CVL bird list

Except where indicated, all local and national rarities have been accepted by the Avon Records Committee or the BBRC.

Column 1: Species name. An asterisk means that a description is required by the Avon records committee; two asterisks mean it's a BBRC species. If more than one race of a particular species has occurred, the second subspecies is listed in lower case.
Column 2: Scientific name.
Column 3: B = regular breeding species (breeds virtually every year).  b = occasionally breeds; maybe only on one or two occasions. Brackets indicate former status of a species which no longer breeds.
Column 4: Maximum count (if available).
Column 5: Status, and dates of rarities.  An asterisk indicates a record has not yet been submitted/accepted.  NI or II = Chew is a nationally or internationally important site for this species.  Brackets indicate former status.

List compiled by Rich Andrews and Keith Vinicombe. Last updated May 2006.

MUTE SWANCygnus olorB166Common - numbers increase during summer moult
BEWICK'S SWANCygnus columbianus141Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant; barely annual recently
WHOOPER SWAN*Cygnus cygnus5Inexplicably rare! Last confirmed record Nov 1974
TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE*Anser serrostris2Two in Jan/Feb 1958 (race undetermined) and one Jan-Mar 1996
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE*Anser brachyrhynchus1Rare winter visitor
G'TR WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser albifrons albifrons89Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant; formerly regular
LSSR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser erythropus1One, Oct 1991 to Feb 1992 - possibly from a re-introduction scheme?
GREYLAG GOOSEAnser anser43Feral birds regular in small numbers - most during summer moult
GREATER CANADA GOOSEBranta canadensisB905Wintering flocks of one or two hundred, but 700 to 800 during moult.
BARNACLE GOOSEBranta leucopsisb34Feral - very few believed to be genuine wild birds. Breeding from 1998
DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSEBranta bernicla bernicla8Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant
EGYPTIAN GOOSE*Alopochen aegyptiacus3Very rare (5 or 6 records) - perhaps generously placed in the main list
RUDDY SHELDUCKTadorna ferruginea5Annual summer records since 1987. You pays your money…..
COMMON SHELDUCKTadorna tadornaB37A small presence throughout the year
MANDARIN DUCK*Aix galericulata3Rare, mainly in the winter months. Some evidently 'less wild' than others!
EURASIAN WIGEONAnas penelope2360Winter visitor and autumn passage - numbers have decreased recently
AMERICAN WIGEON*Anas americana1Two records - Apr 1977 and Dec 1978 - Jan 1979
GADWALLAnas streperaB425NI (II) Common resident, with variable peak Jun - Aug
EURASIAN TEALAnas crecca5600Common in autumn and winter - water levels determine numbers
GREEN-WINGED TEAL*Anas carolinensis2Rare winter visitor; once on spring passage (six records in total)
MALLARDAnas platyrhynchosB1970Common resident; formerly big summer moult but fewer now
NORTHERN PINTAILAnas acuta188Regular autumn passage and winter; most counts 20 or less
GARGANEYAnas querquedulab34A few in spring, but more regular in autumn - most years less than ten
BLUE-WINGED TEAL**Anas discors1Five records - Nov 1979; Jul-Aug 1992; Oct 1993; Sep 1995; Aug 2003
NORTHERN SHOVELERAnas clypeatab1140II A few in winter and spring, but big numbers autumn and early winter
MARBLED DUCK**Marmaronetta angustirostris1One in Aug, Sep and Oct 1984 - also at Blagdon and Cheddar Res.
RED-CRESTED POCHARD*Netta rufina5Mainly late summer and autumn - continental birds undoubtedly occur
COMMON POCHARDAythya ferinaB3095NI Common resident; peaks tend to be in early winter
RING-NECKED DUCK*Aythya collaris413+ birds, many records of lingering birds. Four in 1976-77, three in 2005
FERRUGINOUS DUCK*Aythya nyroca2Very rare - five recorded
TUFTED DUCKAythya fuligulaB2115NI Common spring/autumn passage and winter - best numbers in autumn
GREATER SCAUP*Aythya marila10Occasional birds in winter or passage; best counts usually in spring
COMMON EIDER*Somateria mollissima1Chew crippler! One record in Nov 1993
LONG-TAILED DUCK*Clangula hyemalis8Irregular winter visitor - perhaps one or two every other year?
