Birds R200305 - Page 1

Account of Purley on Thames Fauna - Birds R200305 - Page 1

Subsection R200305 Natural History Fauna - Birds

Introduction Coraciiformes (kingfishers) Purley is particularly rich in bird life. It possesses a wide Piciformes (woodpeckers) variety of different habitats which attract both permanent Passeriformes (perching birds) residents and regular visitors and a host of transitory The orders marked * will not usually be found in the wild migrants as well. in Purley, although a few examples have been seen which Birds form the class Aves distinguished solely by the have escaped from captivity. The numbers refer to pages possession of feathers. They are placed in 28 orders in the field guide (ref c) although not all orders are represented in Britain, let Wherever possible sightings of species in and around alone the Purley area. Purley are recorded. In the lists which follow only those species which have Note that the Latin names for many of the species has been recorded or are likely to be seen in and around the changed over the years. This article was produced Purley area are included. The comments on rarity are originally using the 'old' system but it has gradually been taken from Birds of Berkshire and Oxfordshire by M C revised to include 'new' names. Where this has happened Radford and updated from Birds of Berkshire by the the old names are shown in ( ) brackets after the new Berkshire Atlas Group (1996) name in [ ] brackets. The 28 orders are:- * Struthioniformes (ostriches) Bibliography * Rheiformes (rheas) a Birds of Berks and Oxon (M C Radford 1966) * Casuariiformes (emus and cassowaries) b Larousse Encyclopaedia of Animal Life * Apterygiformes (kiwi) c Field Guide to the Birds of Britain (John Gooders 1986) * Tinamiformes (tinamous) d Annual reports of Berks & Oxon birds * Sphenisciformes (penguins) Gaviformes (divers and loons) e John Loveday of Caversham Podicipediformes (grebes) f The Birds of Berkshire (Berkshire Atlas Group, 1996) Procellariiformnes (albatrosses, shear------oooOOOooo------waters and petrels Struthioniformes (ostriches) Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies) None found in Purley, although John Loveday reported in Ciconiiformes (Herons, storks and 1749 that two ostriches had been seen strutting around allies) Purley but no explanation could be offered. (ref e) * Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos) ------oooOOOooo------Anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans) Rheiformes (rheas) Falconiformes (birds of prey) None found in Purley Galliformes (fowls, pheasants etc) ------oooOOOooo------Gruiformes (cranes and rails) Charadriformes (waders and gulls) Casuariiformes (emus and Columbiformes (sandgrouse and pige- cassowaries) ons) None found in Purley * Psittaciformes (parrots and parakeets) ------oooOOOooo------Cuculiformes (cuckoos and turacos) Strigiformes (owls) Apterygiformes (kiwi) Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies) None found in Purley Apodiformes (swifts and humming ------oooOOOooo------birds) * Coliiformes (colies) * Trogoniformes (trogons)

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Tinamiformes (tinamous) known as dabchick - very common resident of Thames. However, in 12 years of a waterways bird survey from None found in Purley 1979 to 1990 on the Thames at Purley it has been proven ------oooOOOooo------to breed there only once. Sphenisciformes (penguins) ------oooOOOooo------None found in Purley Procellariiformnes (albatrosses, ------oooOOOooo------shearwaters and petrels)

Gaviformes (divers and loons) Fulmar Black throated diver 28 [fulmarus glacialis] - rare vagrant [Gavia arctica] (colymbus arcticus) very rare winter Leaches petrel 41 visitor (oceanodroma leucorrhoa) - rare vagrant Great northern diver 29 Storm petrel 40 [gavia immer] (colymbus immer) rare winter visitor. An example was recorded as ‘shot on the Thames between (hydrobates pelagicus) - rare vagrant Pangbourne and Maidenhead in 1794) Manx shearwater 39 Red throated diver 27 [puffinus puffinus] (procellaria puffinus) - rare wanderer. [Gavia stellata] (colymbus stellatus) rare winter vistor. One noted at Pangbourne 10/9/83 which had been Seen on Thames at Purley in cold weather in early 1897, released at Cardiff. also 11th March 1970 at Purley. ------oooOOOooo------Gannet 44 Podicipediformes (grebes) [morus bassanus] (sula bassana) - very occasional visitor. Juvenile found at Basildon 22/9/71 Great crested grebe 30 ------oooOOOooo------[podiceps cristatus] resident but leaves in winter. Denizen Pelecaniformes (pelicans and of lakes and gravel pits. Seen on Thames near River allies) Gardens by JMC 29/7/89. In 1979 NJB reported seeing a pair on the Thames with 3 young on May 15, 2 further Cormorant 42 young on July 25 and a small young on Oct 13th. All together 5 nesting pairs were seen between Purley and (phalacrocorax carbo) - regular visitor. Seen on Thames Streatley. at lock by JMC 29/7/89. In 1979 NJB reported a juvenile bird with an orange leg tag at Purley on Aug 28. Red necked grebe 31 Shag 43 [podiceps griseigena] - very rare winter visitor. In 1979 JJB reported a regular sighting between Feb 17 and Mar (phalacrocrax aristotelis) - uncommon visitor - recorded 17. MO reported they were often seen on theThames at at Pangbourne in 1794 Purley. ------oooOOOooo------

