Gravel Pits Location
Closer view when pits were active
Aquatic Warbler (Ian Levell 2009)
Red-necked Grebe -my personal favourite find (March 2017)
One of three Grey Phalaropes I found in September 2018 (West Midlands record)
Pectoral Sandpiper found by Mike Inskip in May 2015
Grasshopper Warber - once a common breeding bird before restoration
Roland Hopkins 2014
Red-necked Phalarope (September 2017)
Roland Hopkins 2014
Nit Grass
Little Egrets (Mark Clarke)
The following species have been recorded at Salford Priors Gravel Pits ( Marsh Farm Quarry) since 2002. List was complied originally by Jon Bowley the former Warwickshire recorder & updated by myself.
KEY
R Can be seen in any month and is always present in at
least part of the year.
S Regularly present in breeding season (March-October).
W Regularly present in winter (October-April).
P Seen annually on passage.
I May be seen in any month but not constantly present in
any particular season.
O Seen less than annually.
U Rare visitor. Only 1-3 records during period.
B Thought to breed most years.
b Only breeds occasionally or no longer breeds.
1) Mute Swan - RB (1-3 nests). Max 21 in Oct 2006.
2) Bewick’s Swan - U 11 flew south Jan 2014 and three Nov 2016.
3) Whooper Swan - U 3 in both Jan 2007 & Nov 2015. 4 over Pophills in October 2018. Single in September 2022.
4) Pink-footed Goose - OP (4 October 2020)
5) Greylag Goose - RB 2-5 nests, max 680 in November 2018.
6) Snow Goose -U 1 occasionally in 2013/14
7) Canada Goose - RB (>10 nests). Max 1200 in December 2008
8) Barnacle Goose - O
9) Brent Goose - Singles in March 2006 & April 2016
10) Egyptian Goose - O Max 5 December 2011
11) Ruddy Shelduck - U 3 in October 2005
12) Shelduck - RB 1-2 pairs Max 27
13) Mandarin Duck - I 4 juvs recorded August 2019
14) Wigeon - PW Max 52 in November 2016
15) Gadwall - RBW 1-4 nests Max 57 in Feb 2007
16) Teal - RbW Pair bred in 2004 Max 425 in Jan 2011
17) Mallard - RBW (>10 nests) Max 545 in October 2014
18) Pintail - PW Max 8
19) Garganey - P
20) Shoveler - RP Max 45 2018
21) Red-crested Pochard - O
22) Pochard - RW Max 83 in Jan 2005
23) Ferruginous Duck - U One in Sept to Oct 2017
24) Tufted Duck - RB (>19 nests) Max 221 in July 2014
25) Greater Scaup - OPW
26) Common Scoter - U One in Nov-Dec 2013
27) Goldeneye - OW
28) Smew - U Singles in November 2010 & May 2016
29) Goosander - O
30) Ruddy Duck - Rb - until 2007 1-4 nests Max 23, 1 female September 2020
31) Red-legged Partridge
32) Grey Partridge RB 1-2 pairs
33) Quail -U Heard calling in June 2004
34) Pheasant RB Hundreds released every Autumn
35) Little Grebe - RB (>13 nests) Max 73 in August to September 2014
36) Great Crested Grebe - Ib Two pairs bred in 2006, one in 2017
37) Black-necked Grebe - U Singles in September 2013, April 2016, April 2018 & April 2019.
38) Cormorant - RW Max 94 Jan 2011 & October 2016
39) Bittern - U One in March 2014
40) Little Egret - I , 4 recorded June 2017
41) Great White Egret - U Singles in December 2016, October 2010,
Nov 2014, October 2018, July 2020, June & July 2021
42) Grey Heron - R Up to 27 in historic Autumns.
43) White Stork - U One in September 2005
44) Glossy Ibis - U One in October 2013
45) Red Kite - I Breeds locally on Ragley estate
46) Marsh Harrier - OP
47) Hen Harrier - U Singles in January 2009 & April 2010.
48) Montagu’s Harrier - U One in May 2012.
49) Goshawk - U Singles in April 2009 & September 2010.
50) Sparrowhawk - RB (1-2 pairs)
51) Buzzard - RBP (Several nests) Max 25
52) Osprey - OP
53) Kestrel - OP
54) Merlin - PW
55) Hobby - S Up to 5 hunting together. Breeds locally.
56) Peregrine - I Up to three in winter months.
57) Water Rail - RBPW (>2 nests). Max 12 in winter.
58) Moorhen - RB (5-20 nests). Up to 50 in autumn.