COMMON SCOTERMelanitta nigra115Most occur in small groups in midsummer; generally single figures
VELVET SCOTER*Melanitta fusca5Four records - Nov 1983 (2); Jan 1984 (1); Nov 1984 (5); Oct 2005 (3)
COMMON GOLDENEYEBucephala clangula210Common winter visitor; numbers double in spring build-up
SMEWMergellus albellus21Regular winter visitor in small numbers, usually up to four or five
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER*Mergus serrator8One or two regular most winters; arguably the same birds for years
GOOSANDERMergus merganser283(NI) Once common winter visitor, most counts now less than 30
RUDDY DUCKOxyura jamaicensisB1064Winter visitor, but reduced after shhoting; a few pairs breed
WHITE-HEADED DUCK**Oxyura leucocephala1A female in June 1985, a drake in Nov/Dec 1995 and a juv in Aug/Sep 2003
RED-THROATED DIVER*Gavia stellata1Rare winter visitor; once in autumn (Sep-Oct 1997)
BLACK-THROATED DIVER*Gavia arctica2Very rare winter visitor, but one summer record (May 2003)
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER*Gavia immer4Rare winter visitor - like all divers, tend not to linger when they do appear
PIED-BILLED GREBE**Podilymbus podiceps1One - the first bird for the Western Palearctic in 1965 and 1966
LITTLE GREBETachybaptus ruficollisB152NI Mainly a summer visitor - numbers best late summer/autumn
GREAT CRESTED GREBEPodiceps cristatusB690NI Common resident - peaks in autumn with big moulting flocks
RED-NECKED GREBE*Podiceps grisegena2Rare winter visitor and passage migrant; one summered in 1992
SLAVONIAN GREBE*Podiceps auritus2Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, but one form Jun-Oct 2000
BLACK-NECKED GREBE*Podiceps nigricollisb6Annual passage migrant (commoner than Slav.) - bred in 1998
NORTHERN FULMAR*Fulmarus glacialis1Only five records - May 1970; Apr 1975; Aug 1978; Apr 1981; 1996
MANX SHEARWATER*Puffinus puffinus1Five records of 'wild' birds - Sep 1974; Sep 1983 (2); Aug 1986; Oct 1995
EUROPEAN STORM-PETREL*Hydrobates pelagicus3Four records - Nov 1977; Sep 1983 (2+1); Oct 2000 (3)
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL*Oceanodroma leucorhoa7Eight records (15 birds); the max. (7) was in the fabled Sep 1983 wreck
NORTHERN GANNET*Morus bassanus1Very rare (eleven records) - not necessarily during storms, either
GREAT CORMORANTPhalacrocorax carbo carbo305NI Common - numbers best in autumn/early winter (low water levels)
'Continental' Cormorant*Phalacrocorax carbo sinensisRinging controls proves this race occurs - undoubtedly under-recorded
EUROPEAN SHAG*Phalacrocorax aristotelis5Five records - Dec '79 (2); Nov '80 (3); Oct '88; Sep '98; Aug '05 (5)
GREAT BITTERN*Botaurus stellaris6Scarce, but now regular winter visitor. Freak spring peak of 6 in Mar 1999
LITTLE BITTERN**Ixobrychus minutus1One - Jun 1993
NIGHT HERON*Nycticorax nycticorax1Four records - Nov 1983; Jun 1992; Jun 1999; May 2001*
SQUACCO HERON**Ardeola ralloides1One in May 1973
CATTLE EGRET**Bubulcus ibis1An unpublished record of one in Jun 1988*
LITTLE EGRETEgretta garzetta9First record Oct 1990 - now annual in small numbers (most in autumn)
GREAT WHITE EGRET*Ardea alba1One record - June and July 2003
GREY HERONArdea cinereaB61Common resident
PURPLE HERON*Ardea purpurea1Four records - Apr-May 1970; Apr 1977; Jun-Jul 1983; May 2001
BLACK STORK**Ciconia nigra1One, Apr 1988
WHITE STORK*Ciconia ciconia1One, May 2000. I saw it, and I'm counting it.
