Aberdeenshire · 57.68°N

Birds of Portsoy

What has actually been seen around Portsoy: 136 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 136 within 5 km
Observation records: 2,554 since 2010
Most recorded bird: European Herring Gull
Busiest month: April
Elevation: 24 m
Daylight, June / December: 18.1 h / 6.5 h

What the records say about Portsoy

136 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Portsoy (Aberdeenshire) since 2010, across 2,554 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Northern Gannet and Common Eider.

Water shapes this list. 62% of records near Portsoy are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Northern Gannet and Common Eider lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Rock Pigeon is still the most logged garden bird.

6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.

Records peak in April and are lowest in December — about 76.2 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.

Whitehills, 7 km to the east, has fewer species on record (109 against 136). Birds logged far more often around Portsoy than there include Yellow-billed Loon and Common Loon.

Daylight runs from 18 h 5 min at midsummer to 6 h 33 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:03 in mid-April and 4:09 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Portsoy

#	Bird	Records
1	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	128
2	Northern GannetMorus bassanus	109
3	Common EiderSomateria mollissima	103
4	European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis	94
5	RazorbillAlca torda	83
6	Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla	81
7	Common MurreUria aalge	80
8	Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis	78
9	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	75
10	Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis	71
11	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	70
12	Yellow-billed LoonGavia adamsii	65
13	Rock PigeonColumba livia	62
14	Eurasian Rock PipitAnthus petrosus	61
15	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	56
16	Pied WagtailMotacilla alba	56
17	Carrion CrowCorvus corone	53
18	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	49
19	Red-throated DiverGavia stellata	48
20	Black GuillemotCepphus grylle	46

Records by month

What to put out in Portsoy

Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.

Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Woodpigeon
Seed mix

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 Portsoy?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Portsoy are Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow and Starling, based on 2,554 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Portsoy?

136 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Portsoy?

Observation records peak in April and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:09.

Sources

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.