59) Coot - RB (15-30 nests). Max 305 October 2017.
60) Common Crane - U One on October 2012
61) Avocet - OP (Last record June 2019)
62) Oystercatcher - SBP (>2 nests)
63) Little Ringed Plover - SBP (>8 nests).
64) Ringed Plover - SbP Up to 16 on passage.
65) Golden Plover - PW Max 850 in December 2008.
66) Grey Plover - OP
67) Lapwing - RBPW (>20 nests). Max 1700 in August 2008.
68) Knot - U One in September 2011
69) Sanderling - OP Max 5 in August 2011
70) Little Stint - P Max 4 in August 2016
71) Temminck’s Stint - OP (Four records 2004-08)
72) Curlew Sandpiper - U Singles in August 2008, September 2010 & August 2016.
73) Dunlin - IP Up to 11 on passage
74) Ruff - IP Max four September-October 2017
75) Jack Snipe - PW Max 18 in March 2014.
76) Snipe - RPW Max 120 in October 2008.
77) Woodcock - OW
78) Black-tailed Godwit - P Max 8 in July 2012. 25 adults in summer plumage June 2019, 13 adults in July 2021.
79) Whimbrel - P Max 5 in May 2011.
80) Curlew - IP Max 36 in March 2015. No longer breeds locally.
81) Spotted Redshank - OP
82) Redshank - RbP (1-3 pairs) Max 8
83) Greenshank - P Max 7 in Aigust 2010
84) Green Sandpiper - RPW Max 25 in August 2008
85) Wood Sandpiper - P
86) Common Sandpiper - SbP (>2 nests). Max 12. Has occured over-winter.
87) Turnstone - OP
88) Grey Phalarope - U One in September 2010 & three in September 2018 (West Midlands record)
89) Mediterranean Gull - OP
90) Little Gull - U Singles in October 2007, April 2009, April 2018 & pair 2018.
91) Black-headed Gull - RPW
92) Common Gull - PW
93) Lesser Black-backed Gull - RbPW Pair bred in 2017 & 2018.
94) Herring Gull - RW Max 510 in May 2013.
95) Yellow-legged Gull - PW Max 3
96) Caspian Gull - O
Please note that the list includes four subspecies – White and Blue-headed Wagtails, and the two races of Chiffchaff. Feral Pigeon should be included as in fact it did used to breed at the works – many bird race lists omit it as it is often impossible to separate truly feral birds from racing pigeons en route to somewhere.
The list also includes all species on the national list recorded as wild in the UK, but three of those recorded here (Snow Goose, Barnacle Goose and Ruddy Shelduck) were almost certainly escapes from captivity. The first 195 are listed in taxology order, the remaining birds are our most recent editions.
42) Grey Heron - R Up to 27 in historic Autumns.
43) White Stork - U One in September 2005
44) Glossy Ibis - U One in October 2013
45) Red Kite - I Breeds locally on Ragley estate
46) Marsh Harrier - OP
47) Hen Harrier - U Singles in January 2009 & April 2010.
48) Montagu’s Harrier - U One in May 2012.
49) Goshawk - U Singles in April 2009 & September 2010.
50) Sparrowhawk - RB (1-2 pairs)
51) Buzzard - RBP (Several nests) Max 25
52) Osprey - OP
53) Kestrel - OP
54) Merlin - PW
55) Hobby - S Up to 5 hunting together. Breeds locally.
56) Peregrine - I Up to three in winter months.
57) Water Rail - RBPW (>2 nests). Max 12 in winter.
58) Moorhen - RB (5-20 nests). Up to 50 in autumn.
59) Coot - RB (15-30 nests). Max 305 October 2017.
60) Common Crane - U One on October 2012
61) Avocet - OP (Last record June 2019)
62) Oystercatcher - SBP (>2 nests)
63) Little Ringed Plover - SBP (>8 nests).
64) Ringed Plover - SbP Up to 16 on passage.
65) Golden Plover - PW Max 850 in December 2008.
66) Grey Plover - OP
67) Lapwing - RBPW (>20 nests). Max 1700 in August 2008.
68) Knot - U One in September 2011
69) Sanderling - OP Max 5 in August 2011
70) Little Stint - P Max 4 in August 2016
71) Temminck’s Stint - OP (Four records 2004-08)
72) Curlew Sandpiper - U Singles in August 2008, September 2010 & August 2016.
73) Dunlin - IP Up to 11 on passage
74) Ruff - IP Max four September-October 2017
75) Jack Snipe - PW Max 18 in March 2014.