Horned grebe (Slavonian grebe) 32 Ciconiiformes (Herons, storks and allies) [podiceps auritus] - uncommon winter visitor.

Black necked grebe 33 Grey heron 46 (ardea cinera) - resident and quite common [podiceps nigricollis] (podiceps caspicus) - very uncommon visitor Purple heron 47 Little grebe 34 (ardea purpurea) - very rare visitor [tachybaptus ruficollis] (podiceps ruficollis) - commonly

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Little egret female on the Thames at Purley on 25 Dec. [egretta garzetta] rare vagrant Wigeon 62 Great white heron (anas penelope) - regular winter breeder, common in winter but rare in summer. In 1979 NJB reported up to 20 (egretta alba) - very rare visitor on Thames at Purley between Feb 8 and 10.

Night heron American wigeon (nycticorax nycticorax) - very rare visitor. [anas americana] rare vagrant. Most observation proba- bly of cross breeds. Little bittern (ixobrychus minutus) - very rare visitor to the Thames. Pintail 63 Nocturnal and sits among reeds with bill pointing (anas acuta) - scarce winter visitor upwards making it very difficult to see. Ruddy duck Bittern 45 [oxyura jamaicensis] introduced scarce winter visitor and (botaurus stellaris) - occasional visitor. Used to be very rare breeder. common on marshes in the area. Nocturnal. Shoveler 68 Spoonbill (spatula clypeata) - regular winter visitor. [platalea leucorodia] Mandarin duck 61 Glossy ibis (aix gelericulata) - introduced species, now fairly (plegadis falcinellus) - very rare visitor, usually in common on Thames. autumn. ------oooOOOooo------Red crested pochard Phoenicopteriformes (flamingos) (netta rufina) - occasional visitor. Not found in Purley ------oooOOOooo------Scaup 71 Anseriformes (ducks, geese and (aythia marila) - occasional winter visitor swans) Eider DUCKS [somerateria mollissima] - rare vagrant

Mallard 67 Tufted duck 70 (anas platyrhynches) - resident on Thames and very (aythia fuligula) - resident and winter visitor. Now common.124 counted on river by Neil Bucknell breeding on Thames. 15/1/1989, 145 on 16/9/89 and 101 on 8/10/1989 Pochard 69 Teal 64 (aythia ferina) - resident in small numbers. Common (anas cracca) - resident on Thames and winter visitor winter visitor. Prefers open water. One seen on Thames at Pangbourne. Garganey 65 (anas querquedula) - uncommon passage migrant, usually Ring necked duck in springtime. [aythya collaris] - rare vagrant

Gadwall 66 Ferruginous duck (anas strepera) - was scarce winter visitor but now (aythia nyroca) - rare visitor. increasingly breeding in Berks. In 1979 NJB reported a

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Goldeneye 76 January 1939. (bucephala clangula) - common winter visitor usually arriving in September. Snow goose [anser caerulescens] occasional escapee which now Long tailed duck 73 breeds in wild. (clangula hiemalis) - very rare visitor Bean goose 52 Velvet scoter 75 (anser arvensis) - rare winter visitor (Melonitta fusca) - very rare visitor Pink footed goose 53 Common scoter 74 (anser brachyrhyncos) - rare winter visitor. In 1979 NJB reported seeing one in a flock of Canada Geese at Purley (melonitta nigra) - rare winter visitor April 15.

Red breasted merganser 78 Brent goose 58 (mergus serrator) - rare winter visitor (branta bernicla) - rare winter visitor

Blue winged teal Canada goose 56 [anas discors] rare vagrant (branta canadensis) - resident breed freely. Can be seen in great numbers near the Thames in Purley. Goosander 79 (mergus merganser) uncommon winter visitor, seen occa- Red breasted goose sionally in summer in recent years. [branta ruficollis] rare vagrant

Smew 72 Egyptian Goose 59 [mergus albellus] (merganser albelliis) - uncommon (Alopochen aegyptiacus) - Scarce introduced from Africa winter visitor in 18th Century but now mainly confined to marshes in northern East Anglia. In 1979 NJB reported a pair on the Wood duck Thames at Purley from spring to at least Dec 2. There was no evidence of breeding. [aix sponsa] recently introduced - has been seen frequently in Goring gap area. and occasionally in Purley Barnacle goose Shelduck 60 [branta leucopsis] rare vagrant. Introduced birds are now becoming resident. (tadorna tadorna) - uncommon visitor in summer...... Ruddy sheldrake SWANS [tadorna ferruginea] (cascara ferrugina) - very occasional Very common on the river - campaign to save swans in visitor PPN 6/85 and 8/85 ...... GEESE Mute swan 49 (cygnus olor) - common resident Greylag goose 55 Whooper swan 51 (anser anser) - was uncommon winter visitor but likely to be seen overhead on migration. Now an introduced (cygnus cygnus) - uncommon winter visitor. One was resident. recorded flying over the Thames at Tilehurst 3/1/58

White fronted goose 54 Bewick’s swan 50 (anser albifrons) - Uncommon passage migrant and [cygnus columbianus] (cygnus bewickii) - frequent occasional winter visitor. One was shot at Purley in winter visitor. There were 7 sightings near Pangbourne

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12/1/63. Hobby 94 ------oooOOOooo------(falco subbuteo) - scarce regular summer visitor. Falconiformes (birds of prey) Peregrine falcon 95 Buzzard 90 (falco peregrinus) - rare visitor. numbers recovering. (buteo buteo) - uncommon visitor Gyr falcon Rough legged buzzard 91 (falco rusticolus) - very rare visitor (buteo lagopus) - rare visitor - seen mainly on the Downs. Red footed falcon Sparrowhawk 89 [falco vespertinus] - rare vagrant (accipiter nisus) - widespread resident. Population stead- ily increasing. Merlin 93 (falco columbarius) - uncommon winter visitor. Goshawk 88 (accipiter gentilis) - very rare visitor Kestrel 92 (falco tinnunculus) - common resident Red Kite 82 ------oooOOOooo------(milvus milvus) - very rare visitor but increasing owing to releases in the wild. Galliformes (fowls, pheasants etc) Spotted eagle There are many domestic fowls kept in Purley. These are [aquila clanga] - very rare vagrant not listed.

Golden eagle Black grouse 100 [aquila chrysaetos] - very rare vagrant [tetrao tetrix] (lyrurus tetrix) - rare visitor

White tailed eagle 83 Red legged partridge 102 (haliaeetus albicilla) - very rare visitor (alecttoris rufa) - resident

Honey buzzard 81 Common partridge 103 (grey partridge) (pernis aprivorus) - very rare summer visitor (perdix perdix) - common resident population declining.

Marsh harrier 86 Chukar (circus aeruginosus) - rare visitor [alectoris chukar] declining introduced species

Hen harrier 84 Quail 97 (circus cyaneus) - uncommon winter visitor (coturnix coturnix) summer visitor to Downlands

Montague’s harrier 85 Pheasant 106 (circus pygargus) - rare visitor on migration, typically (phasianus colchicus) - common resident April to September. Golden pheasant Osprey 96 [chrysolophus pictus] - rare introduced resident. (pandion haliaetus) - rare visitor. One was shot at Pangbourne in 1810. Lady Amherst's pheasant [chrysolophus amhertiae] rare introduced resident.

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------oooOOOooo------Golden plover 119 Gruiformes (cranes and rails) (charadrius apricarius) - winter visitor

Common crane Dotterel 118 (megalornis grus) - very rare visitor on migration (charadrius morinellus) - now almost unknown in area

Water rail 107 Turnstone 143 (rallus aquaticus) - scarce resident and winter visitor (arenaria interpres) - rare visitor

Spotted crake 108 Common snipe 131 (porzana porzana) - rare visitor (gallinago gallinago) - winter visitor and occasional resident Corncrake 109 (crex crex) - uncommon passage migrant. Once widespr- Great snipe ead. No Berks records since 1983. (capella media) - very rare visitor

