United Kingdom
The United Kingdom includes Great Britain, Northern Ireland and numerous smaller islands, with landscapes ranging from the mountains and moorlands of Scotland and Wales to rolling farmland, forests, wetlands and chalk downs farther south. Its exceptionally varied coastline includes estuaries, saltmarshes, sandy beaches and towering sea cliffs. Northern and western regions are generally wetter and more rugged, while southeastern England is lower, drier and more intensively cultivated. The climate is temperate and strongly oceanic, producing relatively mild winters and cool summers.
Overview
The UK is one of Europe's most established birding destinations, particularly for seabirds, migration and coastal wetlands. Spectacular colonies in Shetland, Orkney and northern Scotland hold Atlantic Puffins, Northern Gannets, skuas and auks, while the Scottish Highlands support Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Ptarmigan and Crested Tit. Wetlands such as Norfolk's north coast are excellent for geese, shorebirds and reedbed species. Islands including Fair Isle and the Isles of Scilly are internationally famous for migration and rare vagrants from Europe, Asia and North America. Britain has an exceptionally active birding community, numerous reserves, hides and extensive bird-information networks. Most sites are readily accessible, though remote Scottish and island locations can require ferries, flights and careful weather planning.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus | 64.2% | 61.5% | 63.7% | 69.2% | 68.7% | 64.7% | 64.4% | 66.7% | 67.6% | 63.3% | 58.6% | 59.7% | 62.5% |
| Carrion Crow Corvus corone | 57.8% | 58.6% | 59.8% | 63.3% | 60.8% | 56.0% | 52.7% | 51.8% | 53.2% | 55.0% | 58.4% | 62.6% | 61.9% |
| European Robin Erithacus rubecula | 54.8% | 60.0% | 61.4% | 63.2% | 60.0% | 53.8% | 42.9% | 35.5% | 42.9% | 55.6% | 60.8% | 60.8% | 60.7% |
| Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula | 52.4% | 57.1% | 56.3% | 59.4% | 61.9% | 63.8% | 60.6% | 48.0% | 32.7% | 31.6% | 44.1% | 54.9% | 58.8% |
| Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | 49.3% | 56.1% | 57.4% | 58.7% | 56.7% | 44.2% | 40.3% | 36.9% | 41.9% | 44.4% | 47.3% | 52.4% | 55.1% |
| Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | 48.7% | 52.0% | 51.9% | 54.1% | 49.6% | 44.5% | 42.9% | 41.4% | 42.6% | 45.9% | 49.5% | 55.0% | 55.3% |
| Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus | 42.2% | 51.1% | 48.0% | 42.4% | 30.8% | 29.1% | 29.7% | 39.1% | 42.2% | 42.7% | 46.5% | 51.9% | 52.7% |
| Eurasian Jackdaw Coloeus monedula | 42.1% | 39.9% | 42.1% | 46.0% | 44.9% | 46.4% | 43.4% | 33.8% | 35.2% | 42.6% | 43.2% | 44.3% | 43.1% |
| Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes | 41.8% | 34.2% | 37.3% | 48.4% | 54.1% | 48.8% | 46.5% | 38.4% | 36.0% | 34.3% | 42.6% | 42.9% | 38.5% |
| Great Tit Parus major | 40.7% | 46.8% | 49.8% | 52.5% | 50.4% | 38.5% | 30.3% | 27.1% | 31.3% | 36.0% | 38.7% | 41.8% | 44.7% |