76) Snipe - RPW Max 120 in October 2008.
77) Woodcock - OW
78) Black-tailed Godwit - P Max 8 in July 2012. 25 adults in summer plumage June 2019, 13 adults in July 2021.
79) Whimbrel - P Max 5 in May 2011.
80) Curlew - IP Max 36 in March 2015. No longer breeds locally.
81) Spotted Redshank - OP
82) Redshank - RbP (1-3 pairs) Max 8
83) Greenshank - P Max 7 in Aigust 2010
84) Green Sandpiper - RPW Max 25 in August 2008
85) Wood Sandpiper - P
86) Common Sandpiper - SbP (>2 nests). Max 12. Has occured over-winter.
87) Turnstone - OP
88) Grey Phalarope - U One in September 2010 & three in September 2018 (West Midlands record)
89) Mediterranean Gull - OP
90) Little Gull - U Singles in October 2007, April 2009, April 2018 & pair 2018.
91) Black-headed Gull - RPW
92) Common Gull - PW
93) Lesser Black-backed Gull - RbPW Pair bred in 2017 & 2018.
94) Herring Gull - RW Max 510 in May 2013.
95) Yellow-legged Gull - PW Max 3
96) Caspian Gull - O
97) Great Black-backed Gull - W
98) Kittiwake - U One in July 2005, two in April 2007, one in March 2021.
99) Sandwich Tern - One in April 2013
100) Common Tern - SbP Two pairs nested 2012. Max 43 August 2016.
101) Arctic Tern - U 20 September 2011, nine April 2014, four May 2015, one April 2018, two April 2019.
102) Little Auk - U One dead in December 2007,
103) Feral Pigeon - Rb
104) Stock Dove - RB Flocks of 250+ in winter
105) Woodpigeon - RB Thousands roost in winter nearby.
106) Collared Dove - RB Marsh Farm & Dunnington village.
107) Turtle Dove - SB (1-2 pairs) Max 17 in July 2007
108) Cuckoo - SB (>3 territories, but varies)
109) Barn Owl - RB (2-3 pairs)
110) Little Owl - Rb (1 pair)
111) Tawny Owl - RB Breeds within recording area
112) Short-eared Owl - PW Max 8 early 2010
113) Swift - SP Breeds nearby. Max 2500 in May 2012.
114) Kingfisher - R Breeds nearby on River Arrow.
115) Hoopoe - U One in April 2010.
116) Green Woodpecker - RB (2-3 nests)
117) Great Spotted Woodpecker RB (1 pair)
118) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - O (Thought to breed in Dunnington, no recent records)
119) Skylark - RBP Up to 45 pairs. Max 550 in October 2011.
120) Sand Martin - SbP Up to 185 nests until 2014.
121) Swallow - SBP 3000 in one day in September 2007.
122) House Martin - SP (Breeds in Dunnington & Broom)
123) Richard’s Pipit - U One in October 2010.
124) Tree Pipit P - Max four
125) Meadow Pipit - RBP (>12 nests) Hundreds every Autmn
126) Rock Pipit P - Max five. One in December 2013.
100) Common Tern - SbP Two pairs nested 2012. Max 43 August 2016.
101) Arctic Tern - U 20 September 2011, nine April 2014, four May 2015, one April 2018, two April 2019.
102) Little Auk - U One dead in December 2007,
103) Feral Pigeon - Rb
104) Stock Dove - RB Flocks of 250+ in winter
105) Woodpigeon - RB Thousands roost in winter nearby.
106) Collared Dove - RB Marsh Farm & Dunnington village.
107) Turtle Dove - SB (1-2 pairs) Max 17 in July 2007
108) Cuckoo - SB (>3 territories, but varies)
109) Barn Owl - RB (2-3 pairs)
110) Little Owl - Rb (1 pair)
111) Tawny Owl - RB Breeds within recording area
112) Short-eared Owl - PW Max 8 early 2010
113) Swift - SP Breeds nearby. Max 2500 in May 2012.
114) Kingfisher - R Breeds nearby on River Arrow.
115) Hoopoe - U One in April 2010.
116) Green Woodpecker - RB (2-3 nests)
117) Great Spotted Woodpecker RB (1 pair)
118) Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - O (Thought to breed in Dunnington, no recent records)
119) Skylark - RBP Up to 45 pairs. Max 550 in October 2011.
120) Sand Martin - SbP Up to 185 nests until 2014.
121) Swallow - SBP 3000 in one day in September 2007.
122) House Martin - SP (Breeds in Dunnington & Broom)
123) Richard’s Pipit - U One in October 2010.
124) Tree Pipit P - Max four
125) Meadow Pipit - RBP (>12 nests) Hundreds every Autmn
126) Rock Pipit P - Max five. One in December 2013.
127) Water Pipit P - Up to three. One also in December 2004.
128) Yellow Wagtail - SBP (>2 nests). Max 200 roosting August 2004.
129) Blue-headed Wagtail - U Singles in April 2009 & September 2017.
130) Grey Wagtail - RBP (1-2 nests) Up to 13 in Autum.
130) Grey Wagtail - RBP (1-2 nests) Up to 13 in Autum.
131) Pied Wagtail - RBP Up to 185 recorded roosting in Autumn.
132) White Wagtail - P Max 21 in April 2008.
133) Wren - RB
134) Dunnock - RB
135) Robin- RB
136) Nightingale - U One in May 2012 & one in August 2020.
137) Common Redstart -PW Max 5 in August 2020.
138) Whinchat - P Max 4 in Aug 2014.
139) Stonechat - PW Used to over winter. Max 9 in 2006.
140) Wheatear - P Both races, max 9.
141) Ring Ouzel - OP
142) Blackbird - RBPW
143) Fieldfare - PW
144) Song Thrush - RBPW
145) Redwing - PW
146) Mistle Thrush - RB (1-2 pairs)
147) Cetti’s Warbler - Ib Occurred 2006-2015. Bred 2008,2015
148) Grasshopper Warbler - Ob (Used to be 1-2 pairs)
149) Aquatic Warbler - U One in Sept/Oct 2009
150) Sedge Warbler - SBP (Prev 20 territories, 2018 no breeding pairs)
151) Reed Warbler - SBP (20 territories)
152) Blackcap - SBP
153) Garden Warbler - SbP
154) Lesser Whitethroat - SBP (1-2 nests)
155) Common Whitethroat - SBP (18-20 nests)
156) Wood Warbler - U One in September 2012 & one in August 2020.
157) Chiffchaff - SBPW (7 pairs)
158) Scandinavian Chiffchaff - U One in Nov-Dec 2009
159) Siberian Chiffchaff - U One over wintered 2006/2007
160) Willow Warbler - SBP (1-5 pairs)
161) Goldcrest - RBW (2-5 pairs breeding in plantation)
162) Firecrest - U One in March 2016
163) Spotted Flycatcher - SbP Pair bred in plantation in 2009 & 2013.
139) Stonechat - PW Used to over winter. Max 9 in 2006.
140) Wheatear - P Both races, max 9.
141) Ring Ouzel - OP
142) Blackbird - RBPW
143) Fieldfare - PW
144) Song Thrush - RBPW
145) Redwing - PW
146) Mistle Thrush - RB (1-2 pairs)
147) Cetti’s Warbler - Ib Occurred 2006-2015. Bred 2008,2015
148) Grasshopper Warbler - Ob (Used to be 1-2 pairs)
149) Aquatic Warbler - U One in Sept/Oct 2009
150) Sedge Warbler - SBP (Prev 20 territories, 2018 no breeding pairs)
151) Reed Warbler - SBP (20 territories)
152) Blackcap - SBP
153) Garden Warbler - SbP
154) Lesser Whitethroat - SBP (1-2 nests)
155) Common Whitethroat - SBP (18-20 nests)
156) Wood Warbler - U One in September 2012 & one in August 2020.
157) Chiffchaff - SBPW (7 pairs)
158) Scandinavian Chiffchaff - U One in Nov-Dec 2009
159) Siberian Chiffchaff - U One over wintered 2006/2007
160) Willow Warbler - SBP (1-5 pairs)
161) Goldcrest - RBW (2-5 pairs breeding in plantation)
162) Firecrest - U One in March 2016
163) Spotted Flycatcher - SbP Pair bred in plantation in 2009 & 2013.
164) Bearded Tit - U Singles in Nov 2013 & October 2015.
165) Long-tailed Tit - RB (Several nests) Flock of 38 in Sept 2009.
166) Marsh Tit - U Singles within boundary in Oct 2010 & December. Annual in Dunnington.
167) Willow Tit - O
168) Coal Tit - RB (2-3 pairs in plantation)
169) Blue Tit - RB
170) Great Tit - RB
171) Nuthatch - O
172) Treecreeper - RB (1 pair in plantation)
173) Jay - RB (1-2 pairs) Max 2in October 2013.
174) Magpie - RB
175) Jackdaw - RB Large flocks roost nearby.
176) Rook - R Large flocks roost nearby.