Moorhen 110 Jack snipe 130 (gallinula chloropus) - very common resident (lymnocryptes minimus) - regular winter visitor

Coot 111 Woodcock 132 (fulica atra) - common resident. Family seen on Thames (scolopax rusticola) - uncommon resident near River Gardens by JMC 29/7/89.c40 wintered on the Thames from Sept 1988 to March 1989 Curlew 136 ------oooOOOooo------(numenius arquata) - rare summer visitor - noted Charadriformes (waders and 6/5/1989 by Neil Bucknell gulls) Black tailed godwit 133 WADERS (limosa limosa) - uncommon passage migrant Oystercatcher 112 Bar tailed godwit 134 (haematopus ostralegus) - occasional visitor (limosa lappponica) - rare passage migrant Lapwing 121 Green sandpiper 140 (vanellus vanellus) - common resident (tringa ochropus) - frequent passage migrant Ringed plover 116 Wood sandpiper 141 (charadrius hiaticola) - regular passage migrant (tringa glareola) - passage migrant Little ringed plover 115 Common sandpiper 142 (charadrius dubius) - summer visitor [actitis hypoleucas] (tringa hypoleucas) - passage migrant several noted in Purley Apl to Sep 1989 Kentish plover 117 (charadrius alexandrinus) - very rare visitor Redshank 138 (tringa totanus) - regular summer visitor Grey plover 120 (charadrius squatarola) - uncommon visitor Dusky redshank 137 (spotted redshank) (tringa erythropus) -regular passage migrant

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Greenshank 139 SKUAS (tringa nebularia) - frequent passage migrant Arctic skua Knot 122 [stercorarius parasiticus] rare vagrant (calidris canatus) - rare winter visitor Great skua Little stint 124 [stercorarius skua] - rare vagrant. One found at Tilehurst (calidris minuta) - seen regularly Oct 1987...... Temminck’s stint 125 GULLS (calidris temminckii) - very rare visitor Great black backed gull 158 Whimbrel (larus marinus) - frequent visitor [numenius phaeopus] - uncommon passage migrant Lesser black backed gull 155 Dunlin 128 (larus fuscus) - winter visitor (calidris alpina) - regular passage migrant Herring gull 154 Curlew sandpiper 126 (larus argentatus) - frequent visitor [calidris ferruginea] (calidris testacea) - rare passage migrant Common gull 151 Sanderling 123 (larus canus) - frequent visitor [caledris alba] (crocethia alba) - rare passage migrant Glaucus gull Ruff 129 [larus glaucoides] - rare winter visitor (philomachus pugmax) - frequent visitor on migration Mediterranean gull Avocet 113 [larus melanocephalus] - scarce but now regular winter visitor. (recurvirostra avosetta) - very rare visitor Yellow legged gull Black winged stilt [larus cachinnans] rare but increasing common passage (himantopus himantopus) - very rare visitor migrant.

Grey Phalarope 145 Sabines gull (phalaropus fulicarius) - rare autumn and winter visitor. [larus sabini] - rare vagrant Noted near Pangbourne Sept 1866 and near Tilehurst Oct 1891. Little gull 152 Red necked phalarope 144 (larus minutus) - rare visitor (phalaropus lobatus) - very rare visitor Black headed gull 153 Stone curlew 114 (larus ridibundus) - common visitor, especially in autumn and winter (burhinus oedicnemus) - regular summer visitor to Berks- hire downs Kittiwake 159 ...... (rissa tridactyla) - uncommon visitor in spring and winter. One caught on a rod and line near Mapledurham in 1901.

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...... Feral pigeon TERNS [columba livia] - abundant resident

Black tern 165 Stockdove 172 (chlidonias niger) - fairly frequent passage migrant (columba oenes) - common resident

Common tern 162 Wood pigeon 173 (sterna hirundo) - regular visitor on migration most (columba palumbus) - exceedingly common resident common in May Turtle dove 175 Arctic tern 163 (streptopelia turtue) - regular summer visitor (sterna macrura) - much less common than but very difficult to distinguish from the common tern Collared dove 174 Roseate tern 161 (streptopelia incoacta) - local resident. Seen back garden of 5 CAD by JMC 28/7/89. (sterna dougallii) - very rare visitor. Seen on Thames at ------oooOOOooo------Pangbourne Sept 1967. Psittaciformes (parrots and Little tern 164 parakeets) (sterna albifrons) - uncommon visitor on migration None found in the wild in Purley, although many examples are kept as cagebirds and these frequently Sandwich tern 160 escape. (sterna sandvicensis) - rare visitor on migration Ring necked parakeet ...... [psittacula krameri] - recognised as a naturalised British GUILLIMOTS species in 1983. Now breeding in E Berks. ------oooOOOooo------Razorbill 167 Cuculiformes (cuckoos and (alca torda) - very rare wanderer turacos) Little auk 168 Cuckoo 171 (plautus alle) - rare wanderer (cuculus canorus) - common visitor Guillemot 166 ------oooOOOooo------(uria aalge) - very rare wanderer Strigiformes (owls)

