Six rare bird species spotted in Wiltshire include the Hen Harrier, Siberian Chiffchaff, and Ring-necked Duck.
BirdGuides spotted birds in early 2025, and so did the Wiltshire Ornithological Society. They saw birds soaring through the skies. A Hen Harrier was seen. This bird of prey likes moorlands. Illegal killing makes them rare. Natural England tracks them with tags.
They spotted a Siberian Chiffchaff too. It’s a rare UK visitor, and you rarely see it in late winter. Most are near the coasts of Wales. A Hawfinch was also sighted. It’s the largest finch, yet hard to find. The Wildlife Trust says they’re red-listed. There may be under 1,000 pairs.
Someone saw a Ring-necked Duck. It rarely visits from North America. Only about 10 to 15 appear each year. Some return to the same place yearly.
A Firecrest was also seen, which is a rare UK bird. Their population is slowly growing, thankfully. It looks brighter than a Goldcrest. A Firecrest has a green back, a white belly and bronze collar. Look for its black and white eye-stripe.
They observed a Caspian Gull. It’s an uncommon visitor, and more gulls appear over time. They like the south and east, mainly in winter. A Short-eared Owl was spotted by someone. They rarely breed in the UK. This owl nests on the ground, and they like grasslands and moors too.