This list is a record of sightings from the Reserve over the last few years. It includes species seen on or flying over Burghead Bay from Findhorn beach.
Swans – Cygnus
Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus
Black Swan, Cygnus atratus
Geese – Anser, Branta
Snow Goose, Anser caerulescens
(Greater) White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
Bean Goose, Anser fabalis
Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
Greylag Goose, Anser anser
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
Brent Goose, Branta bernicla
(Common) Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
Dabbling Ducks – Anatini
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Gadwall, Anas strepera
(Northern) Pintail, Anas acuta
(Northern) Shoveler, Anas clypeata
(Eurasian) Wigeon, Anas penelope
(Eurasian) Teal, Anas crecca
Garganey, Anas querquedula
Diving Ducks – Aythya, Somateria etc
(Greater) Scaup, Aythya marila
Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
(Common) Eider, Somateria mollissima
Common Scoter, Melanitta nigra
Velvet Scoter, Melanitta fusca
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis
(Common) Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Sawbills – Mergus
Goosander, Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
Partridges & Pheasants – Family Phasianidae
Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix
(Common) Quail, Coturnix coturnix
(Common) Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
Divers – Family Gaviidae
Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata
Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica
Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer
White-billed Diver, Gavia adamsii
Grebes – Family Podicipedidae
Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
Fulmars, Shearwaters & Petrels – Family Procellariidae
(Northern) Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
Gannets – Family Sulidae
(Northern) Gannet, Morus bassanus
Cormorants – Family Phalacrocoracidae
(Great) Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
(European) Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Egrets & Herons – Family Ardeidae
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Spoonbills – Family Threskiornithidae
(Eurasian) Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia
Eagles, Harriers, Buzzards, Hawks – Family Accipitridae
White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Red Kite, Milvus milvus
Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk, Accipiter misus
Falcons – Family Falconidae
(Common) Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
(Eurasian) Hobby, Falco subbuteo
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Rails & Crakes – Family Rallidae
Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus
(Common) Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Oystercatchers – Family Haematopidae
(Eurasian) Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
(Pied) Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers – Family Charadriidae
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
(Common) Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula
Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
(European) Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria
Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
(Northern) Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
Sandpipers – Family Scolopacidae
(Red) Knot, Calidris canutus
Sanderling, Calidris alba
(Ruddy) Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Broad-billed Sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus
Little Stint, Calidris minuta
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius
Baird’s Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
White-rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus
(Common) Redshank, Tringa totanus
Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus
(Common) Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa
Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
(Eurasian) Curlew, Numenius arquata
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
(Eurasian) Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
(Common) Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
Skuas – Family Stercorariidae
Great Skua, Stercorarius skua
Pomarine Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus
Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus
Gulls – Family Laridae
Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus
Common Gull (Mew Gull), Larus canus
(European) Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus
Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
Little Gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
(Black-legged) Kittiwake, Rissa triadactyla
Terns – Family Sternidae
Little Tern, Sternula albifrons
Sandwich Tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
Common Tern, Sterna hirunda
Arctic Tern, Sterna paradisaea
Auks – Family Alcidae
Little Auk, Alle alle
Black Guillemot, Cepphus grylle
(Common) Guillemot, Uria aalge
Razorbill, Alca torda
Pigeons & Doves – Family Columbidae
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Columba livia
(Common) Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus
(Eurasian) Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Cuckoos – Family Cuculidae
(Common) Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Owls – Family Strigidae
Long-eared Owl, Asio otus
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus
Barn Owl, Tyto alba
Swifts – Family Apodidae
(Common) Swift, Apus apus
Kingfishers – Family Alcedinidae
(Common) Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Woodpeckers – Family Picidae
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
Larks – Family Alaudidae
(Common) Skylark, Alauda arvensis
Swallows & Martins – Family Hirundinidae
(Common) Sand Martin, Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
(Common) House Martin, Delichon urbicum
Pipits & Wagtails – Family Motacillidae
Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba ssp alba
Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba ssp yarrellii
Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
Waxwings – Family Bombycillidae
(Bohemian) Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
Accentors – Family Prunellidae
Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Chats & Flycatchers – Family Muscicapidae
(European) Robin, Erithacus rubecula
Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
(Northern) Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
(Common) Stonechat, Saxicola torquatus
Thrushes – Family Turdidae
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos
Redwing, Turdus iliacus
Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
(Common) Blackbird, Turdus merula
Sylvid Warblers – Family Sylviidae
Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
(Common) Whitethroat, Sylvia communis
Reed Warblers – Family Acrocephalidae
Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
(Common) Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia
Leaf Warblers – Family Phylloscopidae
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
(Common) Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
Crests – Family Regulidae
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Wrens – Family Troglodytidae
Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
Tits – Family Paridae
Great Tit, Parus major
Coal Tit, Periparus ater
(European) Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
Crested Tit, Lophophanes cristatus
Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Treecreepers – Family Certhiidae
(Eurasian) Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
Crows – Family Corvidae
Magpie, Pica pica
(Eurasian) Jay, Garrulus glandarius
(Western) Jackdaw, Corvus monedula
Rook, Corvus frugilegus
Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
Carrion Crow, Corvus corone
(Common) Raven, Corvus corax
Starlings – Family Sturnidae
(Common) Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Sparrows – Family Passeridae
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
(Eurasian) Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
Finches – Family Fringillidae
(Common) Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
(Common) Linnet, Carduelis cannabina
Twite, Carduelis flavirostris
(Common) Redpoll, Carduelis flammea
(European) Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
(European) Greenfinch, Chloris chloris
(Eurasian) Siskin, Carduelis spinus
(Eurasian) Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Buntings – Family Emberizidae
(Common) Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