177) Carrion Crow - RB Up to 200 recorded.
178) Raven - Rb Bred in 2011 & 2012. Max 15 in 2011.
179) Starling - RB
180) House Sparrow - RB
181) Tree Sparrow - Rb Used to green around Marsh Farm.
182) Chaffinch - RBPW Max 700 in adjoining field in December 2007.
183) Brambling - PW Max 100 in December 2007 with above flock.
184) Greenfinch - RB Max 500 in adjoining fields. Declining.
185) Goldfinch - RB Upton 115 in autumn
186) Siskin - PW Max 200 in February 2011.
187) Twite - U One in April 2012.
188) Linnet - RB Up to 1500 in nearby fields 2017.
189) Lesser Redpoll - PW Small numbers. Max 39 in October 2011.
170) Great Tit - RB
171) Nuthatch - O
172) Treecreeper - RB (1 pair in plantation)
173) Jay - RB (1-2 pairs) Max 2in October 2013.
174) Magpie - RB
175) Jackdaw - RB Large flocks roost nearby.
176) Rook - R Large flocks roost nearby.
177) Carrion Crow - RB Up to 200 recorded.
178) Raven - Rb Bred in 2011 & 2012. Max 15 in 2011.
179) Starling - RB
180) House Sparrow - RB
181) Tree Sparrow - Rb Used to green around Marsh Farm.
182) Chaffinch - RBPW Max 700 in adjoining field in December 2007.
183) Brambling - PW Max 100 in December 2007 with above flock.
184) Greenfinch - RB Max 500 in adjoining fields. Declining.
185) Goldfinch - RB Upton 115 in autumn
186) Siskin - PW Max 200 in February 2011.
187) Twite - U One in April 2012.
188) Linnet - RB Up to 1500 in nearby fields 2017.
189) Lesser Redpoll - PW Small numbers. Max 39 in October 2011.
190) Common Crossbill - O Max 6 in Feb 2012.
191) Bullfinch - RB Several pairs
192) Snow Bunting - U Singles in Feb 2008 & Nov 2011.
193) Yellowhammer - RB (>8 pairs with boundaries)
194) Reed Bunting - RPB Declining as habitat has been lost. Still 12 territories.
195) Corn Bunting - RB (1-2 pairs. Max 18 in March 2007.
196) Pectoral Sandpiper - U Singles May 2015 & October 2017.
197) Black Tern - OP Max 19 in August 2016.
198) Pomarine Skua - U One in September 2016.
199) White-fronted Geese - U Four in October 2016, 10 & 8 juveniles November 2020, 23 January 2020
200) Waxwing (recorded in village & in flight over south of pits)
201) Red-necked Grebe - U One in March 2017
202) Red-necked Phalarope - U One in September 2017 (Stayed 11 days)
203) Yellow-browed Warbler - U One by bridge at Broom over Arrow, October 2017.
204) Iceland Gull - U One juvenile over main pit January 2018.
196) Pectoral Sandpiper - U Singles May 2015 & October 2017.
197) Black Tern - OP Max 19 in August 2016.
198) Pomarine Skua - U One in September 2016.
199) White-fronted Geese - U Four in October 2016, 10 & 8 juveniles November 2020, 23 January 2020
200) Waxwing (recorded in village & in flight over south of pits)
201) Red-necked Grebe - U One in March 2017
202) Red-necked Phalarope - U One in September 2017 (Stayed 11 days)
203) Yellow-browed Warbler - U One by bridge at Broom over Arrow, October 2017.
204) Iceland Gull - U One juvenile over main pit January 2018.
205) Cattle Egret - One on main pit 30th November 2020.
206) Ring-necked Parakeet - One flew over March 2021.
207) Little Bunting - One found on west bank on morning of 25th April 2021.
208) Wyrneck - One found on service road 8th September 2022.
Species recorded 208 -Those written in italics have been recorded by myself.
Last updated 30th September 2022
Species recorded 208 -Those written in italics have been recorded by myself.
Last updated 30th September 2022
Please note that the list includes four subspecies – White and Blue-headed Wagtails, and the two races of Chiffchaff. Feral Pigeon should be included as in fact it did used to breed at the works – many bird race lists omit it as it is often impossible to separate truly feral birds from racing pigeons en route to somewhere.
The list also includes all species on the national list recorded as wild in the UK, but three of those recorded here (Snow Goose, Barnacle Goose and Ruddy Shelduck) were almost certainly escapes from captivity. The first 195 are listed in taxology order, the remaining birds are our most recent editions.
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