Combe Valley Countryside Park

Often seen wheeling high in the sky, singly or in groups, or perched on a tree or fence post.

Smaller than the buzzard, kestrels can often be seen hovering, almost motionless, as they hunt for mice or voles.

Flood meadows and reedbeds are ideal habitat for this fairly frequent winter visitor.

Lots of swans can be found on the lakes and streams and several pairs raise broods of cygnets.

Parties of Greylag Geese fly into the valley for the winter and some stay all year round and breed. Often seen on the flood meadows.

A few Canada Geese are usually found associating with the Greylag Geese, although lately there have been large flocks.

Herons can be found in the valley all year and can often be seen patiently fishing at the edge of pools.

Slightly smaller than a heron and with pure white plumage, the Little Egret is now a fairly common sight in the valley.

The most familiar of our ducks, the Mallard is to be found throughout the park.

These are very common on all the lakes in the valley.

Not so numerous as the Coot in the valley, but often seen around the margins of open water.

These distinctive little ducks are more frequently seen during the winter months.

Flocks of these are often found on the larger lakes. In winter their heads turn white with just a black spot either side.

Flocks of Herring Gulls are also a common sight on the lakes throughout the year.

This large seabird can often be seen on the larger lakes in the park. Many Cormorants roost in a tree by the Pebsham lake.

A familiar garden bird, the Blackbird can be found in woods and hedgerows.

Another familiar garden bird. The Great Tit is also fairly common.

Often seen in the fields or perched on fence posts.

The Chaffinch is fairly common and the male is brightly coloured.

Flocks of Goldfinches are seen in the valley and are unmistakable with their red face and yellow wing flashes.

These are mainly winter visitors when more than a hundred can be seen on the flood meadows. Very few stay and attempt to breed.

A gregarious bird that is usually seen in small flocks.

A conspicuous member of the crow family that can be seen all over the valley.

Often heard calling, there are quite a lot of Pheasant resident in the valley.

A wetland bird, these are usually found along the rivers or in the reedbeds.

Another summer visitor whose insistant warbling can be heard in the reeds.

Probably our most recognisable bird, the Robin is common throughout the park.

Often heard in the reeds, but less often seen, the Sedge Warbler is a summer visitor.

The male has an orange breast and distinctive black head. Resident but more often seen in the summer.

A summer visitor, often seen skimming over the lakes or reeds feeding on insects.

A woodland bird that can sometimes be seen hunting insects on tree trunks.

One of our smallest birds, the wren is very shy and flits around in the undergrowth.

The male yellowhammer is unmistakable and likes to sing from the top of a bush.