Ards and North Down · 54.64°N

Birds of Donaghadee

What has actually been seen around Donaghadee: 122 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 122 within 5 km
Observation records: 1,909 since 2010
Most recorded bird: European Herring Gull
Busiest month: May
Elevation: 9 m
Daylight, June / December: 17.3 h / 7.2 h

What the records say about Donaghadee

122 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Donaghadee (Ards and North Down) since 2010, across 1,909 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Brant.

Water shapes this list. 51% of records near Donaghadee are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Brant lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Starling is still the most logged garden bird.

6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders 2–3 metres from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.

Records peak in May and are lowest in October — about 6.0 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.

Millisle, 4 km to the south, has fewer species on record (105 against 122).

Daylight runs from 17 h 18 min at midsummer to 7 h 15 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:21 in mid-April and 4:44 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Donaghadee

#	Bird	Records
1	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	75
2	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	67
3	BrantBranta bernicla	60
4	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	55
5	Common EiderSomateria mollissima	54
6	Gray HeronArdea cinerea	54
7	Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus	53
8	Common BuzzardButeo buteo	49
9	Common RedshankTringa totanus	48
10	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	47
11	RookCorvus frugilegus	44
12	Pied WagtailMotacilla alba	44
13	Black GuillemotCepphus grylle	41
14	JackdawColoeus monedula	38
15	Hooded CrowCorvus cornix	37
16	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	36
17	Common GullLarus canus	36
18	RobinErithacus rubecula	35
19	Eurasian Rock PipitAnthus petrosus	34
20	WoodpigeonColumba palumbus	33

Records by month

What to put out in Donaghadee

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

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

Seasonal bird notes for Ards and North Down

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 Donaghadee?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Donaghadee are Starling, Rook, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw and Hooded Crow, based on 1,909 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Donaghadee?

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

When is the best month for birds in Donaghadee?

Observation records peak in May and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:44.

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.