Puffin 169 Barn owl 178 (fratercula arctica) - rare wanderer. Seen waddling down (tyto alba) - was common resident now scarce but still a road in Bradfield October 1971. breeding. ------oooOOOooo------Eagle owl Columbiformes (sandgrouse and pigeons) (bubo bubo) - exceedingly rare visitor Little owl 179 Palla’s sandgrouse (athene noctua) - widespread resident. Hunts at dawn and (syrrhaptes paradoxus) - very occasional visitor dusk.

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Tawny owl 182 Great spotted wood pecker 189 (strix aluco) - common resident (dendrocopus major) - common resident of most woods

Long eared owl 181 Lesser spotted woodpecker 190 (asio otus) - rare resident (dendrocopus minor) - uncommon resident

Short eared owl 181 Wryneck (asio flammeus) - scarce winter visitor [jynx torquilla] - scarce passage migrant once common. ------oooOOOooo------oooOOOooo------Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and Passeriformes (Perching Birds) allies) LARKS SWALLOWS & PIPETS Nightjar 183 (caprimulgus europeus) - regular summer visitor to Woodlark Berkshire but unlikely to be seen in Purley. Mainly a nocturnal denizen of open heathland. [lulla arborea] - scarce summer or winter visitor. ------oooOOOooo------Skylark Apodiformes (swifts and humming birds) [alauda arvensis] common resident Sand martin Swift 184 [riparia riparia] - common summer visitor (apus apus) - abundant summer visitor ------oooOOOooo------Swallow Coliiformes (colies) [hirunda rustica] - abundant summer visitor none found in Purley ------oooOOOooo------House martin Trogoniformes (trogons) [delichor urbica] - common summer visitor none found in Purley Tree pipet ------oooOOOooo------[anthus trivialis] common summer visitor. Used to breed Coraciiformes (kingfishers) in Sulham woods but by 1989 this had almost ceased.

Kingfisher 185 Meadow pipet (alceda atthis) - resident. 3 pairs noted between Whitchu- [anthus pratensis] - abundant migrant - breeds locally. rch and Mapledurham 1974. Rock pipet Hoopoe 186 [anthus petrosus] - occasional winter visitor. (upupa epops) - rare passage migrant ------oooOOOooo------Water pipet Piciformes (woodpeckers) [anthus spinoletta] uncommon winter visitor...... Green woodpecker 188 WAGTAILS (picus viridis) - resident in wooded areas Yellow Wagtail 200 (matacilla flava flavissima) - common summer visitor. 17

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counted at Purley 2/9/89 (d) maize crops in 1970s and 1980s.

Blue Headed Wagtail 200 Stonechat (213) (matacilla flava flava) - occasional visitor (Saxicola torquata) - uncommon year round visitor.

Grey Wagtail 201 Wheatear 214 (Matacilla cinerea) - uncommon resident and winter (Oenanthe oenanthe) - Common passage migrant. Noted visitor. at Purley Sept 89 by NJB

Pied Wagtail 202 Ring ouzel (matacilla alba yarrelli) resident [turdus torquatus] - scarce passage migrant.

White Wagtail (202) Blackbird (216) (matacilla alba alba) uncommon passage migrant (Turdus merula) ...... WRENS & ALLIES Fieldfare (217) (Turdus pilaris) - common winter visitor which has bred Waxwing 203 in Sulham Woods in June 1988. (Bombycilla garrulus) - Rare winter visitor Song Thrush (218)

Dipper (Turdus philomelos) - abundant but declining resident. [cinclus cinclus] - scarce vagrant. Redwing (219) (Turdus iliacus) - common winter visitor. Wren 205 (Troglodytes troglodytes) - abundant resident. Mistle Thrush (220)