EURASIAN SPOONBILL*Platalea leucorodia1Rare passage migrant
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGEAlectoris rufa7Two records -a covey of up to seven Nov -Dec 1988, one in Dec 2005
GREY PARTRIDGEPerdix perdix11Very rare
COMMON PHEASANTPhasianus colchicusBCommon all round the lake
EUROPEAN HONEY-BUZZARD*Pernis apivorus2One in May 1970 and two in Sep 2000
RED KITE*Milvus milvus2Five records - Mar 1990; Mar 2002; May 2003 (2); May 2004; Apr 2006
MARSH HARRIER*Circus aeruginosus1Scarce summer passage migrant - two or three most years, but few linger
HEN HARRIER*Circus cyaneus1Rare winter visitor - normally only fly-throughs
MONTAGU'S HARRIER*Circus pygargus1Two records - 1950s and Oct 2001*
SPARROWHAWKAccipiter nisusBFairly common but elusive resident
COMMON BUZZARDButeo buteoB29Common all around the lake
ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD*Buteo lagopus1One record in Nov 1974
BOOTED EAGLE**Aquila pennata1One in Feb 2000. You can count it if you want
OSPREY*Pandion haliaetus2Scarce passage migrant; occasionally birds linger in the autumn
COMMON KESTRELFalco tinnunculusBFairly common resident
MERLIN*Falco columbarius1Rare - barely one a year. Best chance in October
EURASIAN HOBBYFalco subbuteo6Frequent summer visitor; best numbers in autumn. Breeds locally
GYR FALCON**Falco rusticolus1Unlikliest on the list? One grey morph overwintered Nov 1961- Jan 1962
PEREGRINE FALCONFalco peregrinus2Occasional all year - easiest when levels low in autumn
WATER RAILRallus aquaticusB50+Present all year (easiest in autumn), but best numbers during wet winters
SPOTTED CRAKE*Porzana porzana3Almost annual autumn passage migrant (c.35 records to date)
LITTLE CRAKE**Porzana parva1One record - May 1967
CORN CRAKE*Crex crex1One in Oct 1965
MOORHENGallinula chloropusB185Common resident - most in late summer
COMMON COOTFulica atraB5000NI Common resident - big numbers in autumn
EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHERHaematopus ostralegus21Infrequent passage migrant - one of those birds you just bump into!
BLACK-WINGED STILT**Himantopus himantopus2One record - two in May 1965
PIED AVOCETRecurvirostra avosetta4Rare passage migrant - seven records (ten birds)
STONE-CURLEW*Burhinus oedicnemus1One on Little Denny in Oct 1959
BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE**Glareola nordmanni1Two records - Sep 1964 and Aug 1993 (the latter was first at Blagdon)
LITTLE PLOVERCharadrius dubius10Regular passage migrant in small numbers
RINGED PLOVERCharadrius hiaticula150Formerly regular on autumn passage, but real drop in last 5 to 10 years
KILLDEER**Charadrius vociferus1One in Jan 1976
KENTISH PLOVER*Charadrius alexandrinus1One in Apr 1966
GREATER SAND PLOVER**Caradrius leschenaultii1One from Nov 1979-Feb 1980. The third British record
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER*Pluvialis dominica1One in Oct 1994
GOLDEN PLOVERPluvialis apricaria339Late autumn; presence almost exclusively dependant on low water levels
GREY PLOVERPluvialis squatarola9Occasional autumn passage migrant
NORTHERN LAPWINGVanellus vanellusb2000Resident; a few pairs still in summer. Real decline in autumn flocks now
RED KNOTCalidris canutus21A few occur in suitable conditions in autumn
SANDERLINGCalidris alba10Occasional in spring and autumn - perhaps one or two per year?
