What's the commonest UK bird you've not seen (1 Viewer)

[Selsey Birder]

I've seen about 250/260 birds in the UK but have never seen Roseate Tern, Leach's Petrel, Pomarine or Long-tailed Skua, Balearic Shearwater or Quail.

James,

Titchfield Haven (just south of Fareham) in Hampshire from mid July onwards until mid August. Make sure that the tide is out, i can almost guarantee a Rosie in amongst the commoner terns on the foreshore. The others are a little more problematic, but we have a Pom race every year at Selsey Bill in West Sussex to see who can see the most in the spring (unfortunately it has been very slow the last couple of years). Last years' winner saw about 19 and 12 of them were in one flock in late April (we normally get them in early May).

Quail can always be heard on the South Downs from mid May onwards, but seeing one is a matter of sheer luck or very dogged perseverence.

 

[Connor Rand]

Still need Golden Eagle and White Stork perhaps most notably and am getting rather annoyed about Purple Heron as well- have dipped seven! Including eight hours on the Titchwell bird which everybody else seemed to see...

Red-footed Falcon, Bluethroat, Ortolan Bunting or Icterine Warbler would all be nice...

 

[sylvia staffs]

Hi All

Commonest (regular AND recent- Lets not talk Tengmalms Owl and Pallas's Sandgrouse here !) UK bird that I have yet to see is Blyths Reed Warbler ! Next commonest after that is probably Lanceolated Warbler

Cheers

Simon

Snap!!!!!!!

This year for me and you both Simon, i can feel it in my water

See you there :t:

Sylvia (Phil)

 

[AlanR]

I'm going by my RSPB field guide.
Commonest all-year-round bird not seen - Red Grouse (155 000 pairs, but none near to Cheltenham!)
Winter visitor - Knot (290 000)
Summer visitor - Garden Warbler (190 000 pairs)
I guess I still have plenty more to add to my list.
Alan

 

[Jos Stratford]

I'm going by my RSPB field guide.
Commonest all-year-round bird not seen - Red Grouse (155 000 pairs, but none near to Cheltenham!)
Winter visitor - Knot (290 000)
Summer visitor - Garden Warbler (190 000 pairs)
I guess I still have plenty more to add to my list.
Alan

A trip of less than 50 miles would get you the first, 30 miles the second and learn the song should do for the last, it must be on your local patch. Good hunting

 

[chowchilla]

I ought to probably add that the commonest birds in the Cairns area not yet seen are probably: Shining Bronze Cuckoo (though seen down South), Fernwren, White-throated Nightjar, Yellow Thornbill, Fuscous, Rufous-throated and White-naped Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallow, Painted Snipe (though I've had a couple of near misses), Black Bittern, Black-naped Tern, any Button Quails, Spotless and Red-necked Crakes, Collared Sparrowhawk and Great Frigatebird. These and a lot of more local species will become a lot more likely when I get my driver's licence.:t:

I think not having a car in the UK prevented me from seeing a whole lot more than I did, otherwise I would have been able to cover a lot more ground more easily. Ah well never mind...

 

[John Hague]

Still never managed to see a Golden Oriole in the UK. Seen them abroad though so it's not giving me too much grief.
Golden Pheasant is probably about the 'easiest' British bird that I haven't seen anywhere. Not sure I'll ever manage to muster up more than a quick 2 minute drive round Wolferton on the off chance one is sat in the middle of the road, though.
QUOTE]

I reckon you've a better chance of seeing Golden Oriole than Golden Pheasant these days. Goldies used to be easy peasy at Wayland Wood but the NWT butchered to wood and I doubt there are any to be found there now. As for Wolferton in all my years of birding I have never seen one there. My mate did last year but i was driving and watching my rear-view mirror. Lifes too short to be arsed though now I've got my camera I might have to redouble my efforts!

 

[changer400]

Snap!!!!!!!

This year for me and you both Simon, i can feel it in my water

See you there :t:

Sylvia (Phil)

Oh Please please please Phil !!! Its like an itch I just cant scratch now !!!

See you in the pub afterwards as well B

Si

 

[James Blake]

Many thanks for that - will certainly make a trip to Titchfield Haven.

James

James,

Titchfield Haven (just south of Fareham) in Hampshire from mid July onwards until mid August. Make sure that the tide is out, i can almost guarantee a Rosie in amongst the commoner terns on the foreshore. The others are a little more problematic, but we have a Pom race every year at Selsey Bill in West Sussex to see who can see the most in the spring (unfortunately it has been very slow the last couple of years). Last years' winner saw about 19 and 12 of them were in one flock in late April (we normally get them in early May).

Quail can always be heard on the South Downs from mid May onwards, but seeing one is a matter of sheer luck or very dogged perseverence.

 

[Jacana]

I'm going by my RSPB field guide.
Commonest all-year-round bird not seen - Red Grouse (155 000 pairs, but none near to Cheltenham!)
Winter visitor - Knot (290 000)
Summer visitor - Garden Warbler (190 000 pairs)
I guess I still have plenty more to add to my list.
Alan

A trip to the Stiperstones in South Shropshire will net you red grouse. I've been up there many times and only once come away without seeing one. I'll stick my neck out and say that it's probably the easist place in England/Wales to see them.

 

[AlanR]

A trip to the Stiperstones in South Shropshire will net you red grouse. I've been up there many times and only once come away without seeing one. I'll stick my neck out and say that it's probably the easist place in England/Wales to see them.

