My Index of Birds I’ve Sensed (Ibis)

When I was about thirteen, I made a list of all the avian species I had encountered in the wild. I called it the Ibis (or I.B.I.S. as I styled acronyms at the time) — the Index of Birds I’ve Seen. (The verb changed to “Sensed” after I heard cuckoos and tawny owls calling and wanted to include them.)

I put the list online, as an accompaniment with my Childhood Blog (which wasn’t called that at the time). Some of the articles there alluded to the Ibis. I then went on holiday and saw a lot more birds, so the list was soon out-of-date. A few years later, I took my entire site offline.

Fast-forward to 2024, and I was looking back at my Childhood Blog, and I decided to republish both the blog and the Ibis, using newer web technologies and visual styles that match other things I’ve made.

I have not updated the Ibis since 2012, and the list is limited to birds I’ve seen (or heard) in Britain. The birds are sorted by category, but it’s not particularly scientific.

Are ibises themselves on the Ibis? No. They might appear if I add birds from foreign holidays.

The list

  1. Buzzard, Buteo buteo.
  2. Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus.
  3. Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus.
  4. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus.
  5. Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos.
  6. Tawny Owl, Stryx aluco.
  7. Barn Owl, Tyto alba.
  8. Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus.
  9. Red Kite, Milvus milvus.
  10. Carrion Crow, Corvus corone.
  11. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix.
  12. Rook, Corvus frugilegus.
  13. Jackdaw, Corvus monedula.
  14. Magpie, Pica pica.
  15. Jay, Garrulus glandarius.
  16. Rock Dove, Columba livia.
  17. Wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus.
  18. Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto.
  19. Blackbird, Turdus merula.
  20. Mistle-thrush, Turdus viscivorus.
  21. Redwing, Turdus iliacus.
  22. Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus.
  23. Robin, Erithacus rubecula.
  24. Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs.
  25. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis.
  26. Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris.
  27. Siskin, Carduelis spinus.
  28. Linnet, Carduelis cannabina.
  29. Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus.
  30. Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus.
  31. Great Tit, Parus major.
  32. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus.
  33. Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes.
  34. Dunnock, Prunella modularis.
  35. Swallow, Hirundo rustica.
  36. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopus major.
  37. Starling, Sturnus vulgaris.
  38. Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus.
  39. Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra.
  40. Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus.
  41. Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba.
  42. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea.
  43. Pheasant, Phasianus colchinus.
  44. Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus.
  45. Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus.
  46. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos.
  47. Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula.
  48. Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula.
  49. Greylag Goose, Anser anser.
  50. Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus.
  51. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis.
  52. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor.
  53. Coot, Fulica atra.
  54. Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus.
  55. Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis.
  56. Dipper, Cincus cincus.
  57. Little Grebe, Tachybaptus rufficolis.
  58. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea.
  59. Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo.
  60. Herring Gull, Larus argentatus.
  61. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus.
  62. Black-headed Gull, Chroirocephalus ridibundus.
  63. Eider, Somateria mollissima.
  64. Gannet, Morus bassanus.
  65. Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus.
  66. Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus.
  67. Guillemot, Uria alga.
  68. Black Guillemot, Cepphus grylle.
  69. Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos.
  70. Curlew, Numenius arquata.
  71. Redshank, Tringa totanus.
  72. Knot, Calidris canuta.
  73. Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus.
  74. Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe.

Birds I could add

In Britain

Song Thrush, Raven, Stonechat, Pochard, Shelduck, Mandarin, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Scottish Crossbill, Great-crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag, Ringed Plover, Meadow Pipit, Twite, Snow Bunting, Stock Dove, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swift, Goldcrest, House Martin, Sand Martin, Little Egret, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Dunlin, Teal, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Puffin, Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Fieldfare, Great Skua, Green Woodpecker, Red-legged Partridge, Snipe, Peregrine Falcon, Red Grouse, Ring-necked Parakeet, Skylark, Turnstone

In Europe

Siberian Jay (Finland), Azure-winged Magpie (Portugal), Hoopoe (Portugal)

Outside Europe

Probably several species, including bee-eaters, ibises, sanderling…