Birds of Harrold
What has actually been seen around Harrold: 117 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 117 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 3,253 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 48 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.8 h / 7.7 h
What the records say about Harrold
117 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Harrold (Bedford) since 2010, across 3,253 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Robin and Blue Tit.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Harrold are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Robin is still the most logged garden bird.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red Kite and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in August and are lowest in December — about 3.7 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.
Lavendon, 5 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (111 against 117). Birds logged far more often around Harrold than there include Eurasian Coot.
Daylight runs from 16 h 47 min at midsummer to 7 h 43 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:07 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Harrold
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 643 |
| 2 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 105 |
| 3 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 95 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 94 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 90 |
| 6 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 89 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 81 |
| 8 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 75 |
| 9 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 74 |
| 10 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 70 |
| 11 | MagpiePica pica | 70 |
| 12 | Great TitParus major | 66 |
| 13 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 62 |
| 14 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 62 |
| 15 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 60 |
| 16 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 58 |
| 17 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 55 |
| 18 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 53 |
| 19 | Red KiteMilvus milvus | 53 |
| 20 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 51 |
Records by month
What to put out in Harrold
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Bedford
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 Harrold?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Harrold are Robin, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Blackbird, based on 3,253 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Harrold?
117 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Harrold?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.
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.