Situated just a few miles south east of Newbury in the county of West Berkshire, Greenham Common and adjoining Crookham Common (to the east) together form over 1000 acres of heathland. Greenham Common was returned to natural habitat back in 2000 when the former US Air Force Base closed.
Today, in addition to the important heathland habitat, Greenham Common comprises several areas of dense deciduous woodland and a number of man-made lakes which are home to several red listed birds as well as other endangered wildlife. the area is now managed by BBOWT (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust).
This informative bird guide (illustrated with our own pictures) will help your find and identify many of the exciting birds on Greenham Common. Enjoy!
Dartford Warbler
Dartford Warblers can be spotted in the central gorse area between the Control Tower and the former nuclear bunkers and are best located by their variant and scratchy song. These Warblers are easiest to see and photograph in winter, feeding on insects in the gorse. During spring, the birds can sometimes be seen perching on the tops of shrubs to sing and protect their precious territory (Dartford Warblers are very territorial and will raise their crests when alarmed.) In 2013 Dartford Warbler numbers on Greenham Common were affected by the severe winter.
Stonechat
Stonechats can be seen in areas of thick gorse and are well-known for their call which sounds like two stones being smacked together very quickly.
Dartford warblers occasionally use Stonechats as lookouts for predators!
Stonechats often display at the top of scrub and are often encountered in pairs. For the best chance of seeing a Stonechat, try an early morning walk down the central runway towards the Control Tower.
The male Stonechat (top picture) is distinguished from the female by its dark coloured head, wings and tail. Also, the male is usually the one displaying himself at the top of gorse bushes.
There are significant numbers of Stonechats on Greenham Common and they are present year-round.
Linnet
Linnets are sociable finches that are almost always encountered in small flocks. In summer, the males adopt their bright red chests and the females have a brown back, grey-brown head and pale brown breast.
Unlike the males, the female Linnet's plumage stays the same throughout the year. They are encountered extensively and in large numbers across Greenham Common, particularly in the thicker gorse areas and mixed heath.
Long Tailed Tit
Often seen in small flocks of 10 or more birds, Long Tailed Tits are noisy and full of character. They can often be seen hanging upside down from bushes feeding on small insects and are best known for their tail which is disproportionately large, compared to their small body size. A beautiful bird, the Long Tailed Tit has stunning pale pink plumage and black/white markings on its wings and tail. Sightings are perhaps more common in the winter when the birds join forces with other members of the Tit family in search of food. The picture (right) was taken on Greenham Common in the winter.
Another bird of prey, the Buzzard, is a regular bird on the Common which are frequently mobbed by crows and unhappy Lapwings, during the breeding season.
In flight, the Buzzard is told apart from other big birds of prey like Red Kites by its fanned tail, wings raised in a shallow "V" shape, mewing call and its circling flight to catch warm air currents.
Red Kites are frequently spotted hunting over Greenham Common, sometimes very low over the ground at quiet times of the day. The Red Kite is an impressive bird with a wingspan of 1.6 metres, enabling it to soar effortlessly in summer thermals by adjusting its forked tail. It is distinguished from the Buzzard by the reddish brown plumage, distinctive forked tail and pale patches on the underside of its wings. Kites feed on birds and small mammals like Rabbits which are plentiful on the Common.
Kestrel
Kestrels have seen a decline in numbers in recent years. You may still spot one on Greenham Common, hovering over gorse in search for small mammals like voles and mice. Possible confusion species include the Merlin (the UK's smallest bird of prey) which also hunt over heath, or the Hobby (a summer visitor) which sometimes feeds on insects over the ponds of Crookham Common.
Barn Owl
Barn Owls are most often seen at dusk, on dry evenings with little wind. During the breeding season in May and June, they may also be active during the day.
They hunt over rough grassland looking for voles and field mice. Their specially adapted feathers make them silent in flight. The perfect predator!
A Barn Owl will typically fly about 10 feet above the ground 'quartering' around its preferred grassland habitat looking for any signs movement, before diving onto its prey, talons extended. An increasingly rare sight, Barn Owls hunt over a fairly wide area, including the fields adjacent to Greenham Common.
Goldcrest
Goldcrests are one of the UK's smallest birds. They are almost always found around conifers - but not in the case of the bird pictured (right).This individual was seen halfway along the area of central gorse on a spiny berry bush in winter, although several reports suggest that they are resident around the Pyle Hill entrance.
The male Goldcrest has a fiery orange tinge to its crest, while the female has an all yellow crest.
Great Tit
Great tits can be spotted anywhere on Greenham Common, although they are more frequently seen in wooded areas. They are the most widespread of all British tits and are found from Europe to Japan and even as far south as North Africa.
The female Great Tit does all the incubating and can lay up to 11 eggs in a single brood. Great tits are predominantly woodland birds and older, more dominant birds are identifiable by a thicker black stripe on their breast and underparts. In their natural environment, Great tits nest in tree holes.
Stonechats can be seen in areas of thick gorse and are well-known for their call which sounds like two stones being smacked together very quickly.
Dartford warblers occasionally use Stonechats as lookouts for predators!
Stonechats often display at the top of scrub and are often encountered in pairs. For the best chance of seeing a Stonechat, try an early morning walk down the central runway towards the Control Tower.
The male Stonechat (top picture) is distinguished from the female by its dark coloured head, wings and tail. Also, the male is usually the one displaying himself at the top of gorse bushes.
There are significant numbers of Stonechats on Greenham Common and they are present year-round.
Linnet
Unlike the males, the female Linnet's plumage stays the same throughout the year. They are encountered extensively and in large numbers across Greenham Common, particularly in the thicker gorse areas and mixed heath.
Long Tailed Tit
Song Thrush
Remarkable for its loud musical song, the Song Thrush has suffered a steep decline in numbers in recent years, placing it on the 'red list'. As a result it has all but disappeared from many gardens.
Fortunately, with its varied heathland habitat, Greenham Common remains a stronghold for thrushes. Look out for thrushes in dense undergrowth and large bushes. This bird was found near the Pyle Hill entrance whilst walking along the left-most footpath, towards the Control Tower. The Song Thrush can be told apart from the larger and more aggressive Mistle Thrush by its smaller size and its breast markings which resemble upside down hearts. The Song Thrush also has a browner head, whereas the Mistle Thrush can appear more grey-brown.
Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipits are ground-nesting birds that usually search for beetles and caterpillars under bushes and on the ground.
Meadow Pipits are frequently seen in the central area of Greenham Common, along the length of the old (now dug-up) runway - which used to be the longest runway in Europe, when extended in 1954!
Buzzard
Fortunately, with its varied heathland habitat, Greenham Common remains a stronghold for thrushes. Look out for thrushes in dense undergrowth and large bushes. This bird was found near the Pyle Hill entrance whilst walking along the left-most footpath, towards the Control Tower. The Song Thrush can be told apart from the larger and more aggressive Mistle Thrush by its smaller size and its breast markings which resemble upside down hearts. The Song Thrush also has a browner head, whereas the Mistle Thrush can appear more grey-brown.
Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipits are ground-nesting birds that usually search for beetles and caterpillars under bushes and on the ground.
Meadow Pipits are frequently seen in the central area of Greenham Common, along the length of the old (now dug-up) runway - which used to be the longest runway in Europe, when extended in 1954!
Buzzard
Another bird of prey, the Buzzard, is a regular bird on the Common which are frequently mobbed by crows and unhappy Lapwings, during the breeding season.
In flight, the Buzzard is told apart from other big birds of prey like Red Kites by its fanned tail, wings raised in a shallow "V" shape, mewing call and its circling flight to catch warm air currents.
Red Kite
Red Kites are frequently spotted hunting over Greenham Common, sometimes very low over the ground at quiet times of the day. The Red Kite is an impressive bird with a wingspan of 1.6 metres, enabling it to soar effortlessly in summer thermals by adjusting its forked tail. It is distinguished from the Buzzard by the reddish brown plumage, distinctive forked tail and pale patches on the underside of its wings. Kites feed on birds and small mammals like Rabbits which are plentiful on the Common.
Kestrel
Kestrels have seen a decline in numbers in recent years. You may still spot one on Greenham Common, hovering over gorse in search for small mammals like voles and mice. Possible confusion species include the Merlin (the UK's smallest bird of prey) which also hunt over heath, or the Hobby (a summer visitor) which sometimes feeds on insects over the ponds of Crookham Common.
Barn Owl
Barn Owls are most often seen at dusk, on dry evenings with little wind. During the breeding season in May and June, they may also be active during the day.
They hunt over rough grassland looking for voles and field mice. Their specially adapted feathers make them silent in flight. The perfect predator!
A Barn Owl will typically fly about 10 feet above the ground 'quartering' around its preferred grassland habitat looking for any signs movement, before diving onto its prey, talons extended. An increasingly rare sight, Barn Owls hunt over a fairly wide area, including the fields adjacent to Greenham Common.
Goldcrest
Goldcrests are one of the UK's smallest birds. They are almost always found around conifers - but not in the case of the bird pictured (right).This individual was seen halfway along the area of central gorse on a spiny berry bush in winter, although several reports suggest that they are resident around the Pyle Hill entrance.
The male Goldcrest has a fiery orange tinge to its crest, while the female has an all yellow crest.
Great Tit
Great tits can be spotted anywhere on Greenham Common, although they are more frequently seen in wooded areas. They are the most widespread of all British tits and are found from Europe to Japan and even as far south as North Africa.
The female Great Tit does all the incubating and can lay up to 11 eggs in a single brood. Great tits are predominantly woodland birds and older, more dominant birds are identifiable by a thicker black stripe on their breast and underparts. In their natural environment, Great tits nest in tree holes.
Goldfinch & Greenfinch
There are quite a few different finch types on Greenham Common, including Goldfinches which are often seen in small flocks of around 5 individuals.
The Goldfinch makes a high pitched tweeting noise, similar to a Linnet, but can be readily identified through binoculars without confusion. Males and females are similar, but the juveniles lack the bright red face.
Another colourful finch is a Greenfinch (pictured right), which is generally easy to locate, once you get accustomed to its 'wheezing' call. Greenfinches visit most of our feeders but sadly are declining in numbers because of Trichomonosis, a parasitic disease spread by bird feeders, which prevents the bird from feeding properly.
Females and males are easily distinguishable - males being a dark lime-green and females having duller brown plumage, still with the yellow-green wing markings.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are found in the small woodland near the Pyle Hill entrance and in a more dense wood to the east of the bunker site. These birds are often located by their "drumming" display and their "chacking" call.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers have red underparts and two vertical white streaks on each wing whereas the Lesser Spotted (which is much smaller) have horizontal white streaks on the back, no red underparts and have more of a light brown plumage.
Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers are told apart by the colour of their heads. Males have a red spot on the back of their heads, whilst the females is plain black.
Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpeckers are definitely one of the most difficult birds to get a good view of and you usually spot them after they spot you and have flown off! Their distinctive alarm calls is the first give-away and sounds a bit like a witches cackle!
Males, (shown) have a bright red moustache but the female's is black. The easiest way to identify this bird when it is flying away from you (as is usually the case!) is its bright yellow rump and undulating flight. A Green Woodpecker's diet consists largely of ants in the summer.
Nuthatch
Nuthatches are small, blue-grey birds with an orange breast and striking black eye stripe. Some of their unusual traits include hoarding peanuts from our feeders and jamming them in holes in trees and hanging upside down on tree trunks.
If you watch Springwatch, you would know that they often mud-up a hole in a tree so predators like Woodpeckers can't get in to the nest, although this individual seems to think that this hole is a perfect fit! This nest site (right) was by the Pyle Hill entrance to Greenham Common in a small batch of trees to the left of the main footpath, opposite the wood and we know that one chick had definitely fledged because he came to our garden feeder! Juveniles are usually quite scraggly looking and their eye stripe is a less intense colour but males and females are virtually the same.
Bullfinch
Bullfinches are found in the dense wood to the east of the bunkers, the wooded area near the Control Tower car park and sometimes around the Pyle Hill entrance. They often travel around in pairs and even small groups, particularly in the winter.
In January and February the Bullfinches eat juicy buds, hence the reason why they were persecuted by fruit farmers many years ago, although thankfully this has now been stopped.
Bullfinches frequently come to our feeders to eat Sunflower Hearts; their favourite treat!
Chiffchaff
A summer visitor to the UK, Chiffchaffs are one of our most common warblers after the Willow Warbler and all us birders know that without the song, warblers are very hard to identify so here are some tips: Willow Warblers are more of a brown colour on the breast whilst Chiffcaffs have a pale yellow breast.
Leg colour is another way to identify the bird as a Chiffchaff. They have dark brown legs, whilst Willow Warblers have pinkish legs and Wood Warblers have orangey coloured legs. Wood Warblers are also distinguishable by their bright yellow breast. This Chiffchaff photo was taken at the top of a tree canopy near the Pyle Hill entrance.
Yellow Wagtails are a summer visitor to the UK from Africa. Look out for them on Greenham Common in Spring or Autumn when they are on migration. They can frequently be seen catching insects on the ground, often near the herds of Cows and Exmoor Ponies, which graze on Greenham Common.
They are predominantly yellow and have a shorter tail than a Grey Wagtail, with Olive colour upper parts. This picture was taken in September 2020.
Wheatear - Passage Migrant 
Rare bird sightings include a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the wood adjacent to the disused Nuclear Bunkers.
During the Spring and Autumn migration (April and September) it is not unusual to spot the odd Wheatear and Whinchat on Greenham Common.
However, the real highlight in 2013 was the juvenile Red Backed Shrike (pictured right) which was showing well near the Fire Plane in September.
If you have any unusual or exotic bird sightings on Greenham Common that you'd like to share with us, leave us a comment below!
There are quite a few different finch types on Greenham Common, including Goldfinches which are often seen in small flocks of around 5 individuals.
The Goldfinch makes a high pitched tweeting noise, similar to a Linnet, but can be readily identified through binoculars without confusion. Males and females are similar, but the juveniles lack the bright red face.
Females and males are easily distinguishable - males being a dark lime-green and females having duller brown plumage, still with the yellow-green wing markings.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpeckers are found in the small woodland near the Pyle Hill entrance and in a more dense wood to the east of the bunker site. These birds are often located by their "drumming" display and their "chacking" call.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers have red underparts and two vertical white streaks on each wing whereas the Lesser Spotted (which is much smaller) have horizontal white streaks on the back, no red underparts and have more of a light brown plumage.
Male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers are told apart by the colour of their heads. Males have a red spot on the back of their heads, whilst the females is plain black.
Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpeckers are definitely one of the most difficult birds to get a good view of and you usually spot them after they spot you and have flown off! Their distinctive alarm calls is the first give-away and sounds a bit like a witches cackle!
Males, (shown) have a bright red moustache but the female's is black. The easiest way to identify this bird when it is flying away from you (as is usually the case!) is its bright yellow rump and undulating flight. A Green Woodpecker's diet consists largely of ants in the summer.
Nuthatch
Nuthatches are small, blue-grey birds with an orange breast and striking black eye stripe. Some of their unusual traits include hoarding peanuts from our feeders and jamming them in holes in trees and hanging upside down on tree trunks.
If you watch Springwatch, you would know that they often mud-up a hole in a tree so predators like Woodpeckers can't get in to the nest, although this individual seems to think that this hole is a perfect fit! This nest site (right) was by the Pyle Hill entrance to Greenham Common in a small batch of trees to the left of the main footpath, opposite the wood and we know that one chick had definitely fledged because he came to our garden feeder! Juveniles are usually quite scraggly looking and their eye stripe is a less intense colour but males and females are virtually the same.
Bullfinch
Bullfinches are found in the dense wood to the east of the bunkers, the wooded area near the Control Tower car park and sometimes around the Pyle Hill entrance. They often travel around in pairs and even small groups, particularly in the winter.
In January and February the Bullfinches eat juicy buds, hence the reason why they were persecuted by fruit farmers many years ago, although thankfully this has now been stopped.
Bullfinches frequently come to our feeders to eat Sunflower Hearts; their favourite treat!
Chiffchaff
A summer visitor to the UK, Chiffchaffs are one of our most common warblers after the Willow Warbler and all us birders know that without the song, warblers are very hard to identify so here are some tips: Willow Warblers are more of a brown colour on the breast whilst Chiffcaffs have a pale yellow breast.
Leg colour is another way to identify the bird as a Chiffchaff. They have dark brown legs, whilst Willow Warblers have pinkish legs and Wood Warblers have orangey coloured legs. Wood Warblers are also distinguishable by their bright yellow breast. This Chiffchaff photo was taken at the top of a tree canopy near the Pyle Hill entrance.
Blackcap
The Blackcap is an olive-grey warbler about the same size as a Great Tit, with a fantastic song similar to a Nightingale.
As the name suggests the male has a black cap, whilst the female's is Chestnut brown in colour. The Blackcap is often seen perched on top of bushes singing in the Spring. Previously a summer visitor, Blackcaps are sometimes seen (in smaller numbers) wintering in the UK. On Greenham Common look out for these birds in the dense bushes off the main entrance path from the Pyle Hill entrance. The picture (right) was taken in this area.
Whitethroat
The Whitethroat is a summer visitor to Greenham Common, which can be seen from April to October in dense undergrowth and gorse. Whitethroats are an attractive bird about the size of a Robin with a predominantly brown back, grey head and characteristic white throat area, giving the bird its name.
These birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa and April is a good time to see them when they are on migration back to the UK.
Lesser Whitethroat
Another summer visitor, the Lesser Whitethroat is much paler in appearance than its more common cousin the Whitethroat, lacking the brown wing feathers, instead looking pale grey, but retaining the white face.
It is best seen in April and May in the dense bushes and Brambles on the Common, where it feeds on insects. In the Autumn, it boosts its reserves by feeding on berries, before starting its long migration back to Africa.
Lapwing
Lapwings are little waders that look black and white at a distance, but up close they have a spiky crest and green sheen to their feathers.
Lapwings are red listed birds because of dramatic changes in farming practices, although over 200,000 breed here in the UK. But it is not just farming that caused their downfall. Crows and Buzzards raid their nests and eat their young and that is when 'dive-bombing' comes in. Lapwings frantically circle around the predator and skim their heads whilst calling in a very high-pitched shrieking noise.
Lapwings nest on the pebbly area of open land between the bunkers and English Provender Company building (EPC), which was where this picture was taken. Unfortunately, due to disturbance from people and in particular dogs, only one pair of lapwings nested on the site in 2013. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (typically March 1st and July 31st), BBOWT erect warning notices asking people to keep off all areas marked with red posts. Disturbed birds leave their eggs and young, resulting in increased predation from crows.
Golden Plover
Golden Plovers are frequently seen in winter when 400,000 come to the region. The Golden Plovers on Greenham Common typically travel in flocks of around 40 birds. Along with the Lapwings, these birds nest and feed on the open space adjacent to the EPC building although none have nested there this year.
This photograph was taken there in early winter and as a result the birds weren't in their fabulous summer plumage because they spend summer in the moors in the highlands of Scotland. They are told apart from other birds by their repetitive and high-pitched "weew weeew" calls. There are a few confusion species which include Grey Plovers and Dotterels but neither have been seen as a definite sighting here.
Ringed Plover
Ringed Plovers are summer visitors to Greenham Common where they nest on reclaimed land in small numbers, particularly on the ground to the north of the Fire Plane.
This and other areas of the Common have restricted access from the beginning of March to the end of July nesting period to avoid causing disturbance to nesting birds. Predation is a constant problem for ground nesting birds like Ringed Plovers, particularly from Crows and the cold, wet summer weather in 2012 has caused further problems.
You will need patience and a good pair of binoculars to spot the Ringed Plover as they are well camouflaged and inconspicuous against a 'busy background' of stones.
Skylark
The Skylark is a small brown bird slightly larger than a Sparrow which favours open countryside, grassland and farmland. It can be seen in small flocks on the Common and is notable for its melodious, trill song and familiar vertical display flight. Recent decline in numbers place the Skylark on the "Red List". Skylarks are resident year round in southern England.
In flight the white side of its tail is notable and if disturbed it will show off its crest.The Skylark and Woodlark are virtually the same although the Woodlark has a distinctive white brow and a black and white patch on the bottom of the wing (below its greater wing coverts.)
Picture: Courtesy of Michael McNeill.
Woodlark
The endangered Woodlark is another rare ground-nesting bird found in small numbers on Greenham Common. Resident year-round.
It has a streaky-brown appearance with a noticeable white stripe above the eye and an attractive crest which can be raised when alarmed. It can be hard to spot due to its camouflaged plumage and may be seen year-round on the Berkshire and west Surrey heathland habitats.
Picture: Courtesy of Michael McNeill.
Whinchat - Passage Migrant
Easily confused with Stonechat, the Whinchat is only seen on Greenham Common on passage to and from its wintering grounds in Africa. A Robin sized bird, it can be distinguished from the more common Stonechat, by its prominent white stripe above its eye.
This bird was spotted in late September 2015, feeding on insects in the gorse, at the western end of the runway area.
Redstart - Passage Migrant
Redstarts are rare breeding birds in Berkshire and although it's unlikely that they breed on Greenham Common, you may see them in small numbers during their annual migration to and from Africa. The best times of the year are March/April and September/October.
The picture (right) was taken at the beginning of September 2015 and is of a beautiful male Redstart. It was spotted in a small fenced off area on the western side of Greenham Common, frequently used by a bird ringing team.
Yellow Wagtail - Passage Migrant
The Blackcap is an olive-grey warbler about the same size as a Great Tit, with a fantastic song similar to a Nightingale.
As the name suggests the male has a black cap, whilst the female's is Chestnut brown in colour. The Blackcap is often seen perched on top of bushes singing in the Spring. Previously a summer visitor, Blackcaps are sometimes seen (in smaller numbers) wintering in the UK. On Greenham Common look out for these birds in the dense bushes off the main entrance path from the Pyle Hill entrance. The picture (right) was taken in this area.
Whitethroat
The Whitethroat is a summer visitor to Greenham Common, which can be seen from April to October in dense undergrowth and gorse. Whitethroats are an attractive bird about the size of a Robin with a predominantly brown back, grey head and characteristic white throat area, giving the bird its name.
These birds winter in sub-Saharan Africa and April is a good time to see them when they are on migration back to the UK.
Lesser Whitethroat
Another summer visitor, the Lesser Whitethroat is much paler in appearance than its more common cousin the Whitethroat, lacking the brown wing feathers, instead looking pale grey, but retaining the white face.
It is best seen in April and May in the dense bushes and Brambles on the Common, where it feeds on insects. In the Autumn, it boosts its reserves by feeding on berries, before starting its long migration back to Africa.
Lapwing
Lapwings are little waders that look black and white at a distance, but up close they have a spiky crest and green sheen to their feathers.
