Birds of Isle of Bute
What has actually been seen around Isle of Bute: 130 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 130 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 1,326 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 8 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Isle of Bute
130 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Isle of Bute (Argyll and Bute) since 2010, across 1,326 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Gray Heron.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Isle of Bute are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Gray Heron lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Jackdaw is still the most logged garden bird.
6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Osprey.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 36.9 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.
Innellan, 9 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (107 against 130).
Daylight runs from 17 h 35 min at midsummer to 6 h 59 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 in mid-April and 4:34 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Isle of Bute
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 67 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 51 |
| 3 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 39 |
| 4 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 34 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 33 |
| 6 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 30 |
| 7 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 29 |
| 8 | Black GuillemotCepphus grylle | 28 |
| 9 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 28 |
| 10 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 27 |
| 11 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 26 |
| 12 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 26 |
| 13 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 25 |
| 14 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 24 |
| 15 | Eurasian Rock PipitAnthus petrosus | 23 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 23 |
| 17 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 21 |
| 18 | Common GullLarus canus | 20 |
| 19 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 19 |
| 20 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 19 |
Records by month
What to put out in Isle of Bute
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Argyll and Bute
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 Isle of Bute?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Isle of Bute are Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Robin and Pied Wagtail, based on 1,326 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Isle of Bute?
130 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Isle of Bute?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:34.
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.