 Skylark. Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on May 25th 2025. Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on May 25th 2025. (© David Hastings) (1/800th sec at f/11. Click image for larger version)  Skylark. Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on May 12th 2024. Taken at Hackpen Hill, Oxon., on May 12th 2024. (© David Hastings) (1/1000th sec at f13. Click image for larger version) Description L 18 - 19cm; WS 30 - 36cm The Skylark is a small streaky-brown bird. It has a small crest, which can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed, and a white-sided tail. The wings also have a white rear edge which is visible in flight. It can be found throughout the British Isles, but is only a summer visitor in the Scottish highlands. It breeds in open, cultivated land, also on meadows and heaths. Skylarks are known for their display flight, climbing up to 100m while singing. At the end of the song-flight, they descend while still singing, but near the end they fall silently to ground with folded wings. It is a Red-list species owing to population decline. There are around 1.5 million territories in the UK. Sightings | 13-Oct-2025 | : | Warham Greens, Norfolk | (2) | | 26-Jul-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Jul-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Jun-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 11-Jun-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 25-May-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 11-May-2025 | : | The Coombes, Wilts | (1) | | 03-May-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 29-Apr-2025 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Apr-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 13-Apr-2025 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (6+) |
| | 20-Jun-2024 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 14-Jun-2024 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 05-Jun-2024 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (4) | | 19-May-2024 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 12-May-2024 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 12-May-2024 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 14-Apr-2024 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (20+) | | 28-Jan-2024 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | |
| | 03-Sep-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 13-Jul-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Jun-2023 | : | Steart Marshes, Somerset | (2) | | 11-Jun-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (5) | | 07-Jun-2023 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (9) | | 04-Jun-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (5) | | 21-May-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 13-May-2023 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 29-Apr-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 18-Apr-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | | | 08-Apr-2023 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Apr-2023 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (6+) | | 15-Mar-2023 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) |
| | 10-Jul-2022 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Jun-2022 | : | Irton Fell, Cumbria | (4+) | | 12-Jun-2022 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (10) | | 28-May-2022 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 02-May-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (2) | | 29-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Apr-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (5) | | 16-Apr-2022 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4+) | | 15-Apr-2022 | : | Aston, Oxon | (1) | | 28-Mar-2022 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 21-Mar-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (2) | | 09-Feb-2022 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 08-Feb-2022 | : | Bury Down, Berks | (6) |
| | 02-Sep-2021 | : | Compton Down, Berks | (2) | | 05-Jun-2021 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 29-Apr-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 20-Apr-2021 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (3) | | 31-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Mar-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 21-Mar-2021 | : | Appleford GPs, Oxon | (2) | | 17-Mar-2021 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 28-Feb-2021 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) |
| | 22-Jul-2020 | : | East Hendred Down, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Jul-2020 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Jul-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jun-2020 | : | Culham, Oxon | (1) | | 18-May-2020 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 06-May-2020 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Apr-2020 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (h) | | 18-Feb-2020 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 06-Feb-2020 | : | Cley Marshes, Norfolk | (1) | | 03-Feb-2020 | : | Sedgeford, Norfolk | (1) | | 02-Feb-2020 | : | Holkham NNR, Norfolk | (2) |
| | 16-Jun-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Jun-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) | | 20-May-2019 | : | Marrival, North Uist | (1) | | 20-May-2019 | : | Liniclate, Benbecula | (1) | | 20-May-2019 | : | Grenitote, North Uist | (1) | | 19-May-2019 | : | Balnarad, North Uist | | | 14-May-2019 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (12+) | | 22-Apr-2019 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (4) | | 19-Apr-2019 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Apr-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 03-Apr-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (h) | | 25-Mar-2019 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Mar-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 27-Feb-2019 | : | East Hendred Down, Oxon | (3) | | 23-Feb-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Feb-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) |
| | 13-Nov-2018 | : | Extremadura, Spain | | | 20-Oct-2018 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 19-Jul-2018 | : | Vercors Natural Park, France | (h) | | 24-Jun-2018 | : | Irton Fell, Cumbria | (1) | | 18-Jun-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Jun-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 20-May-2018 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (3) | | 09-May-2018 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (1) | | 07-May-2018 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (h) | | 01-May-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) | | 21-Apr-2018 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Apr-2018 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (h) | | 19-Apr-2018 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (h) | | 16-Apr-2018 | : | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Mar-2018 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (h) | | 26-Mar-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 25-Mar-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Feb-2018 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 20-Feb-2018 | : | East Hendred Down, Oxon | (6) | | 11-Feb-2018 | : | Bury Down, Berks | (6) | | 30-Jan-2018 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) |
