If your think England’s 15th largest city is unlikely to be a good place to go birding, think again! Within the city boundaries you can find an excellent variety of habitat including woodland, estuary, parkland, seafront, lakes and marshlands, offering plenty of choice for birders.
Unfortunately despite the wealth of other birdlife in Plymouth, some - once regular - species are in serious decline, reflecting national trends, eg Purple Sandpiper and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker are all but gone. But for the optimist, keep an eye on the rocky shore at West Hoe for the Sandpipers and Saltram, nearby Hardwick Wood or Plym Bridge Wood for the Woodpeckers.
Finally, don’t be put off looking for birds in Plymouth outside the recognised sites. The potential for “anything turning up anywhere” is illustrated by Hume’s Warbler in the city centre, a Long-eared Owl in a flower pot in Peverell and – rarest of all – a Desert Warbler in a Mount Gould garden!
https://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/places_to_go/plymouth
Devon Birds sightings
