Seven rare bird species, including the Hen Harrier, have been spotted in Wiltshire, delighting birdwatchers and experts.
BirdGuides and the Wiltshire Ornithological Society tracked birds. They saw birds soaring in early 2025. Several species turned up in Wiltshire lately.
The Hen Harrier is a rare bird of prey. They live in moorland and illegal killing threatens them. Natural England tracks them by tagging birds to watch their movements.
Siberian Chiffchaffs visit the UK but rarely stay into late winter. You mostly find them along the coasts of Wales. Experts see few inland.
Hawfinches are the biggest finch but are hard to spot. They are red-listed in the UK. The Wildlife Trust estimates fewer than 1,000 pairs.
Ring-necked Ducks visit from North America. About 10 to 15 get recorded yearly in the UK, the British Trust for Ornithology calls them rare but regular, and some return to the exact spot each year.
Firecrests are now more common than once, although they are still rare in the UK. Firecrests look brighter than Goldcrests, with greener backs and white bellies. Bronze ‘collars’ and black eye-stripes mark them.
Caspian Gulls are not common in the UK, but their numbers are growing. You can often see them in the south and east, mostly in winter.
Short-eared Owls have rare breeding status, placing them on the UK conservation concern list. They nest on the ground in the rough grass and moors, also using marshes and coastal dunes.