United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Ouse Washes
227 bird species recorded; the most in January, from April to May and in October.
Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
152 species in January.142 species in February.149 species in March.156 species in April.153 species in May.137 species in June.129 species in July.135 species in August.141 species in September.152 species in October.132 species in November.135 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
VU
NT
VUNT
VU
NTNT
NTNT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NTNTNT
NT
NT
NT
NTNTVU
NT
VUNTNTVUNT- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
227 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 227Speciesrecorded more than once
- 101Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 12ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 128,625Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 14Raptors
- 5Owls
- 37Waders
- 19Gulls & seabirds
- 45Ducks & geese
- 17Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 68Songbirds
- 20Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 227 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Pallid HarrierCircus macrourusNT
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Waders37 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Sociable PloverVanellus gregariusCR
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- Eurasian DotterelCharadrius morinellus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
Gulls & seabirds19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Common GullLarus canus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
Ducks & geese45 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Taiga Bean GooseAnser fabalis
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Ringed TealCallonetta leucophrys
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Swan GooseAnser cygnoides
- Baikal TealSibirionetta formosa
- Laysan duckAnas laysanensisCR
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Falcated DuckMareca falcata
Herons, ibises & grebes17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Squacco HeronArdeola ralloides
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common CraneGrus grus
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds68 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Great titParus major
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- BluethroatLuscinia svecica
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
Other birds20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- CootFulica atra
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- European SwiftApus apus
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Corncrake, corn crakeCrex crex
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in January, from April to May and in October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan7°/1°55 mm
- Feb8°/1°48 mm
- Mar10°/2°47 mm
- Apr14°/4°40 mm
- May17°/7°56 mm
- Jun20°/10°65 mm
- Jul22°/12°66 mm
- Aug22°/12°69 mm
- Sep19°/10°46 mm
- Oct15°/7°67 mm
- Nov10°/4°62 mm
- Dec7°/2°60 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Ouse Washes.
Nature reserve in the United Kingdom
Ouse Washes is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
227 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 128,625 open records.
The most recorded are the Whooper Swan, the Mallard and the Mute Swan.
46 species come for the summer, 53 for the winter and 2 only pass through.
12 are threatened worldwide, including Common Pochard, European Turtle Dove and Grey Plover.
The most species are recorded in January, from April to May and in October.
Get there and watch
- Croft Country Clubcampsite · 5.3 km · 6 within 10 km
- The Coach Houseplace to stay · 4.8 km · 16 within 10 km
- Southerynearest town · 7.7 km in a straight line
- Norwich Airport (NWI)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 70 km in a straight lineCar hire at NWI airport (Norwich, Norfolk)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 6bird hides within 6 kmMain Observatory, Reedbed Hide, Nelson-Lyle Hide and 3 more
- 2marked trails within 4 kmHereward Way
- 8car parks within 3 km
- 6campsites within 10 kmCroft Country Club, Fen View Lakes, Lakeside Caravan Park (and Fishing Lakes) and 3 more
- 16places to stay within 10 kmThe Coach House, Wellington Barns B&B, Crosskeys House and 13 more
- observation towers within 6 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Ouse Washes.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas1 mountains within 25 kmMaidscross Hill · 22 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Ouse Washes
United Kingdom
- 87Birdyas Score
- 227Species
- 101Migrants
- 12Threatened
Holme Bird Observatory
United Kingdom · 53 km
- 90Birdyas Score
- 297Species
- 134Migrants
- 16Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q3358495) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 128,625 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Islandyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
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Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit