Birds seen at Gamekeepers Cottage
This list has been compiled by my friends who are expert lifelong bird watching enthusiasts and lists all the birds they have seen at Gamekeeper’s and its garden. Their advice is to be familiar with bird songs as they locate many birds at the cottage from first recognising their calls.
Here is a tabulated list of the bird species they’ve, along with a description for each:
| Bird | Description |
|---|---|
| Yellowhammer | A small, bright yellow bird with brown streaks, known for its distinctive “a little bit of bread and no cheese” song. |
| Sparrow | Commonly seen in gardens, these small brown-grey birds are sociable and often found in flocks. |
| Goldfinch | Recognizable by their red faces and bright yellow wing patches, these birds often feed on seeds in meadows. |
| Greenfinch | A stout, olive-green bird with yellow wing markings, frequently found at bird feeders and woodland edges. |
| Bullfinch | A stocky bird with a bright pinkish-red breast in males, and a black cap; often seen in woodland areas. |
| Chaffinch | One of the most common UK birds, it has a reddish breast, blue-grey cap, and distinctive two-toned call. |
| Robin | Known for its bright orange-red breast, robins are a familiar sight in gardens throughout the year. |
| Coal Tit | A small, greyish bird with a black cap and white nape patch, usually found in coniferous woodlands. |
| Long-tailed Tit | A tiny bird with a long, slender tail and a fluffy appearance, often found in small groups in woodlands. |
| Blue Tit | Small and vibrant, with blue and yellow plumage, commonly seen in gardens and woodlands. |
| Great Tit | The largest of the UK’s tit species, it has a black head, white cheeks, and a greenish back. |
| Wren | Small with a short tail, brown plumage, and a loud, trilling song; often found in hedgerows and gardens. |
| Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock) | Brown and grey, with a slender beak; usually found close to the ground in bushes and hedges. |
| Buzzard | A large bird of prey with broad wings and a rounded tail, typically seen soaring over fields and woodlands. |
| Kestrel | A medium-sized falcon known for its ability to hover in the air while hunting for small mammals. |
| Pheasant | A large game bird with a long tail and bright plumage in males; often seen in fields and woodland edges. |
| Red-legged Partridge | A plump game bird with distinctive red legs and a bold, speckled pattern on its breast. |
| Goldcrest* | The UK’s smallest bird, with a golden stripe on its head; often found in coniferous forests. |
| Marsh Tit* | A small bird with a black cap and chin, commonly found in woodlands and gardens, feeding on seeds. |
| Barn Owl | Known for its heart-shaped face and white plumage; typically found hunting at dusk over fields and meadows. |
| Blackbird | A common bird with all-black plumage in males and brownish tones in females, known for their melodious song. |
| Song Thrush | Recognized by its spotted breast and powerful, repetitive song; often found in gardens and woodlands. |
| Mistle Thrush | Larger than the song thrush, with a speckled chest and harsher song; commonly seen in open countryside. |
| Whitethroat | A small, grey-brown warbler with a white throat and scratchy song, found in scrubby areas during spring. |
| Lesser Whitethroat (Spring) | Similar to the whitethroat but smaller, with a darker face mask; often found in hedgerows during migration. |
| Blackcap (Spring) | A small warbler with a distinctive black or brown cap, known for its rich, melodious song. |
| Garden Warbler (Spring) | A nondescript, brownish-grey bird with a sweet song, commonly found in woodland edges and gardens in spring. |
| Nuthatch | A small, tree-climbing bird with blue-grey upperparts and an orange belly, often seen moving headfirst down tree trunks. |
| Wagtail | Known for their characteristic tail-wagging behavior, they are often seen near water or in grassy fields. |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | A black and white woodpecker with red under-tail feathers, often heard drumming on tree trunks. |
| Green Woodpecker | A larger woodpecker with a green body and yellow rump, known for its distinctive “laughing” call. |
| Magpie | A large, black-and-white bird with iridescent blue-green wings and a long tail; commonly seen in open areas. |
| Jackdaw | A small, black crow with a greyish nape and pale eyes; often found in groups in woodlands and urban areas. |
| Jay | A colorful crow with pinkish-brown plumage, a blue wing patch, and a noisy call; usually found in woodlands. |
| Rook | A large, black crow with a bare, greyish-white face and a harsh “caw” call, often seen in fields. |
| Crow | The Carrion Crow is a solid black bird, found in a variety of habitats, and is known for its versatile diet. |
| Nightingale (Rare) | A rare visitor known for its powerful and beautiful song, often heard during the breeding season in dense shrubbery. |
| Linnet | A small finch with reddish breast (in males) and streaky brown plumage, often seen in flocks in open country. |
| Tree Creeper* | A tiny bird with a curved bill and speckled brown plumage, known for climbing up tree trunks in a spiral. |
| Stock Dove* | Smaller than the Wood Pigeon, with a more uniform grey color and a greenish patch on the neck; often found in woodlands. |
| Redwing (Winter) | A winter visitor with a distinctive red underwing and a spotted breast; usually seen in fields and hedgerows. |
| Fieldfare (Winter) | Another winter thrush, larger than the redwing, with a grey head and a speckled chest; commonly seen in open countryside. |
| Kite (Rare) | A rare overflying bird with long, forked tail and reddish-brown plumage; known for its graceful, soaring flight. |
Other Wildlife
- Fallow Deer: Often seen grazing on the lawn, with some individuals having distinctive white coats.
- Hares: Found in the woods, known for their long ears and fast running.
- Woodcock and Snipe: Ground-dwelling birds found in the woodlands.
- Owls: Various species may be heard or seen at night.
Butterflies
- Holly Blue: Small, sky-blue butterfly often seen near holly and ivy.
- Tortoiseshell: Recognizable by its orange, black, and yellow pattern.
- Comma: Distinctive wing shape with a ragged edge and orange-brown color.
- Common Whites: Includes species like the Large White and Small White, often found in gardens.
- Peacock: Has eye-like patterns on its wings to deter predators.
- Admiral: Both red and white forms, typically found in woodlands and gardens.
- Orange Tip*: Recognizable by the orange wingtips in males; females lack the orange but have similar patterns.
This list offers a glimpse into the rich birdlife and wildlife that guests can enjoy while staying at Gamekeepers Cottage, as well as the variety of butterflies that can be spotted during different seasons.