Birds at Danes Moss

The whole of Danes Moss is occupied through the year by many different birds. Some are resident all year. Others visit in the summer or winter and others just drop in as an important stop to refuel while on migration. Recent records list 99 species across the whole Moss.

  • 18 are Section 41 listed
  • 55 are on the UK Redlist with 21 at Red status and 34 at Amber status

Of these 53 so far have been recorded within the area at risk of development (marked as ‘at risk’ in the table below):

  • 9 are Section 41 listed
  • 30 are on the UK Redlist with 8 at Red status and 22 at Amber status

Section 41 listed means they are a species of principal importance* and are legally required to be considered within any new development.

‘Red’ status ‘Red List’ birds are of highest conservation concern because of severe declines which means they are moving towards extinction in the UK

 ‘Amber’ status ‘Red List’ birds are birds whose conservation status is of moderate concern where they are showing declines within the UK

A key driver of the declining bird populations is habitat loss. We continue to destroy the most valuable habitats that they need to survive.

* As legislated in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006

NameWhenStatusAt risk
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)Occasional visitorAmber
Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)MigrantAmber
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)Resident
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)Rare visitor
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)Resident
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)Winter visitorAmber
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)Rare visitorAmber
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)Rare visitorAmber
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)ResidentAmber
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)ResidentAmber
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)Winter visitor
Goosander (Mergus merganser)Rare visitor
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)Resident
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)Rare visitor
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)Summer visitor
Rock Dove (Columba livia)ResidentYes
Stock Dove (Columba oenas)ResidentAmberYes
Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)ResidentAmberYes
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)ResidentYes
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)Summer visitorRed / S41
Common Swift (Apus apus)Summer visitorRedYes
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)Resident
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)ResidentAmberYes
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)Resident
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)MigrantAmber
Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)ResidentRed / S41Yes
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)MigrantRed / S41
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)Winter visitorRed
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)Winter visitorAmber
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)MigrantAmber
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)ResidentAmberYes
Common Gull (Larus canus)Winter visitorAmber
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)Winter visitorRed / S41Yes
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)ResidentAmberYes
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)Winter visitorAmber
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)Rare visitor
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)ResidentYes
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)ResidentAmberYes
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)ResidentYes
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)Resident
Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)ResidentAmberYes
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)Resident
Eurasian Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)Rare visitor
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)ResidentAmberYes
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)Migrant
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)Rare visitor
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)ResidentYes
Common Magpie (Pica pica)ResidentYes
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)ResidentYes
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)ResidentAmberYes
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)ResidentYes
Common Raven (Corvus corax)Resident – occasional
Coal Tit (Periparus ater)ResidentYes
Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)ResidentRed / S41Yes
Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)ResidentYes
Great Tit (Parus major)ResidentYes
Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)ResidentRed / S41
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)MigrantAmber
Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia)Summer visitorRed / S41Yes
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)MigrantYes
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)Summer visitorYes
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)Summer visitorRedYes
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)Summer visitorAmberYes
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)Summer visitorYes
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)ResidentYes
Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)Summer visitorYes
Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)Summer visitorYes
Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis)Summer visitorAmberYes
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)ResidentYes
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)Resident
Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)ResidentAmberYes
Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)ResidentAmberYes
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)ResidentRed / S41Yes
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)ResidentRedYes
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)ResidentAmber / S41Yes
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)Winter visitorAmberYes
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)ResidentYes
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)Winter visitorRed
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)Summer visitorRed / S41
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)ResidentYes
European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)MigrantAmber
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)MigrantRed
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)MigrantAmber
Dunnock (Prunella modularis)ResidentAmber / S41Yes
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)ResidentRed / S41Yes
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)Resident – occasionalRed / S41
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)Resident – occasionalAmber
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)MigrantRed / S41
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)ResidentYes
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)Winter visitorAmber
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)ResidentYes
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)Winter visitor
Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)ResidentAmber / S41Yes
European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)ResidentRed
Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina)Resident – occasionalRed / S41
Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret)Winter visitorRed / S41
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)ResidentYes
Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)Winter visitor
Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)ResidentAmber / S41Yes