LITTLE STINTCalidris minuta43Autumn passage - some years good, others very poor
TEMMINCK'S STINT*Calidris temminckii1Rare autumn passage migrant - only three since 1980 (eight in total)
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER*Calidris fuscicollis2Two records (three birds) - Oct-Nov 1978 (2); Oct 1991
PECTORAL SANDPIPER*Calidris melanotos2Very scarce autumn vagrant. Almost annual ten years ago, rare now
CURLEW SANDPIPERCalidris ferruginea23As with Little Stint, autumn only and dependant on breeding success
PURPLE SANDPIPER*Calidris maritima1Very rare, three confirmed records - Dec 1979; Oct-Nov 1991; Oct 2005
DUNLINCalidris alpina765Regular passage migrant (autumn best) but big decrease in recent years
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER*Tryngites subruficollis2Probably six altogether (best was three in 1975); last one was Sep 1980
RUFFPhilomachus pugnax101Passage migrant - very few in spring, small numbers in autumn
JACK SNIPELymnocryptes minimus6Elusive passage migrant and winter visitor
COMMON SNIPEGallinago gallinago(B)341Winter visitor and autumn passage migrant - difficult to census accurately
Faroe Snipe*Gallinago gallinago faeroensis1A published record of one in Nov 1988
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER**Limnodromus scolopaceus1Two, Sep-Nov 1977, then one Jan 1978 (they wintered at Blagdon)
WOODCOCKScolopax rusticola2Winter visitor - uncommon and difficult to catch up with
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT*Limosa limosa limosa11Rare passage migrant - most have been in summer
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa islandica58Small nos. on passage - nearly all Blackwits at Chew are islandica
BAR-TAILED GODWITLimosa lapponica80+Very scarce passage migrant - one of the most difficult 'common' waders
WHIMBRELNumenius phaeopus15Passage migrant - ones and twos in autumn, but often small groups in spring
EURASIAN CURLEWNumenius arquata16Small numbers regular in autumn; a few sometimes in other months
SPOTTED REDSHANKTringa erythropus18Uncommon passage migrant - usually autumn, but now very infrequent
REDSHANKTringa totanus(B)17Odd passage birds in spring and autumn; seldom any sizeable counts
MARSH SANDPIPER**Tringa stagnatilis1Two records - Oct 1982 and Aug 1984 (both also at Blagdon)
GREENSHANKTringa nebularia38Passage migrant - a few in spring, but most in autumn
GREEN SANDPIPERTringa ochropus26Can occur every month, but best numbers early autumn
WOOD SANDPIPERTringa glareola9A few most autumns; spring birds are a rarity
COMMON SANDPIPERActitis hypoleucos51Frequent spring and autumn passage migrant
SPOTTED SANDPIPER**Actitis macularia1One record - Oct 1982
RUDDY TURNSTONEArenaria interpres12A tricky Chew bird - autumn the best time but absent in recent years
WILSON'S PHALAROPE**Phalaropus tricolor1Seven records - the best UK site? All in Sep/Oct - the last in 1988
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE*Phalaropus lobatus1Singles in Aug 1969, Sep 1977*, May 1978 and Aug 1999*
GREY PHALAROPE*Phalaropus fulicarius5Occasional birds after autumn storms; one exceptional bird in June 1990
POMARINE SKUA*Stercorarius pomarinus2Only one confirmed record - two in Dec 1999
ARCTIC SKUA*Stercorarius parasiticus5Sporadic and difficult to predict appearances - 25 records (50 birds)
LONG-TAILED SKUA*Stercorarius longicaudus1Three records - Jun 1976 (adult), Sep 1991 and Aug 1999 (both juvs)
GREAT SKUA*Stercorarius skua2Very rare - ten records (twelve individuals)
MEDITERRANEAN GULLLarus melanocephalus8Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor - most records from roost
LAUGHING GULL**Larus atricilla1One record - an adult in April 2006
LITTLE GULLLarus minutus74Spring/autumn passage; lately a few in winter. Traditionally most in spring
SABINE'S GULL*Larus sabini2Virtually all associated with autumn storms - 15 records (16 individuals)
BLACK-HEADED GULLLarus ridibundus36350 II Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Massive winter roost
RING-BILLED GULL*Larus delawarensis2First record Mar 1980; 40+ birds now. Two together on three dates
MEW GULLLarus canus18710 II Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Huge winter roost
Baltic Gull**Larus fuscus fuscus1One or two birds recently, apparently of this race*
Lesser Black-backed Gull*Larus fuscus intermediusA few dark-mantled birds each year assigned to this race. Under recorded?
LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULLLarus fuscus graellsii(b)6000 NI Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Biggest nos in roost
YELLOW-LEGGED GULLLarus michahellis michahellis15Can appear in ones and twos at any time, but most in autumn (with Lessers)
Caspian Gull*Larus michahellis cachinnans1A handful of recents record awaiting acceptance*
Scandinavian Herring Gull*Larus argentatus argentatus12Only one or two records each winter, but does seem genuinely scarce
HERRING GULLLarus argentatus argenteus1000Several hundred in winter roosts but not common given proximity of colonies
ICELAND GULL*Larus glaucoides glaucoides3Uncommon winter visitor - not even annual on average (c.23 birds)
Kumlien's Gull*Larus glaucoides kumlieni1Six records, including one of the first accepted UK records in 1982
GLAUCOUS GULL*Larus hyperboreus1Surprisingly rare winter visitor - only nine records
GREAT-BLACK BACKED GULLLarus marinus18Odd birds all year; generally no more than three or four!
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKERissa tridactyla70Can occur at any time; mostly during storms
CASPIAN TERN**Hydroprogne caspia1One - Aug 1988
SANDWICH TERNSterna sandvicensis10+Usually one or two records each year, but most are fly-throughs
COMMON TERNSterna hirundo100Frequent on spring and autumn passage - most records are of less than ten
ARCTIC TERNSterna paradisaea75Spring and autumn passage - often after westerly gales. Sometimes scarce
LITTLE TERN*Sternula albifrons6Barely annual; like Sandwich, most are short-stayers
WHISKERED TERN**Chlidonias hybrida2Three records (four birds) - Jun 1959; May 1983 (two); Apr 2006
BLACK TERNChlidonias niger600Spring and autumn passage; best numbers in autumn - sometimes hundreds
WHITE-WINGED TERN*Chlidonias leucopterus2Rare vagrant (22 birds), but almost annual in the 80s. 3 in 1975 and 1982
BRICK DOVEColumba liviaOccasional sightings of singletons are more likely lost racing pigeons
STOCK PIGEONColumba oenasB410Resident; odd birds and small flocks most likely
COMMON WOOD PIGEONColumba palumbusB1500Common resident and passage migrant. Large numbers roost on Denny
COLLARED DOVEStreptopelia decaoctob12Breeds nearby, but generally uncommon at the lake
EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVEStreptopelia turtur5Rare passage migrant - formerly more frequent
COMMON CUCKOOCuculus canorusB9Regular summer visitor, but decline in 2003
BARN OWLTyto albabIrregular visitor - formerly more fequent
LITTLE OWLAthene noctuaBA few pairs dotted around the lake
TAWNY OWLStrix alucoBDitto
LONG-EARED OWL*Asio otus2Just four reords - Apr 1979, May 1979, Jan 1989 and Feb 1989
SHORT-EARED OWLAsio flammeus1Rare passage migrant - several years may pass between records
EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR*Caprimulgus europaeus1Two records - May 1973 and May 1996
COMMON SWIFTApus apus15000Common summer visitor; huge numbers in poor weather
ALPINE SWIFT*Apus melba1One - Britain's earliest record, 18th Feb 1998
COMMON KINGFISHERAlcedo atthisB5Can be tricky to find - most obvious in late summer when young disperse
EUROPEAN BEE-EATER*Merops apiaster1One in Aug 1966
HOOPOE*Upupa epops1One in May 1979
EURASIAN WRYNECK*Jynx torquilla1Very rare - the three records are Sep 1974; Sep 1981; and Sep 1997
GREEN WOODPECKERPicus viridisBA few pairs around the lake
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERDendrocopos majorBAs above - more often heard than seen
LSSR. SPOTTED WOODPECKERDendrocopos minorb4Very elusive and irregularly recorded
SKY LARKAlauda arvensisOne or two pairs breed in nearby fields, otherwise autumn passage only
