• 180 different species of bird have been recorded on the Elan Estate since records began in the 1880's.
  
  
• 106 species have bred here at some time and 80 do so most years.
  
  
• 26 species nest on the ground, the rest on trees, crags and buildings
  
  
• Of the 36 rarest ("Red Listed") bird species in Britain named by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology, 8 breed annually on the Elan Estate.
  
  
• The rarest breeding birds include the Merlin, Hawfinch and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

• Of the 110 species "Amber Listed" (declining, some now uncommon) by the RSPB and BTO, 21 breed regularly here and a further 47 have been seen on the Estate.
  
  
• 11 species of bird of prey have been recorded and 19 species of duck.
  
  
• Rare birds seen include Roller and White Stork.
  
  
• In 1975 there were about 40 pairs each of Curlew and Lapwing now there are 1 or 2 Curlew and no Lapwings.
  
  
• Other losses of breeding birds in the last ten years include Stock Dove and Woodcock.
  
  
• Over the last twenty or so years we have gained Goosanders and Goshawks whilst Peregrine, Red Kite, Siskin and Crossbill have all greatly increased.

• The most common breeding bird on the Estate is the Meadow Pipit, a small brown bird which nests all over the abundant grass moorland.
  
  
• Common birds of the broadleaved woodlands include Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler
  
  
• The rocky hillsides have many Wheatears which are often seen by the roadside.
  Whinchats, Tree Pipits and a few Stonechats breed on the hillsides.
  
  
• On the highest moors can still be found about 40 pairs each of Golden Plover and Dunlin.

  Winter visitors to the Estate from the north and east include Goldeneye, Pochard, Brambling and Fieldfare.

• About 20 pairs each of Spotted Flycatcher and Swallow breed on the Estate. They migrate each year to South Africa - a round trip of 20,000 kilometres!

• On 9 June 1995 the Countryside Ranger team saw 67 species of bird on the Estate in a day on a sponsored birdwatch for WaterAid.

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