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 SWAN Cygnus olor B 166 Common - numbers increase during summer moult BEWICK'S SWAN Cygnus columbianus 141 Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant; barely annual recently WHOOPER SWAN* Cygnus cygnus 5 Inexplicably rare! Last confirmed record Nov 1974 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE* Anser serrostris 2 Two in Jan/Feb 1958 (race undetermined) and one Jan-Mar 1996 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE* Anser brachyrhynchus 1 Rare winter visitor G'TR WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons albifrons 89 Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant; formerly regular LSSR. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser erythropus 1 One, Oct 1991 to Feb 1992 - possibly from a re-introduction scheme? GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser 43 Feral birds regular in small numbers - most during summer moult GREATER CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis B 905 Wintering flocks of one or two hundred, but 700 to 800 during moult. BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis b 34 Feral - very few believed to be genuine wild birds. Breeding from 1998 DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla bernicla 8 Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant EGYPTIAN GOOSE* Alopochen aegyptiacus 3 Very rare (5 or 6 records) - perhaps generously placed in the main list RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea 5 Annual summer records since 1987. You pays your money….. COMMON SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna B 37 A small presence throughout the year MANDARIN DUCK* Aix galericulata 3 Rare, mainly in the winter months. Some evidently 'less wild' than others! EURASIAN WIGEON Anas penelope 2360 Winter visitor and autumn passage - numbers have decreased recently AMERICAN WIGEON* Anas americana 1 Two records - Apr 1977 and Dec 1978 - Jan 1979 GADWALL Anas strepera B 425 NI (II) Common resident, with variable peak Jun - Aug EURASIAN TEAL Anas crecca 5600 Common in autumn and winter - water levels determine numbers GREEN-WINGED TEAL* Anas carolinensis 2 Rare winter visitor; once on spring passage (six records in total) MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos B 1970 Common resident; formerly big summer moult but fewer now NORTHERN PINTAIL Anas acuta 188 Regular autumn passage and winter; most counts 20 or less GARGANEY Anas querquedula b 34 A few in spring, but more regular in autumn - most years less than ten BLUE-WINGED TEAL** Anas discors 1 Five records - Nov 1979; Jul-Aug 1992; Oct 1993; Sep 1995; Aug 2003 NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata b 1140 II A few in winter and spring, but big numbers autumn and early winter MARBLED DUCK** Marmaronetta angustirostris 1 One in Aug, Sep and Oct 1984 - also at Blagdon and Cheddar Res. RED-CRESTED POCHARD* Netta rufina 5 Mainly late summer and autumn - continental birds undoubtedly occur COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina B 3095 NI Common resident; peaks tend to be in early winter RING-NECKED DUCK* Aythya collaris 4 13+ birds, many records of lingering birds. Four in 1976-77, three in 2005 FERRUGINOUS DUCK* Aythya nyroca 2 Very rare - five recorded TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula B 2115 NI Common spring/autumn passage and winter - best numbers in autumn GREATER SCAUP* Aythya marila 10 Occasional birds in winter or passage; best counts usually in spring COMMON EIDER* Somateria mollissima 1 Chew crippler! One record in Nov 1993 LONG-TAILED DUCK* Clangula hyemalis 8 Irregular winter visitor - perhaps one or two every other year? COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra 115 Most occur in small groups in midsummer; generally single figures VELVET SCOTER* Melanitta fusca 5 Four records - Nov 1983 (2); Jan 1984 (1); Nov 1984 (5); Oct 2005 (3) COMMON GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula 210 Common winter visitor; numbers double in spring build-up SMEW Mergellus albellus 21 Regular winter visitor in small numbers, usually up to four or five RED-BREASTED MERGANSER* Mergus serrator 8 One or two regular most winters; arguably the same birds for years GOOSANDER Mergus merganser 283 (NI) Once common winter visitor, most counts now less than 30 RUDDY DUCK Oxyura jamaicensis B 1064 Winter visitor, but reduced after shhoting; a few