HORNED LARK*Eremophila alpestris1One in Feb-Mar 1963
SAND MARTINRiparia riparia5000Passage migrant (biggest numbers in spring); a few in summer
BARN SWALLOWHirundo rusticab14000Common passage migrant and summer visitor
HOUSE MARTINDelichon urbicum5000Common passage migrant and summer visitor
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW*Cecropis daurica 1One record - Oct 1990
TREE PIPITAnthus trivialis4Uncommon passage migrant
MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis1000Fairly common passage migrant - most occur in autumn
RED-THROATED PIPIT*Anthus cervinus1Two records - Oct 1976* and Dec 1979
TAWNY PIPIT*Anthus campestris1One in Oct 1982
ROCK PIPITAnthus petrosus petrosus3Infrequent spring and autumn passage migrant - just about one per year
Scandinavian Rock Pipit*Anthus petrosus littoralis1One in Mar 2001 is the only fully documented record
WATER PIPITAnthus spinoletta21Passage migrant and winter visitor; small groups occur on passage
Blue-headed Wagtail*Motacilla flava flava(b)5Scarce passage migrant - nowadays not quite annual (bred one year)
YELLOW WAGTAILMotacilla flava flavissima(B)200Uncommon passage migrant - generally only one or two at any one time
CITRINE WAGTAIL**Motacilla citreola1One record - Sep 1996
GREY WAGTAILMotacilla cinereaB13Easily overlooked resident
White WagtailMotacilla alba alba45Spring and autumn passage migrant
PIED WAGTAILMotacilla alba yarrelliiB120Resident and passage - best numbers are spring flocks and winter roost
WHITE-THROATED DIPPERCinclus cinclus1Remarkably, just one record - Dec 2001 (Breeds only half a mile away!)
WINTER WRENTroglodytes troglodytesBCommon resident
HEDGE ACCENTORPrunella modularisBCommon resident
EUROPEAN ROBINErithacus rubeculaBAs above
COMMON NIGHTINGALELuscinia megarhynchos2Very rare passage migrant - last were 1994 and 2006
BLUETHROAT*Luscinia svecica1One trapped in Sep 1968
BLACK REDSTARTPhoenicurus ochruros1A good local patch bird! Just about one per decade.
COMMON REDSTARTPhoenicurus phoenicurus4Uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant; barely annual
WHINCHATSaxicola rubetra(B)Passage migrant (formerly bred); expected each autumn but easy to miss
EUROPEAN STONECHATSaxicola torquataRegular winter visitor
NORTHERN WHEATEAROenanthe oenanthe6Spring and autumn passage migrant - a few recorded each year
RING OUZELTurdus torquatus1One record - Nov 1985
BLACKBIRDTurdus merulaBCommon resident
FIELDFARETurdus pilaris1100Most occur on autumn passage, but small flocks in winter; a few in spring
SONG THRUSHTurdus philomelosBFairly common resident
REDWINGTurdus iliacusOccasional flocks in winter but more obvious on autumn passage
MISTLE THRUSHTurdus viscivorusBResident; can occur in small flocks in autumn
CETTI'S WARBLERCettia cettiBVery rare before 1992, now widespread resident
GRASSHOPPER WARBLERLocustella naevia(b)Uncommon passage migrant- very difficult to find in the field at Chew
SAVI'S WARBLER**Locustella luscinioides1Four records - Jul 1960; Apr 1980; Aug 1987; May 2001
AQUATIC WARBLER*Acrocephalus paludicola1Rare autumn passage migrant; 12 records (three in 1984)
SEDGE WARBLERAcrocephalus schoenobaenusBCommon summer visitor and passage migrant, but smaller nos then Reed
MARSH WARBLER*Acrocephalus palustris1Two records
REED WARBLERAcrocephalus scirpaceusBVery common summer visitor and passage migrant - over 500 pairs breed
GREAT REED WARBLER**Acrocephalus arundinaceus1One (a singing male) in May 1992
LESSER WHITETHROATSylvia currucab6Small numbers on spring and autumn passage
COMMON WHITETHROATSylvia communisbDitto, but can be very difficult to find within the lake enclosure!
