Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus) Photo By Rob Zweers from Arnhem, Netherlands – Baardman – Panurus biarmicus, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75168667

Dear Readers, when I was writing about the hen harrier a few days ago, I mentioned that it would be in the top five of my list of British Birds that I’ve never seen but would love to see. Well, when I started thinking about it, I realised that five was definitely not enough, so here, for comment and debate, is my top ten of UK birds that I’ve never seen, but would love to see, in no particular order. First up would be the athletic and distinctive bearded tit/reedling. There was a rumour of one at the London Wetland Centre a few weeks ago, but alas I didn’t see it.

Next up is the firecrest. One of the UK’s smallest birds, along with the goldcrest, it is an unusual little jewel of a bird. There used to be a tiny population in Abney Cemetery in Stoke Newington of all places, and I suspect that they might be underreported – restless and hard to get a good look at, they are truly stunning birds. I might have to be patient though, as there are only an estimated 2000 territories in the whole of the UK, compared with 55,000 for the goldcrest.

Firecrest (Regulus ignicapellus) Photo By Alexis Lours – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114333793

Next up, the nightjar. So beautifully camouflaged, nocturnal, enormous eyes, and a reputation for stealing the milk from goats. I have seen nightjars in other countries, but never in the UK.

European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaea) Photo By Dûrzan cîrano – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11116145

Next up is the ruff (Calidris pugnax) but I’m being a bit particular here, as I’d love to see them displaying on a lek: however, they are a Red List species, so I’m not sure whether you can see such a thing in the UK. I shall have to do some research.

Some male ruff on a lek in the Netherlands. Photo By Arjan Haverkamp – originally posted to Flickr as 2009-05-22-14h06m00.IMG_9725l, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9141547

And here’s a bird that I really want to hear as much as see – the turtle dove is such an iconic bird, mentioned as ubiquitous in Shakespeare and other writers of the period, but disappearing from our farmlands and woods during our watch. It’s great that places such as Knepp are working to recreate the habitat that they need, and that it seems to be working. As Kevin Costner said in that film about baseball that I can never remember the name of ‘If you build it, they will come’.

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) Photo By Charles J. Sharp – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122770143

Then there’s the crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). Those amazing beaks are designed for extracting the seeds from pinecones. There are a lot of them about, but mainly in conifer forests, so I think I need a trip oop north. They remind me of little parrots.

Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) Photo By Elaine R. Wilson, http://www.naturespicsonline.com – http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ (higher resolution version obtained in correspondence with website owner), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=969811

There has been a noticeable absence of owls on my list so far, so here’s one: the long-eared owl (Asio otus). They aren’t that rare, but like most owls they are difficult to see. The ‘ears’ aren’t ears at all, but ear tufts, and nobody really seems to know what their purpose is, though most biologists suspect that they allow the owl to communicate its emotions and intent.

Long-eared owl (Asio otus) Photo By Francesco Veronesi from Italy – Long-eared Owl – Kisjuszallas – Hungary_S4E0920, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39977981

And while we’re on the subject of carnivorous birds, there are many, many birds of prey that I’ve never seen, but I would love to see this smallish bird, the hobby – it is a specialist in dragonflies and swallows, which means that it is quite the acrobat. It’s a summer migrant, so the window for seeing one is quite short. I may have glimpsed one in St Pancras and Islington Cemetery hawking for dragonflies a few years ago, but it wasn’t clear enough to be sure, so it stays on the list. Also, look at those red ‘trousers’! What a bird…

Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) Photo By Shantanu Kuveskar – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111860073

Two to go (thinking about it, I’m going to make it a list of eleven birds to include the hen harrier that Ive mentioned already).

Number nine is the Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer). This is a bird of isolated lochs and lakes, and is perhaps best known for its evocative cry. It can crop up in practically any coastal area in the UK during the winter, so keep your eyes peeled! Have a listen to the recording by Yoann Blanchon below.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) Photo By John Picken from Chicago, USA – LoonUploaded by snowmanradio, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15910636

I realise that I could easily have chosen twenty birds, or even thirty, but here’s my last one for now. The Common Crane (Grus grus) breeds in Norfolk, and there is a small re-introduced population in Somerset. Birds can crop up in other places too, but they are vanishingly rare, with only about 30 pairs of birds breeding, and a maximum of 200 spending the winter in the UK. But my goodness, what impressive birds they are! The call is pretty impressive too. Have a listen to this splendid duet, recorded in Sweden by Esperenza Poveda.

Common crane (Grus grus) Photo By Andreas Trepte – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39163967

And so there we go. Is there a bird that has always eluded you? A species that you’ve always wanted to see? A bird that turned up unexpectedly and took your breath away? Do share!