| | 18-Jul-2017 | : | Greenham Common, Berks | (1) | | 09-Jul-2017 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (h) | | 06-Jun-2017 | : | Irinovac, Croatia | | | 30-May-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2+) | | 28-May-2017 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (8+) | | 14-May-2017 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (4+) | | 29-Apr-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 15-Apr-2017 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 13-Apr-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (4+) | | 01-Apr-2017 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Mar-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 25-Mar-2017 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Mar-2017 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 11-Mar-2017 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Feb-2017 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) |
| | 30-Jun-2016 | : | Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon | (2) | | 29-May-2016 | : | Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts | (1) | | 08-May-2016 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (2) | | 02-May-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 30-Apr-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 17-Apr-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2+) | | 09-Apr-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Apr-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Apr-2016 | : | Churn, Oxon | (2) | | 01-Apr-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 25-Mar-2016 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (4+) | | 05-Mar-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Feb-2016 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 24-Oct-2015 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 16-Aug-2015 | : | Hackpen Hill, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jul-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Jun-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Jun-2015 | : | Dunkery Hill, Somerset | (1) | | 07-Jun-2015 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (2) | | 01-Jun-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) | | 25-May-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 23-May-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 10-May-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 27-Apr-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Apr-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2+) | | 22-Mar-2015 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Mar-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Mar-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Feb-2015 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 19-Oct-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1+) | | 25-May-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (h) | | 06-May-2014 | : | Skomer, Pembrokeshire | (1) | | 26-Apr-2014 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (1) | | 17-Apr-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 13-Apr-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 13-Apr-2014 | : | Churn, Oxon | (5) | | 12-Apr-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 06-Apr-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 30-Mar-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 22-Mar-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 15-Mar-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Mar-2014 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 01-Mar-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 22-Feb-2014 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 03-Nov-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Oct-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 12-Oct-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 24-Jun-2013 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 24-Jun-2013 | : | Salthouse, Norfolk | (2) | | 22-Jun-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 16-Jun-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 25-May-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (5) | | 18-May-2013 | : | Rodborough Common, Glos | (1) | | 29-Apr-2013 | : | Massif des Baronnies, France | (1) | | 22-Apr-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Apr-2013 | : | Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon | (1) | | 14-Apr-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 13-Apr-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 07-Apr-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 01-Apr-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Mar-2013 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (3) | | 30-Mar-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 09-Mar-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Mar-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 03-Feb-2013 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 27-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 25-Jun-2012 | : | Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk | (1) | | 12-May-2012 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 06-Apr-2012 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (6) | | 25-Mar-2012 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 11-Mar-2012 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (10+) | | 26-Feb-2012 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 29-Oct-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (2) | | 09-Apr-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 27-Mar-2011 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (3) | | 20-Mar-2011 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 19-Mar-2011 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (1) | | 12-Mar-2011 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Mar-2011 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) |
| | 23-Apr-2010 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Apr-2010 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 21-Mar-2010 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 13-Mar-2010 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 05-Mar-2010 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 26-Oct-2009 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) | | 18-Apr-2009 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | | | 12-Apr-2009 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 21-Feb-2009 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | |
| | 02-Jun-2008 | : | Seahouses, Northumberland | | | 01-Jun-2008 | : | Scorborough, E. Yorks | | | 24-Feb-2008 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 23-Feb-2008 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (1) |
| | 23-Jun-2007 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | | | 01-May-2007 | : | Cagliari, Sardinia | | | 09-Apr-2007 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 24-Feb-2007 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | |
| | 15-Oct-2006 | : | Bury Down, Berks | | | 11-Jun-2006 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 17-Apr-2006 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 19-Mar-2006 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | |
| | 15-Oct-2005 | : | Bury Down, Berks | | | 25-Mar-2005 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | | | 12-Mar-2005 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | | | 06-Mar-2005 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | |
| |