pairs breed WHITE-HEADED DUCK** Oxyura leucocephala 1 A female in June 1985, a drake in Nov/Dec 1995 and a juv in Aug/Sep 2003 RED-THROATED DIVER* Gavia stellata 1 Rare winter visitor; once in autumn (Sep-Oct 1997) BLACK-THROATED DIVER* Gavia arctica 2 Very rare winter visitor, but one summer record (May 2003) GREAT NORTHERN DIVER* Gavia immer 4 Rare winter visitor - like all divers, tend not to linger when they do appear PIED-BILLED GREBE** Podilymbus podiceps 1 One - the first bird for the Western Palearctic in 1965 and 1966 LITTLE GREBE Tachybaptus ruficollis B 152 NI Mainly a summer visitor - numbers best late summer/autumn GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus B 690 NI Common resident - peaks in autumn with big moulting flocks RED-NECKED GREBE* Podiceps grisegena 2 Rare winter visitor and passage migrant; one summered in 1992 SLAVONIAN GREBE* Podiceps auritus 2 Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant, but one form Jun-Oct 2000 BLACK-NECKED GREBE* Podiceps nigricollis b 6 Annual passage migrant (commoner than Slav.) - bred in 1998 NORTHERN FULMAR* Fulmarus glacialis 1 Only five records - May 1970; Apr 1975; Aug 1978; Apr 1981; 1996 MANX SHEARWATER* Puffinus puffinus 1 Five records of 'wild' birds - Sep 1974; Sep 1983 (2); Aug 1986; Oct 1995 EUROPEAN STORM-PETREL* Hydrobates pelagicus 3 Four records - Nov 1977; Sep 1983 (2+1); Oct 2000 (3) LEACH'S STORM-PETREL* Oceanodroma leucorhoa 7 Eight records (15 birds); the max. (7) was in the fabled Sep 1983 wreck NORTHERN GANNET* Morus bassanus 1 Very rare (eleven records) - not necessarily during storms, either GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo carbo 305 NI Common - numbers best in autumn/early winter (low water levels) 'Continental' Cormorant* Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis Ringing controls proves this race occurs - undoubtedly under-recorded EUROPEAN SHAG* Phalacrocorax aristotelis 5 Five records - Dec '79 (2); Nov '80 (3); Oct '88; Sep '98; Aug '05 (5) GREAT BITTERN* Botaurus stellaris 6 Scarce, but now regular winter visitor. Freak spring peak of 6 in Mar 1999 LITTLE BITTERN** Ixobrychus minutus 1 One - Jun 1993 NIGHT HERON* Nycticorax nycticorax 1 Four records - Nov 1983; Jun 1992; Jun 1999; May 2001* SQUACCO HERON** Ardeola ralloides 1 One in May 1973 CATTLE EGRET** Bubulcus ibis 1 An unpublished record of one in Jun 1988* LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta 9 First record Oct 1990 - now annual in small numbers (most in autumn) GREAT WHITE EGRET* Ardea alba 1 One record - June and July 2003 GREY HERON Ardea cinerea B 61 Common resident PURPLE HERON* Ardea purpurea 1 Four records - Apr-May 1970; Apr 1977; Jun-Jul 1983; May 2001 BLACK STORK** Ciconia nigra 1 One, Apr 1988 WHITE STORK* Ciconia ciconia 1 One, May 2000. I saw it, and I'm counting it. EURASIAN SPOONBILL* Platalea leucorodia 1 Rare passage migrant RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa 7 Two records -a covey of up to seven Nov -Dec 1988, one in Dec 2005 GREY PARTRIDGE Perdix perdix 11 Very rare COMMON PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus B Common all round the lake EUROPEAN HONEY-BUZZARD* Pernis apivorus 2 One in May 1970 and two in Sep 2000 RED KITE* Milvus milvus 2 Five records - Mar 1990; Mar 2002; May 2003 (2); May 2004; Apr 2006 MARSH HARRIER* Circus aeruginosus 1 Scarce summer passage migrant - two or three most years, but few linger HEN HARRIER* Circus cyaneus 1 Rare winter visitor - normally only fly-throughs MONTAGU'S HARRIER* Circus pygargus 1 Two records - 1950s and Oct 2001* SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus B Fairly common but elusive resident COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo B 29 Common all around the lake ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD* Buteo lagopus 1 One record in Nov 1974 BOOTED EAGLE** Aquila pennata 1 One in Feb 2000. You can count it if you want OSPREY* Pandion haliaetus 2 Scarce passage migrant; occasionally birds linger in the autumn COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus B Fairly common resident MERLIN* Falco columbarius 1 Rare - barely one a year. Best chance in October EURASIAN HOBBY Falco subbuteo 6 Frequent summer visitor; best numbers in autumn. Breeds locally GYR FALCON** Falco rusticolus 1 Unlikliest on the list? One grey morph overwintered Nov 1961- Jan 1962 PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus 2 Occasional all year - easiest when levels low in autumn WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus B 50+ Present all year (easiest in autumn), but best numbers during wet winters SPOTTED CRAKE* Porzana porzana 3 Almost annual autumn passage migrant (c.35 records to date) LITTLE CRAKE** Porzana parva 1 One record - May 1967 CORN CRAKE* Crex crex 1 One in Oct 1965 MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus B 185 Common resident - most in late summer COMMON COOT Fulica atra B 5000 NI Common resident - big numbers in autumn EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus 21 Infrequent passage migrant - one of those birds you just bump into! BLACK-WINGED STILT** Himantopus himantopus 2 One record - two in May 1965 PIED AVOCET Recurvirostra avosetta 4 Rare passage migrant - seven records (ten birds) STONE-CURLEW* Burhinus oedicnemus 1 One on Little Denny in Oct 1959 BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLE** Glareola nordmanni 1 Two records - Sep 1964 and Aug 1993 (the latter was first at Blagdon) LITTLE PLOVER Charadrius dubius 10 Regular passage migrant in small numbers RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula 150 Formerly regular on autumn passage, but real drop in last 5 to 10 years KILLDEER** Charadrius vociferus 1 One in Jan 1976 KENTISH PLOVER* Charadrius alexandrinus 1 One in Apr 1966 GREATER SAND PLOVER** Caradrius leschenaultii 1 One from Nov 1979-Feb 1980. The third British record AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER* Pluvialis dominica 1 One in Oct 1994 GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis apricaria 339 Late autumn; presence almost exclusively dependant on low water levels GREY PLOVER Pluvialis squatarola 9 Occasional autumn passage migrant NORTHERN LAPWING Vanellus vanellus b 2000 Resident; a few pairs still in summer. Real decline in autumn flocks now RED KNOT Calidris canutus 21 A few occur in suitable conditions in autumn SANDERLING Calidris alba 10 Occasional in spring and autumn - perhaps one or two per year? LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta 43 Autumn passage - some years good, others very poor TEMMINCK'S STINT* Calidris temminckii 1 Rare autumn passage migrant - only three since 1980 (eight in total) WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER* Calidris fuscicollis 2 Two records (three birds) - Oct-Nov 1978 (2); Oct 1991 PECTORAL SANDPIPER* Calidris melanotos 2 Very scarce autumn vagrant. Almost annual ten years ago, rare now CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea 23 As with Little Stint, autumn only and dependant on breeding success PURPLE SANDPIPER* Calidris maritima 1 Very rare, three confirmed records - Dec 1979; Oct-Nov 1991; Oct 2005 DUNLIN Calidris alpina 765 Regular passage migrant (autumn best) but big decrease in recent years BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER* Tryngites subruficollis 2 Probably six altogether (best was three in 1975); last one was Sep 1980 RUFF Philomachus pugnax 101 Passage migrant - very few in spring, small numbers in autumn JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus 6 Elusive passage migrant and winter visitor COMMON SNIPE Gallinago gallinago (B) 341 Winter visitor and autumn passage migrant - difficult to census accurately Faroe Snipe* Gallinago gallinago faeroensis 1 A published record of one in Nov 1988 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER** Limnodromus scolopaceus 1 Two, Sep-Nov 1977, then one Jan 1978 (they wintered at Blagdon) WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola 2 Winter visitor - uncommon and difficult to catch up with BLACK-TAILED GODWIT* Limosa limosa limosa 11 Rare passage migrant - most have been in summer Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa islandica 58 Small nos. on passage - nearly all Blackwits at Chew are islandica BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica 80+ Very scarce passage migrant - one of the most difficult 'common' waders WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus 15 Passage migrant - ones and twos in autumn, but often small groups in spring EURASIAN CURLEW Numenius arquata 16 Small numbers regular in autumn; a few sometimes in other months SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus 18 Uncommon passage migrant - usually autumn, but now very infrequent REDSHANK Tringa totanus (B) 17 Odd passage birds in spring and autumn; seldom any sizeable counts MARSH