Dunnock 206 (Turdus viscivorus) - widespread resident ...... (Prunella modularis) - widespread resident...... WARBLERS & FLYCATCHERS CHATS & THRUSHES Grasshopper Warbler (222) Robin (207) (Locustella naevia) - Scarce summer visitor - seen at (Erithacus rubecula) - abundant resident. Sulham in 1960s

Nightingale (208) Sedge warbler (223) (Luscinia megarhynchos) - uncommon summer visitor (Acrocephalus schoeenobaenus) - common summer migrant which breeds locally. Black redstart [phoeniculus ochruros] - rare summer visitor. Reed warbler (224) (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) - summer visitor Redstart (211) (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) - scarce summer visitor Icterine warbler [hippolais icterina] - rare vagrant. Noted at Englefield Whichat (212) August 1967. (Saxicola rubetra) - common passage migrant. Noted at Purley Sept 1989 by NJB. Many sightings in Purley on

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Garden warbler (229) Blue tit (246) (Sylvia borun) - common summer visitor (Parus caeruleus) - abundant resident

Lesser whitethroat (230) Great tit (247) (Sylvia curruca) - common summer visitor (Parus Major) - abundant resident.

Whitethroat (231) Nuthatch (248) (Sylvia communis) - common summer visitor (Sitta europaea) - widespread resident

Blackcap (232) Treecreeper (249) (Sylvia atricapilla) - common summer visitor which is (Certhia familiaris) - common resident. increasingly being seen in winter......

Wood warbler (233) CROWS & ALLIES (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) - scarce summer visitor Golden oriole (250) Chiffchaff (234) (oriolus oriolus) - rare passage migrant.

(Phylloscopus collybita) - common summer visitor Red-backed shrike 251 Willow warbler (235) (lanius collurio) - summer visitor (Phylloscopus trocilus) - abundant summer visitor and passage migrant. Rare winter sightings at Purley Jan/Feb Great grey shrike 252 1986 and on Sul Brook Jan 1994. (lanius excubitor) - occasional winter visitor.

Goldcrest (236) Magpie (253) (Regulus regulus) - common resident. (pica pica) - abundant resident - numbers appear to be increasing. Spotted flycatcher (238) (Muscicapa striata) - common summer visitor. Nutcracker [nucifraga caryocatactes] - rare vagrant. 2 seen in Pied flycatcher Pangbourne Oct 1968.

[ficedula hypoleuca] - rare summer visitor. Jackdaw (255) ...... (Corvus monedula) - widespread resident TITS & ALLIES Rook (256) Long tailed tit (241) (Corvus frugilegus) - abundant resident (Aegithalos caudatus) - widespread common resident. Carrion crow (257) Marsh tit (242) (Corvus corone) - abundant resident (Parus palustris) - common resident Jay (259) Willow tit (243) (Garrulus glandarius) - common resident (Parus montanus) - common resident. Prefers damp woodlands. Starling 260 Coal tit (245) (Sturnus vulgaris) - Abundant resident ...... (Parus ater) - common resident.

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SPARROWS FINCHES & Purley 1989. BUNTINGS Snow bunting 277 House sparrow 261 (Phlectrophenix nivalis) - Rare winter visitor. (Passer domesticus) - abundant resident Yellowhammer 278 Tree sparrow 262 (Emberiza citrinella) - Common Resident (Passer montanus) - Common resident Cirl bunting 279 Chaffinch 263 (Emberiza cirlus) - Uncommon resident. Not recorded in Berks since 1981. Records for Tilehurst 1969 and (Fringilla Coelabs) - Common Resident Pangbourne 1972.

Brambling 264 Reed bunting 280 Fringilla montifringilla) - Regular winter visitor. (Emberiza schoeniclus) - Common Resident of waterside vegetation and damp areas. Serin [serinus serinus] - rare vagrant likely to increase in Corn bunting numbers. [miliara calandra] - common but declining.

Greenfinch 266 (Carduelis Chloris) - common widespread resident

Goldfinch 267 (Carduelis carduelis) - Resident and common summer visitor

Siskin 268 (Carduelis spinus) - Winter visitor

Linnet 269 (Carduelis connabina) - Common Resident

Twite 270 (Carduelis flavirostris) - Rare winter visitor

Redpoll 271 (Carduelis flammea) - Common Winter visitor

Crossbill 272 (Laxia curvirostra) - irregular visitor

Bullfinch 274 (Pyrrhula Pyrrhula) - Common Resident

Hawfinch 275 (Coccothraustus Coccothraustus) - resident in small numbers. Bred in Pangbourne area until 1971. Noted in

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