GARDEN WARBLERSylvia borinBFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant
BLACKCAPSylvia atricapillaBFairly common summer visitor and passage migrant - no winter records
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER*Phylloscopus inornatus1Three records - Nov 1986, Oct 1988 and Sept 2005
WOOD WARBLERPhylloscopus sibilatrix2Uncommon spring passage migrant - just about annual
COMMON CHIFFCHAFFPhylloscopus collybita collybitaBCommon summer visitor and passage migrant
Scandinavian Chiffchaff*Phylloscopus collybita abietinusUncommon winter visitor
Siberian Chiffchaff*Phylloscopus collybita tristis1Uncommon winter visitor
WILLOW WARBLERPhylloscopus trochilusBCommon summer visitor and passage migrant, but big decline in 2003
GOLDCRESTRegulus regulusBFairly common resident
FIRECREST*Regulus ignicapillus4Uncommon winter visitor; a few occur on passage. Just about annual
SPOTTED FLYCATCHERMuscicapa striataBA pair or two most years, but seldom recorded
PIED FLYCATCHERFicedula hypoleuca2Scarce passage migrant - best chance in spring, but difficult to catch up with
BEARDED TIT*Panurus biarmicusb50Big influx in 1965, and bred in 1991. Otherwise, barely one each winter
LONG-TAILED TITAegithalos caudatusBCommon resident
BLUE TITCyanistes caeruleus BCommon resident
GREAT TITParus majorBCommon resident
COAL TITPeriparus ater BSmall numbers around the lake - best bet is the No.2 Picnic Site
WILLOW TIT*Poecile montanusBig rarity! Last one was trapped in 1997
MARSH TITPoecile palustris BOdd pairs here and there but often tricky to find
NUTHATCHSitta europaeabVery scarce and erratic (barely annual), but bred for the first time in 2002
TREECREEPERCerthia familiarisBFairly common resident
GOLDEN ORIOLE*Oriolus oriolus1Two records; one in the 1950s, and one in May 2003
RED-BACKED SHRIKE*Lanius collurio1Three records - Aug 1969, Jul-Aug 1973, Oct 1976
GREAT GREY SHRIKE*Lanius excubitor1Two records - Jan 1973 and Nov 1987
JAYGarrulus glandariusBFairly common resident
MAGPIEPica picaBCommon resident
JACKDAWCorvus monedulaB2000Fairly common resident; large numbers roost on Denny in winter
ROOKCorvus frugilegusBFairly common - four Rookeries; otherwise large winter roost on Denny
CARRION CROWCorvus coroneB125Fairly common resident - can occur in flocks on the Parkland
RAVENCorvus coraxb4Formerly very rare, but now frequent, and bred in 2005
STARLINGSturnus vulgarisB20000Fairly common resident - biggest numbers in winter/spring roost
HOUSE SPARROWPasser domesticusBreeds on nearby farms, but tricky on BW property!
TREE SPARROWPasser montanus100Very scarce - odd birds turn up now and then
CHAFFINCHFringilla coelebsB200Common resident and winter visitor - flocks can build up in suitable conditions
BRAMBLINGFringilla montifringilla200Scarce winter visitor and spring passage migrant
SERIN*Serinus serinus1One in Oct 1983
GREENFINCHCarduelis chlorisB125Fairly common resident; big winter roost at Moreton Cottage
GOLDFINCHCarduelis carduelisB150Fairly regular resident and passage migrant
SISKINCarduelis spinus100Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, generally small flocks
LINNETCarduelis cannabina200Fairly common autumn passage migrant - best nos. when theres lots of mud!