SANDPIPER** Tringa stagnatilis 1 Two records - Oct 1982 and Aug 1984 (both also at Blagdon) GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia 38 Passage migrant - a few in spring, but most in autumn GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus 26 Can occur every month, but best numbers early autumn WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola 9 A few most autumns; spring birds are a rarity COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos 51 Frequent spring and autumn passage migrant SPOTTED SANDPIPER** Actitis macularia 1 One record - Oct 1982 RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres 12 A tricky Chew bird - autumn the best time but absent in recent years WILSON'S PHALAROPE** Phalaropus tricolor 1 Seven records - the best UK site? All in Sep/Oct - the last in 1988 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE* Phalaropus lobatus 1 Singles in Aug 1969, Sep 1977*, May 1978 and Aug 1999* GREY PHALAROPE* Phalaropus fulicarius 5 Occasional birds after autumn storms; one exceptional bird in June 1990 POMARINE SKUA* Stercorarius pomarinus 2 Only one confirmed record - two in Dec 1999 ARCTIC SKUA* Stercorarius parasiticus 5 Sporadic and difficult to predict appearances - 25 records (50 birds) LONG-TAILED SKUA* Stercorarius longicaudus 1 Three records - Jun 1976 (adult), Sep 1991 and Aug 1999 (both juvs) GREAT SKUA* Stercorarius skua 2 Very rare - ten records (twelve individuals) MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus 8 Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor - most records from roost LAUGHING GULL** Larus atricilla 1 One record - an adult in April 2006 LITTLE GULL Larus minutus 74 Spring/autumn passage; lately a few in winter. Traditionally most in spring SABINE'S GULL* Larus sabini 2 Virtually all associated with autumn storms - 15 records (16 individuals) BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus 36350  II Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Massive winter roost RING-BILLED GULL* Larus delawarensis 2 First record Mar 1980; 40+ birds now. Two together on three dates MEW GULL Larus canus 18710  II Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Huge winter roost Baltic Gull** Larus fuscus fuscus 1 One or two birds recently, apparently of this race* Lesser Black-backed Gull* Larus fuscus intermedius A few dark-mantled birds each year assigned to this race. Under recorded? LESSER-BLACK BACKED GULL Larus fuscus graellsii (b) 6000  NI Spring/autumn passage migrant and winter visitor. Biggest nos in roost YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Larus michahellis michahellis 15 Can appear in ones and twos at any time, but most in autumn (with Lessers) Caspian Gull* Larus michahellis cachinnans 1 A handful of recents record awaiting acceptance* Scandinavian Herring Gull* Larus argentatus argentatus 12 Only one or two records each winter, but does seem genuinely scarce HERRING GULL Larus argentatus argenteus 1000 Several hundred in winter roosts but not common given proximity of colonies ICELAND GULL* Larus glaucoides glaucoides 3 Uncommon winter visitor - not even annual on average (c.23 birds) Kumlien's Gull* Larus glaucoides kumlieni 1 Six records, including one of the first accepted UK records in 1982 GLAUCOUS GULL* Larus hyperboreus 1 Surprisingly rare winter visitor - only nine records GREAT-BLACK BACKED GULL Larus marinus 18 Odd birds all year; generally no more than three or four! BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla 70 Can occur at any time; mostly during storms CASPIAN TERN** Hydroprogne caspia 1 One - Aug 1988 SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis 10+ Usually one or two records each year, but most are fly-throughs COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo 100 Frequent on spring and autumn passage - most records are of less than ten ARCTIC TERN Sterna paradisaea 75 Spring and autumn passage - often after westerly gales. Sometimes scarce LITTLE TERN* Sternula albifrons 6 Barely annual; like Sandwich, most are short-stayers WHISKERED TERN** Chlidonias hybrida 2 Three records (four birds) - Jun 1959; May 1983 (two); Apr 2006 BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger 600 Spring and autumn passage; best numbers in autumn - sometimes hundreds WHITE-WINGED TERN* Chlidonias leucopterus 2 Rare vagrant (22 birds), but almost annual in the 80s. 3 in 1975 and 1982 BRICK DOVE Columba livia Occasional sightings