Sep

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

Little Tern

Sternula albifronsLC

A rare breeding visitor to sandy and shingle beaches from May to August, with nesting sites needing careful protection.

May–Aug

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

Long-eared Owl

Asio otusLC

A rare non-breeding visitor, skulking in dense scrub and conifer plantations. Most likely encountered in winter months.

Jun–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalisVU

A rare winter visitor to coastal waters, occasionally spotted offshore or in harbours from late autumn through to early spring.

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Long-tailed Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally spotted offshore during seawatches from headlands between August and October.

Aug–Oct

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

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulataLC

A rare and elusive visitor, occasionally turning up on wooded rivers and park lakes, most likely involving feral or wandering birds.

Dec–Apr

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

Marsh Tit

Poecile palustrisLC

A rare January visitor, well north of its usual range. Tyne and Wear lies beyond the species' core British distribution.

Jan

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

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Merlin

Merlin

Falco columbariusLC

A rare autumn passage migrant in October and November, dashing low over coastal scrub and open ground hunting small birds.

Oct–Nov

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

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschataLC

A rare and unexpected visitor, likely of feral or escaped origin. Occasionally recorded on urban waterways in February.

Feb

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

Northern Pintail

Anas acutaLC

A rare non-breeding visitor to estuaries and wetlands, most likely seen in autumn and winter among other dabbling ducks.

Sep–Mar

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

Osprey

Pandion haliaetusLC

A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally spotted in April over reservoirs and rivers as birds head north to Scottish breeding sites.

Apr

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

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinusLC

A scarce but year-round resident, nesting on urban buildings and bridges. Often seen hunting pigeons over Newcastle and Sunderland city centres.

Jun–Apr

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

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinusLC

A rare seabird seen from coastal watchpoints between July and November. Autumn seawatches at Whitburn offer the best chance of sightings.

Jul–Nov

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

Purple Heron

Ardea purpureaLC

An exceptionally rare passage visitor, with occasional July records making any sighting in the region a notable event.

Jul

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

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostraLC

A rare and irruptive passage visitor, occasionally noted in June and November. Conifer plantations offer the best chance of a sighting.

Jun–Nov

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

Red Kite

Milvus milvusLC

A rare but increasingly seen resident, reflecting the species' ongoing northward expansion. Soars over open countryside and valleys.

Aug–Jun

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

Red Knot

Calidris canutusNT

Small numbers occur year-round on tidal mudflats, though far scarcer here than on larger estuaries further south.

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-backed Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurioLC

A rare passage migrant in May and September, occasionally found in coastal scrub. Once bred in Britain but now a scarce visitor.

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serratorLC

A rare but regular sight along the coast and river mouths. Present most of the year, often seen fishing in the lower Tyne.

Sep–Jul

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-flanked Bluetail

Red-flanked Bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurusLC

A rare and exciting October vagrant, occasionally turning up at coastal sites like Whitburn or Tynemouth during easterly winds.

Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge

Alectoris rufaNT

A rare visitor in spring, occasionally recorded on farmland margins. This introduced species is scarce at the northern edge of its range.

Mar–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegenaLC

A rare autumn and early winter passage visitor, occasionally seen offshore or in sheltered coastal waters from September.

Sep–Dec

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