Argyll and Bute · 55.63°N

Birds of Port Ellen

What has actually been seen around Port Ellen: 132 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 132 within 5 km
Observation records: 3,607 since 2010
Most recorded bird: European Herring Gull
Busiest month: May
Elevation: 31 m
Daylight, June / December: 17.5 h / 7 h

What the records say about Port Ellen

132 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Port Ellen (Argyll and Bute) since 2010, across 3,607 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Hooded Crow.

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

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

Records peak in May and are lowest in January — about 23.3 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.

Bowmore, 15 km to the north-west, has more species on record (157 against 132). Birds logged far more often around Port Ellen than there include Barn Swallow, Corn Crake, Northern Gannet and Willow Warbler.

Daylight runs from 17 h 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 2 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:22 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Port Ellen

#	Bird	Records
1	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	152
2	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	130
3	Hooded CrowCorvus cornix	119
4	European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis	98
5	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	95
6	Pied WagtailMotacilla alba	90
7	RookCorvus frugilegus	89
8	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	88
9	Barn SwallowHirundo rustica	88
10	House SparrowPasser domesticus	87
11	Common LoonGavia immer	85
12	Common GullLarus canus	84
13	BlackbirdTurdus merula	79
14	RobinErithacus rubecula	79
15	Graylag GooseAnser anser	77
16	Corn CrakeCrex crex	73
17	Mute SwanCygnus olor	70
18	Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto	65
19	Gray HeronArdea cinerea	65
20	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	64

Records by month

What to put out in Port Ellen

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

Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
Collared Dove
Seed mix

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 Port Ellen?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Port Ellen are Hooded Crow, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Rook and Barn Swallow, based on 3,607 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Port Ellen?

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

When is the best month for birds in Port Ellen?

Observation records peak in May and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.

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.