Lapwings are red listed birds because of dramatic changes in farming practices, although over 200,000 breed here in the UK. But it is not just farming that caused their downfall. Crows and Buzzards raid their nests and eat their young and that is when 'dive-bombing' comes in. Lapwings frantically circle around the predator and skim their heads whilst calling in a very high-pitched shrieking noise.
Lapwings nest on the pebbly area of open land between the bunkers and English Provender Company building (EPC), which was where this picture was taken. Unfortunately, due to disturbance from people and in particular dogs, only one pair of lapwings nested on the site in 2013. During the ground-nesting bird breeding season (typically March 1st and July 31st), BBOWT erect warning notices asking people to keep off all areas marked with red posts. Disturbed birds leave their eggs and young, resulting in increased predation from crows.
Golden Plover
Golden Plovers are frequently seen in winter when 400,000 come to the region. The Golden Plovers on Greenham Common typically travel in flocks of around 40 birds. Along with the Lapwings, these birds nest and feed on the open space adjacent to the EPC building although none have nested there this year.
This photograph was taken there in early winter and as a result the birds weren't in their fabulous summer plumage because they spend summer in the moors in the highlands of Scotland. They are told apart from other birds by their repetitive and high-pitched "weew weeew" calls. There are a few confusion species which include Grey Plovers and Dotterels but neither have been seen as a definite sighting here.
Ringed Plover
This and other areas of the Common have restricted access from the beginning of March to the end of July nesting period to avoid causing disturbance to nesting birds. Predation is a constant problem for ground nesting birds like Ringed Plovers, particularly from Crows and the cold, wet summer weather in 2012 has caused further problems.
You will need patience and a good pair of binoculars to spot the Ringed Plover as they are well camouflaged and inconspicuous against a 'busy background' of stones.
Skylark
The Skylark is a small brown bird slightly larger than a Sparrow which favours open countryside, grassland and farmland. It can be seen in small flocks on the Common and is notable for its melodious, trill song and familiar vertical display flight. Recent decline in numbers place the Skylark on the "Red List". Skylarks are resident year round in southern England.
In flight the white side of its tail is notable and if disturbed it will show off its crest.The Skylark and Woodlark are virtually the same although the Woodlark has a distinctive white brow and a black and white patch on the bottom of the wing (below its greater wing coverts.)
Picture: Courtesy of Michael McNeill.
Woodlark
It has a streaky-brown appearance with a noticeable white stripe above the eye and an attractive crest which can be raised when alarmed. It can be hard to spot due to its camouflaged plumage and may be seen year-round on the Berkshire and west Surrey heathland habitats.
Picture: Courtesy of Michael McNeill.
Whinchat - Passage Migrant
This bird was spotted in late September 2015, feeding on insects in the gorse, at the western end of the runway area.
Redstart - Passage Migrant
The picture (right) was taken at the beginning of September 2015 and is of a beautiful male Redstart. It was spotted in a small fenced off area on the western side of Greenham Common, frequently used by a bird ringing team.
Yellow Wagtail - Passage Migrant
They are predominantly yellow and have a shorter tail than a Grey Wagtail, with Olive colour upper parts. This picture was taken in September 2020.
Wheatear - Passage Migrant
Wheatears are a fairly common passage migrant bird, passing through southern England on their way to and from their wintering grounds in central Africa. They are a summer visitor to the UK, breeding in Northern England.
The male (pictured) has attractive light grey plumage with a noticeable white square on its tail, unmistakable in flight. The female has more orange-brown plumage.
Wheatears can often be seen hopping around in stony areas of the ground looking for insects.
Rare Bird Sightings on Greenham Common
During the Spring and Autumn migration (April and September) it is not unusual to spot the odd Wheatear and Whinchat on Greenham Common.
However, the real highlight in 2013 was the juvenile Red Backed Shrike (pictured right) which was showing well near the Fire Plane in September.
If you have any unusual or exotic bird sightings on Greenham Common that you'd like to share with us, leave us a comment below!
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