Hen Harrier

Very much a bird of Scottish moorlands and uplands in summer, Hen Harriers come down to coastal areas in winter. They are long-tailed, long-winged graceful raptors, flying on wings held in a shallow V. Males are pale grey and white with black wingtips, larger females (‘ringtails’) brown and streaked with a white base (rump) to the barred tail.
Where? Try the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, the north Norfolk coastal strip

‘Wild’ swans

Breeders from the Arctic, Whooper Swans and Bewick’s Swans come to our wetland and grazing marshes to spend the winter. Both are straighter-necked than our resident Mute Swans, both have yellow based black bills and both are noisy with honking calls. Whoopers are very large with a V-shaped yellow bill patch, smaller Bewick’s have a rounded yellow blob.
Where? Scotland, northern England, East Anglia and the Severn Valley. Try Welney WWT or Slimbridge WWT

Golden Plover

Some 300,000 of these golden beauties winter in the UK. They are upland, moorland breeders but gather together often in large flocks in winter. This is a bird to look out for in ploughed fields or fields of short grass or crop in winter, where they wander around in a stop start style, searching for invertebrates to nab. About the size of a large thrush and golden-brown in colour with pointed wings, they often hang out with broad-winged, punk-headed Lapwings.
Where? All over the country particularly the southern part in winter. Scan lowland fields, or listen for the clear piping calls from swirling flocks looking to settle as they pass overhead.

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are birds which birdwatchers see all the time and non-birdwatchers look right through. Why? Two things: calls and knowledge of habitat. There are three species. Green Woodpeckers are the size of a large thrush, Green with a yellow lower back, and spend most of there time on the ground eating ants: loud laughing ‘yaffle’ call. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are the size of a large starling, black-and-white with bold white shoulder patches and red under the tail, birds of woods and gardens: explosive ‘kick’ call; Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are tiny (sparrow-sized) and barred, lacking red on the underside and also live in woods: ‘pee-pee-pee-pee-pee’ call.
Where? In or near woods, parks etc particularly in southern England.

Goosander

If you ever thought that all ducks are rather boring looking and similar to each other, take a look at one of these gorgeous fish-eating, large spectacular ‘sawbills’. Crested females are red-headed with a brown back and long thin, hooked bill, males are salmon pink with a shiny dark green head and red bill. Unlike the equally-gorgeous Red-breasted Merganser, Goosanders are freshwater not seawater birds.
Where? Look on rivers and lakes (even quite small ones), gravel pits, etc ,though beware they are ultra-shy and will fly at the slightest provocation. Breed in northern Britain but winter south of the Humber.

Ptarmigan

Here is a real challenge. Ptarmigan (the p is silent as in bath), is a grouse of the high peaks and the only British bird to turn wholly white for the winter (like a Stoat or Mountain Hare), to match the snowy ground. It is about the size of a Red Grouse or partridge and hangs about in the rocky, bare mountains of Scotland. So, if you are doing a daring winter walk, look out for this white-on-white beauty.
Where? Only in the high peaks of Scotland, such as the Cairngorm plateau.