Birds of Balmedie
What has actually been seen around Balmedie: 153 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 153 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 3,128 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 34 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18 h / 6.7 h
What the records say about Balmedie
153 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Balmedie (Aberdeenshire) since 2010, across 3,128 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Common Eider and Surf Scoter.
Water shapes this list. 48% of records near Balmedie are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Common Eider and Surf Scoter lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Blackbird is still the most logged garden bird.
5 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in June and are lowest in December — about 15.5 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and winter visitors), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.
Dubford, 6 km to the south-west, has more species on record (196 against 153). Birds logged far more often around Balmedie than there include Surf Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Velvet Scoter and Arctic Skua.
Daylight runs from 17 h 58 min at midsummer to 6 h 39 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:01 in mid-April and 4:10 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Balmedie
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 96 |
| 2 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 96 |
| 3 | Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata | 75 |
| 4 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 75 |
| 5 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 73 |
| 6 | Red-throated DiverGavia stellata | 72 |
| 7 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 67 |
| 8 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 66 |
| 9 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 66 |
| 10 | Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis | 65 |
| 11 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 64 |
| 12 | SanderlingCalidris alba | 57 |
| 13 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 57 |
| 14 | Velvet ScoterMelanitta fusca | 57 |
| 15 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 56 |
| 16 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 55 |
| 17 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 55 |
| 18 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 54 |
| 19 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 53 |
| 20 | Common GullLarus canus | 52 |
Records by month
What to put out in Balmedie
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Aberdeenshire
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for UK gardens. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit gardens in Balmedie?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Balmedie are Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Woodpigeon and Meadow Pipit, based on 3,128 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Balmedie?
153 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Balmedie?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:10.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.