TWITE*Carduelis flavirostris2Two at North Widcombe in Jan 1979 (just outside Chew); one in Feb 1979
COMMON REDPOLL*Carduelis flammea1Three records - Oct-Nov 1965; Apr 1996 and Mar 2001
LESSER REDPOLLCarduelis cabaret20Uncommon winter visitor - usually ones or twos
COMMON CROSSBILLLoxia curvirostra5Uncommon passage migrant - best chance is during an irruption
BULLFINCHPyrrhula pyrrhulaBA few pairs dotted around the lake, but easy to miss
HAWFINCHCoccothraustes coccothraustes2Rare - only six records
LAPLAND BUNTING*Calcarius lapponicus1Only two - Nov 1990 and Nov 1991
SNOW BUNTING*Plectrophenax nivalis1Rare autumn passage migrant; six records, the last of which was in Oct 1992
YELLOWHAMMEREmberiza citrinellaAnother tricky 'common' species - barely annual passage migrant
CIRL BUNTING*Emberiza cirlus2Three records - Aug 1960; May 1966 and Apr 1979 (pair)
LITTLE BUNTING*Emberiza pusilla1Two records - Jan 1976 (trapped) and Mar-Apr 1996
REED BUNTINGEmberiza schoeniclusBFairly common resident (but recent decline); small spring passage evident.
CORN BUNTING*Emberiza calandra1Only five records; the last was in 1979

Note that some species appear in this section as well as the main list - this is because some species have occurred as known escapes whilst having also occurred in a presumed wild state (although I've probably been a bit generous with one or two of them).  Rehabilitated wild birds which have been transported to Chew for release are also included in this section.
Manx Shearwater*Puffinus puffinus1Three rehabilitated birds released
White PelicanPelecanus onocrotalus1
Pink-backed PelicanPelecanus rufescens1
Greater FlamingoPhoenicopterus roseus1
Chilean FlamingoPhoenicopterus chilensis1
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis coromandus1One seen intermittently from Jul 1994 to Jul 1995
White StorkCiconia ciconia1
Sacred IbisThreskiornis aethiopicus1
Fulvous Whistling DuckDendrocygna bicolor1
White-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduata1
Black SwanCygnus atratus1
Swan GooseAnser cygnoides
Tundra Bean GooseAnser fabalis serrirostris1
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus1
European White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons albifrons1
Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus1
Greylag GooseAnser anser
Bar-headed GooseAnser indicusb2
Snow GooseAnser caerulescens18
Canada GooseBranta canadensis1
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisbNow in BOU group C2
Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollis1
Orinoco GooseChenonetta jubata1
Cape ShelduckTadorna capensis1
Paradise ShelduckTadorna variegata1
Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrys1
Wood DuckAix sponsa1
MandarinAix galericulata
Chiloe WigeonAnas sibilatrix1
Cape TealAnas capensis1
Chestnut TealAnas castanea1
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Bahama PintailAnas bahamensis1
Silver TealAnas versicolor1
Cinnamon TealAnas cyanoptera2
RosybillNetta peposaca2
Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris1
New Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiae1
Maccoa DuckOxyura maccoa1
Lanner FalconFalco biarmicus1
Saker FalconFalco cherrug1
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa1A released bird in Heron's Green Bay area
Spotted Crake*Porzana porzana1One released May 2001 after being found in a street in Portishead
Common Guillemot*Uria aalge1An old record of a rehabilitated bird released on Herriott's Pool
Little Auk*Alle alle1One released Nov 1990 after being found under a hedge in Marshfield
CockatielNymphicus hollandicus1
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus1
Ring-necked ParakeetPsittacula krameri1
African Grey ParrotPsittacus erithacus1
Red AvadavatAmandava amandava1
Chestnut ManikinLonchura malacca1

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