Angus · 56.50°N

Birds of Carnoustie

What has actually been seen around Carnoustie: 144 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 144 within 5 km
Observation records: 2,977 since 2010
Most recorded bird: European Herring Gull
Busiest month: August
Elevation: 15 m
Daylight, June / December: 17.8 h / 6.8 h

What the records say about Carnoustie

144 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Carnoustie (Angus) since 2010, across 2,977 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Eurasian Oystercatcher.

Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Carnoustie are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.

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

Records peak in August and are lowest in December — about 10.2 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.

Monifieth, 7 km to the west, has more species on record (158 against 144). Birds logged far more often around Carnoustie than there include Northern Gannet and Black-legged Kittiwake.

Daylight runs from 17 h 45 min at midsummer to 6 h 50 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:06 in mid-April and 4:19 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Carnoustie

#	Bird	Records
1	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	108
2	Carrion CrowCorvus corone	105
3	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	98
4	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	94
5	Pied WagtailMotacilla alba	87
6	WoodpigeonColumba palumbus	84
7	Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus	84
8	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	77
9	Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata	76
10	Common RedshankTringa totanus	71
11	House SparrowPasser domesticus	70
12	Gray HeronArdea cinerea	68
13	Common EiderSomateria mollissima	64
14	BlackbirdTurdus merula	60
15	Common GullLarus canus	57
16	Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres	54
17	GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis	52
18	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	48
19	JackdawColoeus monedula	48
20	Barn SwallowHirundo rustica	48

Records by month

What to put out in Carnoustie

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

Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Woodpigeon
Seed mix
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts

Seasonal bird notes for Angus

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 Carnoustie?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Carnoustie are Carrion Crow, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon and House Sparrow, based on 2,977 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Carnoustie?

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

When is the best month for birds in Carnoustie?

Observation records peak in August and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:19.

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.