Thanks for that. I'll add it to my list of potential sites.
Alan

 

[Connor Rand]

Still never managed to see a Golden Oriole in the UK. Seen them abroad though so it's not giving me too much grief.
Golden Pheasant is probably about the 'easiest' British bird that I haven't seen anywhere. Not sure I'll ever manage to muster up more than a quick 2 minute drive round Wolferton on the off chance one is sat in the middle of the road, though.
QUOTE]

I reckon you've a better chance of seeing Golden Oriole than Golden Pheasant these days. Goldies used to be easy peasy at Wayland Wood but the NWT butchered to wood and I doubt there are any to be found there now. As for Wolferton in all my years of birding I have never seen one there. My mate did last year but i was driving and watching my rear-view mirror. Lifes too short to be arsed though now I've got my camera I might have to redouble my efforts!

Agreed, now only a handful of relaible sites in Norfolk for Golden Pheasants, where as at least Lakenheath is a well known site with a good chance of success for the Orioles.

Connor

 

[Mike Montier]

I left the UK last summer to live in Mallorca so I suppose my Brit list shoud not matter so much now but it does, in fact it hurts like hell. I was determined to get to 400 before I left but despite a "last blast" round all my favorite sites I never made it. So 386 it is. Most wanted bird? Easy...Ortolan! I can´t remember how many I dipped on. Capercaillie was one of the hardest. Many trips to Scotland and countless hours walking round endless pine woods but in the end it was worth it, great views of a male. Just been watching Bill Oddie at Titchwell and got withdrawl symptoms so I will just have to come back sometime and see what´s about...

 

[chowchilla]

Agreed, now only a handful of relaible sites in Norfolk for Golden Pheasants, where as at least Lakenheath is a well known site with a good chance of success for the Orioles.

Connor

I managed a brief glimpse of a male (my first ever Golden Pheasant and probably my last) at Sandringham in December '06 on a last gasp trip to Norfolk just before emigrating.

I'd trudged around for hours looking for them and was waiting disconsolately at the bus stop when I spotted one pop out from under a bush across the road only to run back into cover a few seconds later! Made all the birdless hours preceding that moment worthwhile!

 

[Mannix]

Been trying to see Bearded Tit's for ages with no luck but a more common bird I have yet to clap eyes on is the cuckoo.
Only saw a Brambling for the first time this year. But then again I wasn't looking before.

 

[John Cantelo]

Interesting reading browsing through the wanted birds. It seems that there are essentially four reasons for those irritating gaps in your list:-
a) rarities - however you define them - national/local/patch
b) restricted range species - e.g. Red Grouse/Cirl Bunting
c) elusive species - e.g. crakes/Jack Snipe
d) observer inexperience

The first is, well, a reflection of their rarity. The second is largely a matter of geography and/or unavoidable limitations (work, mortgage, family etc). The third is a largely a result of the birds' secretive habits but extended by a lack of knowledge/inexperience. The final group seems to be pretty much entirely due observer ingnorane/inexperience. Frankly I was astonished how many people were struggling to see what I'd consider pretty obvious & easily seen species. Green Woodpecker is a prime example - given decent weather I'd be surprised not to see one in any of half a dozen locations that spring to mind. But then that's rather the point - I'm an experienced birder and am familiar with calls, fleeting shapes, habitats etc - it does make it a lot easier! My best advice to those struggling to see these species is to go on field trips (check out county societies/local RSPB groups) or find a birding 'mentor',

John

 

[Mannix]

Interesting reading browsing through the wanted birds. It seems that there are essentially four reasons for those irritating gaps in your list:-
a) rarities - however you define them - national/local/patch
b) restricted range species - e.g. Red Grouse/Cirl Bunting
c) elusive species - e.g. crakes/Jack Snipe
d) observer inexperience

The first is, well, a reflection of their rarity. The second is largely a matter of geography and/or unavoidable limitations (work, mortgage, family etc). The third is a largely a result of the birds' secretive habits but extended by a lack of knowledge/inexperience. The final group seems to be pretty much entirely due observer ingnorane/inexperience. Frankly I was astonished how many people were struggling to see what I'd consider pretty obvious & easily seen species. Green Woodpecker is a prime example - given decent weather I'd be surprised not to see one in any of half a dozen locations that spring to mind. But then that's rather the point - I'm an experienced birder and am familiar with calls, fleeting shapes, habitats etc - it does make it a lot easier! My best advice to those struggling to see these species is to go on field trips (check out county societies/local RSPB groups) or find a birding 'mentor',

John

As an experienced birder you are obviously at a point where myself and a lot of newer birders hope to eventually be. Your comments seemed to me to be a little belittling to newer birders who cannot identify the tail feathers of a bird disappearing over a hedge. I assume that you started with no knowledge and built it up just as others are still doing right now. It's like when you see someone driving a car with L plates on, you give them time and allow for their inexperience. I think we all should do the same with our birding skills too.

 

[graeme782]

John's post appears, to me, to be well observed and goes on to give good advice to those struggling with the more common species. I think you've maybe read a bit too much into it and perhaps got the wrong end of the stick.

Good luck with the stuff you've still to find.

 

[Mannix]

John's post appears, to me, to be well observed and goes on to give good advice to those struggling with the more common species. I think you've maybe read a bit too much into it and perhaps got the wrong end of the stick.

Good luck with the stuff you've still to find.

Don't mean to cause offence and hope none is taken, I just thought that the lines

"Frankly I was astonished how many people were struggling to see what I'd consider pretty obvious & easily seen species."

and
"The final group seems to be pretty much entirely due observer ingnorane/inexperience"

sounded a little belittling.
Agreed the poster gives good advice. Maybe I interpreted the post wrongly.

 

[Mad_BMS]

Many birds still to be seen but would like to get bearded and crested tit soon. Hoped to see bearded at Titchfield haven when visiting my brother last year but no luck. Same goes for crested up at Kingussie and surrounding area twice last year. Oh well always better to have something new to anticipate B