Bird Watching

This page lists all the bird species that have been observed in Alvaston Park.

If you see a bird that is not in the list please contact info@alvastonparkfriends.org.uk and include a picture if possible.

New arrivals to the park were stock doves in March 2020 and more recently a little egret was spotted in December 2022. A surprise day time sighting of a tawny owl has also been photographed and reported in April 2023. Thank you to all the park visitors who reported their sightings and please keep spotting!

Also a new resident in the park is the ring-necked parakeet - or more precisely, lots of parakeets. They are now well established here and in the surrounding area.

A late sighting of swifts was reported on 25 August 2024 when five swifts were seen flying high above the lake. This is late to see swifts as they normally start to migrate from mid July onwards. Keep a watch and see if any more can be spotted.

Click on a bird image and you will be directed to the appropriate page of the RSPB website for the particular species.

Barnacle goose	Latin name:	Branta leucopsis
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Blackbird	Latin name:	Turdus merula
	Family:	Thrushes

Black-headed gull	Latin name:	Larus bidibundus
	Family:	Gulls and terns

Blue tit	Latin name:	Parus caeruleus
	Family:	Types of tit

Canada goose	Latin name:	Branta canadensis
	Family:	Ducks, geeese and swans

Carrion crow	Latin name:	Corvus corone
	Family:	Crows

Chaffinch	Latin name:	Fringilla coelebs
	Family:	Finches

Collared dove	Latin name:	Streptopelie decaocto
	Family:	Pigeons and doves

Eurasian Coot	Latin name:	Fulica atra
	Family:	Rails, crakes and coots

Cormorant	Latin name:	Phalarcrocorax carbo
	Family:	Cormorants and shags

Dunnock	Latin name:	Prunella modularis
	Family:	Accentors

Egyptian goose	Latin name:	Alopchen egyptiacus
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Fieldfare	Latin name:	Turdus pilaris
	Family:	Thrushes

Gadwall	Latin name:	Anas strepera
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Goosander	Latin name:	Mergus merganser
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Great crested grebe	Latin name:	Podiceps cristatus
	Family:	Grebes

Great tit	Latin name:	Parus major
	Family:	Types of tit

Great spotted woodpecker	Latin name:	Dendrocopos major
	Family:	Woodpeckers

Green woodpecker	Latin name:	Picus viridis
	Family:	Woodpeckers

Grey heron	Latin name:	Ardea cinerea
	Family:	Herons, storks and ibises

Grey wagtail	Latin name:	Motacilla cinerea
	Family:	Pipits and wagtails

Greylag goose	Latin name:	Anser anser
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Goldcrest	Latin name:	Regulus regulus
	Family:	Kinglets and firecrests

Goldfinch	Latin name:	Carduelis carduelis
	Family:	Finches

House sparrow	Latin name:	Passer domesticus
	Family:	Sparrows

Kingfisher	Latin name:	Alecedo atthis
	Family:	Kingfishers

Lapwing	Latin name:	Charadriidae
	Family:	Plovers

Little egret	Latin name:	Egretta garzetta
	Family:	Herons, storks and ibises

Little grebe	Latin name:	Tachybaptus ruficollis
	Family:	Grebes

Long-tailed tit	Latin name:	Aegithalos caudatus
	Family:	Long-tailed tits

Magpie	Latin name:	Pica pica
	Family:	Crows

Mallard	Latin name:	Anus platyrhynchos
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Mistle thrush	Latin name:	Turdus viscivorus
	Family:	Thrushes

Moorhen	Latin name:	Gallinula chloropus
	Family:	Rails, crakes and coots

Mute swan	Latin name:	Cygnus olor
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Pied wagtail	Latin name:	Motacilla alba yarrellii
	Family:	Pipits and wagtails

Pochard	Latin name:	Aythya ferina
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Redwing	Latin name:	Turdus iliacus
	Family:	Thrushes

Reed warbler	Latin name:	Acrocephalus scirpaceus
	Family:	Warblers

Ring-necked parakeet	Latin name:	Psittacula krameri
	Family:	>Parrots

Robin	Latin name:	Erithacus rubecula
	Family:	Old World flycatchers & chats

Shoveler	Latin name:	Anus clypeata
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Starling	Latin name:	Sturnus vulgaris
	Family:	Starlings

Stock dove	Latin name:	Columba oenas
	Family:	Pigeons and doves

Tawny owl	Latin name:	Strix aluco
	Family:	Owls

Treecreeper	Latin name:	Certhia familiaris
	Family:	Treecreepers

Tree sparrow	Latin name:	Passer montanus
	Family:	Sparrows

Tufted duck	Latin name:	Aythya fuligula
	Family:	Ducks, geese and swans

Woodpigeon	Latin name:	Columba palumbus
	Family:	Pigeons and doves

Wren	Latin name:	Troglodytes troglodytes
	Family:	Wrens