The following list is of birds (updated 19th September 2017) that are protected by law usually by disturbance during the breeding seasons at or near a nest site. Some birds are taken off the list at times but many more are now being added due to the loss of habitat and natural disasters. If in doubt, get in touch with your local nature group for advice.
Nature Conservancy do issue licences to photographers permitting them to photograph these species but they are very hard to get. It is usual to have to share with a registered bird photographer.
Dave Riddle November 2017
SCHEDULE 1 Sections 1, 2, 4, 6, 19 and 22
Birds which are Protected by Special Penalties
Part I
At All Times
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
| Bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
| Bittern | Botaurus stellaris |
| Bittern, Little | Ixobrychus minutus |
| Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica |
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla |
| Bunting, Cirl | Emberiza cirlus |
| Bunting, Lapland | Calcarius lapponicus |
| Bunting, Snow | Plectrophenax nivalis |
| Buzzard, Honey | Pernis apivorus |
| [F1Capercaillie] | [F1 Tetracurogallus] |
| Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax |
| Corncrake | Crex crex |
| Crake, Spotted | Porzana porzana |
| Crossbills (all species) | Loxia |
| Curlew, Stone | Burhinus oedicnemus |
| Divers (all species) | Gavia |
| Dotterel | Charadrius morinellus |
| Duck, Long-tailed | Clangula hyemalis |
| Eagle, Golden | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Eagle, White-tailed | Haliaetus albicilla |
| Falcon, Gyr | Falco rusticolus |
| Fieldfare | Turdus pilaris |
| Firecrest | Regulus ignicapillus |
| Garganey | Anas querquedula |
| Godwit, Black-tailed | Limosa limosa |
| Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis |
| Grebe, Black-necked | Podiceps nigricollis |
| Grebe, Slavonian | Podiceps auritus |
| Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Gull, Little | Larus minutus |
| Gull, Mediterranean | Larus melanocephalus |
| Harriers (all species) | Circus |
| Heron, Purple | Ardea purpurea |
| Hobby | Falco subbuteo |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops |
| Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis |
| Kite, Red | Milvus milvus |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius |
| Oriole, Golden | Oriolus oriolus |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Owl, Barn | Tyto alba |
| Owl, Snowy | Nyctea scandiaca |
| Peregrine | Falco peregrinus |
| Petrel, Leach’s | Oceanodroma leucorhoa |
| Phalarope, Red-necked | Phalaropus lobatus |
| Plover, Kentish | Charadrius alexandrinus |
| Plover, Little Ringed | Charadrius dubius |
| Quail, Common | Coturnix coturnix |
| Redstart, Black | Phoenicurus ochruros |
| Redwing | Turdus iliacus |
| Rosefinch, Scarlet | Carpodacus erythrinus |
| Ruff | Philomachus pugnax |
| Sandpiper, Green | Tringa ochropus |
| Sandpiper, Purple | Calidris maritima |
| Sandpiper, Wood | Tringa glareola |
| Scaup | Aythya marila |
| Scoter, Common | Melanitta nigra |
| Scoter, Velvet | Melanitta fusca |
| Serin | Serinus serinus |
| Shorelark | Eremophila alpestris |
| Shrike, Red-backed | Lanius collurio |
| Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia |
| Stilt, Black-winged | Himantopus himantopus |
| Stint, Temminck’s | Calidris temminckii |
| Swan, Bewick’s | Cygnus bewickii |
| Swan, Whooper | Cygnus cygnus |
| Tern, Black | Chlidonias niger |
| Tern, Little | Sterna albifrons |
| Tern, Roseate | Sterna dougallii |
| Tit, Bearded | Panurus biarmicus |
| Tit, Crested | Parus cristatus |
| Treecreeper, Short-toed | Certhia brachydactyla |
| Warbler, Cetti’s | Cettia cetti |
| Warbler, Dartford | Sylvia undata |
| Warbler, Marsh | Acrocephalus palustris |
| Warbler, Savi’s | Locustella luscinioides |
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Woodlark | Lullula arborea |
| Wryneck | Jynx torquilla |
Part II
During the Close Season
| Common name | Scientific name |
|---|---|
| Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula |
| Goose, Greylag (in Outer Hebrides, Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross only) | Anser anser |
| Pintail | Anas acuta |
Note. The common name or names given in the first column of this Schedule are included by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the comon name or names shall not be taken into account.