Rarites

Most Recent Additions

• Glossy Ibis (2016)
• Sabine’s Gull
• Black-winged Stilt
• White-rumped Sandpiper (2019)
• White-tailed Eagle (2020 and 2022)
• Hoopoe (2020)
• Great Reed Warbler (2022)

National Rarities

The recording area has attracted many current and former national rarities including the following:

• White-spotted Bluethroat (1979)
• Killdeer (1981)
• Ferruginous Duck (1981 and 2011)
• American Wigeon (1986/87, 1998, 2011 and 2022)
• Lesser Scaup (1990 the 3rd UK record and again 2013)
• Green-winged Teal (1990, 1995, 1997, 2009, 2015 and 2016 (two sightings)
• White-winged Black Tern (1992 (two birds) and 1994)
• Arctic Redpoll (1996)
• Long-billed Dowitcher (1996)
• Rough-legged Buzzard (1996, 2007 and 2012)
• American Golden Plover (1998)
• Baird’s Sandpiper (1998 and 2010)
• Collared Pratincole (1999)
• Red-footed Falcon (2000)
• Blue-winged Teal (2000 and 2014)
• Whiskered Tern (2003)
• Gull-billed Tern (2006 and 2015)
• Cattle Egret (2008, 2016, 2021 and 2022)
• Southern ‘Steppe’ Grey Shrike (2009)
• Broad-billed Sandpiper (2011).

County Rarities

County rarities have included the following:

• Pectoral Sandpiper (1963, 1983, 1991, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and 2022)
• Corncrake (1970)
• Wryneck (1972, 2005 and 2013)
• Great Grey Shrike (1974, 1987, 1992, 2008 and 2009)
• Golden Oriole (1975 (or 76), 1992 and 2012)
• Common Crane (1979, 1994, 2011, 2013 and 2015 now almost an expected spring migrant)
• Grey Phalarope (1983, 2014 and 2018)
• Red-necked Phalarope (1983 and 1991)
• Purple Sandpiper (1983, 1996 and 2003)
• Manx Shearwater (1985), Gannet (1985, 2001 (two birds), 2011 (four birds), 2012 and 2013)
• Slavonian Grebe (1985, 1987, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2006 and 2014)
• Shore Lark (1986/87)
• Black-throated Diver (1987)
• Ring-billed Gull (1990)
• Richard’s Pipit (1990, 1996 and 2016)
• Razorbill (1992), Spoonbill (1992, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2021 and 2022)
• Caspian Tern (1993, 1998 and 2021)
• Eider Duck (1993) (taken into care)
• Great Skua (1993, 2005 and 2012)
• Great Northern Diver (1993 and 1996)
• Red-backed Shrike (1994 and 2017)
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper (1995 and 2020)
• Fulmar (1995 and 2006)
• Shag (1996)
• Lapland Bunting (1997 and 2010)
• Ring-necked Duck (2001)
• Roseate Tern (2004 and 2022)
• Yellow-browed Warbler (2004, 2012 and 2016)
• White Stork (2005 and 2007)
• Great White Egret (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and from 2018-2022 now almost a resident species but has not yet bred)
• Ferruginous Duck (2011)
• Melodious Warbler (2013)
• Bearded Tit (2013 and 2016 now almost an annual winter visitor including 2021)
• Cetti’s Warbler (2014, 2015 and 2016 now fully established 2019-22)
• Glossy Ibis (2016 & 2022)
• Hooded Crow (2018-19)
• Sabine’s Gull
• Black-winged Stilt
• White-rumped Sandpiper (2019)

Other notable county species that were of unknown origin include the following:

• Falcated Duck (1985)
• Ruddy Shelduck (1988 and 1996)
• Greater Flamingo (1993)
• Sacred Ibis (two birds) (2019-22).

Other Wildlife

Idle Valley Nature Reserve is of great county importance for all its flora and fauna. Please read more here