Birds of Tarbert
What has actually been seen around Tarbert: 112 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 112 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 1,850 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 11 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Tarbert
112 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Tarbert (Argyll and Bute) since 2010, across 1,850 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Black Guillemot.
Water shapes this list. 51% of records near Tarbert are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Black Guillemot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Hooded Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in August and are lowest in December — 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.
Tighnabruaich, 12 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (82 against 112). Birds logged far more often around Tarbert than there include Black Guillemot, Mute Swan, Rock Pigeon and Little Grebe.
Daylight runs from 17 h 35 min at midsummer to 6 h 59 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:18 in mid-April and 4:35 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Tarbert
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 113 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 98 |
| 3 | Black GuillemotCepphus grylle | 77 |
| 4 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 69 |
| 5 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 64 |
| 6 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 57 |
| 7 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 53 |
| 8 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 50 |
| 9 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 47 |
| 10 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 44 |
| 11 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 44 |
| 12 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 44 |
| 13 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 43 |
| 14 | Common GullLarus canus | 40 |
| 15 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 38 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 35 |
| 17 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 35 |
| 18 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 32 |
| 19 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 31 |
| 20 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 30 |
Records by month
What to put out in Tarbert
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
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 Tarbert?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Tarbert are Hooded Crow, Chaffinch, Robin, House Sparrow and Blackbird, based on 1,850 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Tarbert?
112 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Tarbert?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:35.
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.