of singletons are more likely lost racing pigeons STOCK PIGEON Columba oenas B 410 Resident; odd birds and small flocks most likely COMMON WOOD PIGEON Columba palumbus B 1500 Common resident and passage migrant. Large numbers roost on Denny COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto b 12 Breeds nearby, but generally uncommon at the lake EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE Streptopelia turtur 5 Rare passage migrant - formerly more frequent COMMON CUCKOO Cuculus canorus B 9 Regular summer visitor, but decline in 2003 BARN OWL Tyto alba b Irregular visitor - formerly more fequent LITTLE OWL Athene noctua B A few pairs dotted around the lake TAWNY OWL Strix aluco B Ditto LONG-EARED OWL* Asio otus 2 Just four reords - Apr 1979, May 1979, Jan 1989 and Feb 1989 SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus 1 Rare passage migrant - several years may pass between records EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR* Caprimulgus europaeus 1 Two records - May 1973 and May 1996 COMMON SWIFT Apus apus 15000 Common summer visitor; huge numbers in poor weather ALPINE SWIFT* Apus melba 1 One - Britain's earliest record, 18th Feb 1998 COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis B 5 Can be tricky to find - most obvious in late summer when young disperse EUROPEAN BEE-EATER* Merops apiaster 1 One in Aug 1966 HOOPOE* Upupa epops 1 One in May 1979 EURASIAN WRYNECK* Jynx torquilla 1 Very rare - the three records are Sep 1974; Sep 1981; and Sep 1997 GREEN WOODPECKER Picus viridis B A few pairs around the lake GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos major B As above - more often heard than seen LSSR. SPOTTED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos minor b 4 Very elusive and irregularly recorded SKY LARK Alauda arvensis One or two pairs breed in nearby fields, otherwise autumn passage only HORNED LARK* Eremophila alpestris 1 One in Feb-Mar 1963 SAND MARTIN Riparia riparia 5000 Passage migrant (biggest numbers in spring); a few in summer BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica b 14000 Common passage migrant and summer visitor HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbicum 5000 Common passage migrant and summer visitor RED-RUMPED SWALLOW* Cecropis daurica 1 One record - Oct 1990 TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis 4 Uncommon passage migrant MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis 1000 Fairly common passage migrant - most occur in autumn RED-THROATED PIPIT* Anthus cervinus 1 Two records - Oct 1976* and Dec 1979 TAWNY PIPIT* Anthus campestris 1 One in Oct 1982 ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus petrosus 3 Infrequent spring and autumn passage migrant - just about one per year Scandinavian Rock Pipit* Anthus petrosus littoralis 1 One in Mar 2001 is the only fully documented record WATER PIPIT Anthus spinoletta 21 Passage migrant and winter visitor; small groups occur on passage Blue-headed Wagtail* Motacilla flava flava (b) 5 Scarce passage migrant - nowadays not quite annual (bred one year) YELLOW WAGTAIL Motacilla flava flavissima (B) 200 Uncommon passage migrant - generally only one or two at any one time CITRINE WAGTAIL** Motacilla citreola 1 One record - Sep 1996 GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea B 13 Easily overlooked resident White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba 45 Spring and autumn passage migrant PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba yarrellii B 120 Resident and passage - best numbers are spring flocks and winter roost WHITE-THROATED DIPPER Cinclus cinclus 1 Remarkably, just one record - Dec 2001 (Breeds only half a mile away!) WINTER WREN Troglodytes troglodytes B Common resident HEDGE ACCENTOR Prunella modularis B Common resident EUROPEAN ROBIN Erithacus rubecula B As above COMMON NIGHTINGALE Luscinia megarhynchos 2 Very rare passage migrant - last were 1994 and 2006 BLUETHROAT* Luscinia svecica 1 One trapped in Sep 1968 BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros 1 A good local patch bird! Just about one per decade. COMMON REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus 4 Uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant; barely annual WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra (B) Passage migrant (formerly bred); expected each autumn but easy to miss EUROPEAN STONECHAT Saxicola torquata Regular winter visitor NORTHERN WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe 6 Spring and autumn passage migrant - a few recorded each year RING OUZEL Turdus torquatus 1 One record - Nov 1985 BLACKBIRD Turdus merula B Common resident FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris 1100 Most occur on autumn passage, but small flocks in winter; a few in spring SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos B Fairly common resident REDWING Turdus iliacus Occasional flocks in winter but more obvious on autumn passage MISTLE THRUSH Turdus viscivorus B Resident; can occur in small flocks in autumn CETTI'S WARBLER Cettia cetti B Very rare before 1992, now widespread resident GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia (b) Uncommon passage migrant- very difficult to find in the field at Chew SAVI'S WARBLER** Locustella luscinioides 1 Four records - Jul 1960; Apr 1980; Aug 1987; May 2001 AQUATIC WARBLER* Acrocephalus paludicola 1 Rare autumn passage migrant; 12 records (three in 1984) SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus B Common summer visitor and passage migrant, but smaller nos then Reed MARSH WARBLER* Acrocephalus palustris 1 Two records REED WARBLER Acrocephalus scirpaceus B Very common summer visitor and passage migrant - over 500 pairs breed GREAT REED WARBLER** Acrocephalus arundinaceus 1 One (a singing male) in May 1992 LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca b 6 Small numbers on spring and autumn passage COMMON WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis b Ditto, but can be very difficult to find within the lake enclosure! GARDEN WARBLER Sylvia borin B Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla B Fairly common summer visitor and passage migrant - no winter records YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER* Phylloscopus inornatus 1 Three records - Nov 1986, Oct 1988 and Sept 2005 WOOD WARBLER Phylloscopus sibilatrix 2 Uncommon spring passage migrant - just about annual COMMON CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita collybita B Common summer visitor and passage migrant Scandinavian Chiffchaff* Phylloscopus collybita abietinus Uncommon winter visitor Siberian Chiffchaff* Phylloscopus collybita tristis 1 Uncommon winter visitor WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus B Common summer visitor and passage migrant, but big decline in 2003 GOLDCREST Regulus regulus B Fairly common resident FIRECREST* Regulus ignicapillus 4 Uncommon winter visitor; a few occur on passage. Just about annual SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa striata B A pair or two most years, but seldom recorded PIED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hypoleuca 2 Scarce passage migrant - best chance in spring, but difficult to catch up with BEARDED TIT* Panurus biarmicus b 50 Big influx in 1965, and bred in 1991. Otherwise, barely one each winter LONG-TAILED TIT Aegithalos caudatus B Common resident BLUE TIT Cyanistes caeruleus B Common resident GREAT TIT Parus major B Common resident COAL TIT Periparus ater B Small numbers around the lake - best bet is the No.2 Picnic Site WILLOW TIT* Poecile montanus Big rarity! Last one was trapped in 1997 MARSH TIT Poecile palustris B Odd pairs here and there but often tricky to find NUTHATCH Sitta europaea b Very scarce and erratic (barely annual), but bred for the first time in 2002 TREECREEPER Certhia familiaris B Fairly common resident GOLDEN ORIOLE* Oriolus oriolus 1 Two records; one in the 1950s, and one in May 2003 RED-BACKED SHRIKE* Lanius collurio 1 Three records - Aug 1969, Jul-Aug 1973, Oct 1976 GREAT GREY SHRIKE* Lanius excubitor 1 Two records - Jan 1973 and Nov 1987 JAY Garrulus glandarius B Fairly common resident MAGPIE Pica pica B Common resident JACKDAW Corvus monedula B 2000 Fairly common resident; large numbers roost on Denny in winter ROOK Corvus frugilegus B Fairly common - four Rookeries; otherwise large winter roost on Denny CARRION CROW Corvus corone B 125 Fairly common resident - can occur in flocks on the Parkland RAVEN Corvus corax b 4 Formerly very rare, but now frequent, and bred in 2005 STARLING Sturnus vulgaris B 20000 Fairly common resident - biggest numbers in winter/spring roost HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus Breeds on nearby farms, but tricky on BW property! TREE SPARROW Passer montanus 100 Very scarce - odd birds turn up now and then CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs B 200 Common resident and winter visitor - flocks can build up in suitable conditions BRAMBLING Fringilla montifringilla 200 Scarce winter visitor and spring passage migrant SERIN* Serinus serinus 1 One in Oct 1983 GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris B 125 Fairly common resident; big winter roost at Moreton Cottage GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis B 150 Fairly regular resident and passage migrant SISKIN Carduelis spinus 100 Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor, generally small flocks LINNET Carduelis cannabina 200 Fairly common autumn passage migrant - best nos. when theres lots of mud! TWITE* Carduelis flavirostris 2 Two at North Widcombe in Jan 1979 (just outside Chew); one in Feb 1979 COMMON REDPOLL* Carduelis flammea 1 Three records - Oct-Nov 1965; Apr 1996 and Mar 2001 LESSER REDPOLL Carduelis cabaret 20 Uncommon winter visitor - usually ones or twos COMMON CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra 5 Uncommon passage migrant - best chance is during an irruption BULLFINCH Pyrrhula pyrrhula B A few pairs dotted around the lake, but easy to miss HAWFINCH Coccothraustes coccothraustes 2 Rare - only six records LAPLAND BUNTING* Calcarius lapponicus 1 Only two - Nov 1990 and Nov 1991 SNOW BUNTING* Plectrophenax nivalis 1 Rare autumn passage migrant; six records, the last of which was in Oct 1992 YELLOWHAMMER Emberiza citrinella Another tricky 'common' species - barely annual passage migrant CIRL BUNTING* Emberiza cirlus 2 Three records - Aug 1960; May 1966 and Apr 1979 (pair) LITTLE BUNTING* Emberiza pusilla 1 Two records - Jan 1976 (trapped) and Mar-Apr 1996 REED BUNTING Emberiza schoeniclus B Fairly common resident (but recent decline); small spring passage evident. CORN BUNTING* Emberiza calandra 1 Only 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 puffinus 1 Three rehabilitated birds released White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 1 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 1 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 1 Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis 1 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis coromandus 1 One seen intermittently from Jul 1994 to Jul 1995 White Stork Ciconia ciconia 1 Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 1 Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor 1 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 1 Black Swan Cygnus atratus 1 Swan Goose Anser cygnoides Tundra Bean Goose Anser fabalis serrirostris 1 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 1 European White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons 1 Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus 1 Greylag Goose Anser anser Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus b 2 Snow Goose Anser caerulescens 18 Canada Goose Branta canadensis 1 Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis b Now in BOU group C2 Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis 1 Orinoco Goose Chenonetta jubata 1 Cape Shelduck Tadorna capensis 1 Paradise Shelduck Tadorna variegata 1 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys 1 Wood Duck Aix sponsa 1 Mandarin Aix galericulata Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix 1 Cape Teal Anas capensis 1 Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Bahama Pintail Anas bahamensis 1 Silver Teal Anas versicolor 1 Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera 2 Rosybill Netta peposaca 2 Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 1 New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae 1 Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa 1 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 1 Saker Falcon Falco cherrug 1 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa 1 A released bird in Heron's Green Bay area Spotted Crake* Porzana porzana 1 One released May 2001 after being found in a street in Portishead Common Guillemot* Uria aalge 1 An old record of a rehabilitated bird released on Herriott's Pool Little Auk* Alle alle 1 One released Nov 1990 after being found under a hedge in Marshfield Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 1 Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 1 Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri 1 African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus 1 Red Avadavat Amandava amandava 1 Chestnut Manikin Lonchura malacca 1