Birds of Risca
What has actually been seen around Risca: 151 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 151 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 13,626 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Blue Tit
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 49 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Risca
151 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Risca (Caerphilly County Borough) since 2010, across 13,626 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Blue Tit, Blackbird and Common Kestrel.
Risca is a garden-bird place: 71% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin and Woodpigeon make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Tawny Owl. 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 September — about 4.1 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.
Machen, 3 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (101 against 151). Birds logged far more often around Risca than there include Common Kestrel, Tufted Duck, Northern Goshawk and Barn Owl.
Daylight runs from 16 h 40 min at midsummer to 7 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:18 in mid-April and 4:53 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Risca
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 713 |
| 2 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 631 |
| 3 | Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus | 589 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 562 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 556 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 470 |
| 7 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 392 |
| 8 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 387 |
| 9 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 360 |
| 10 | MagpiePica pica | 357 |
| 11 | Great TitParus major | 356 |
| 12 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 354 |
| 13 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 330 |
| 14 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 330 |
| 15 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 307 |
| 16 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 305 |
| 17 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 270 |
| 18 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 267 |
| 19 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 220 |
| 20 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 203 |
Records by month
What to put out in Risca
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Great Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Caerphilly County Borough
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 Risca?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Risca are Blue Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow, based on 13,626 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Risca?
151 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Risca?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:53.
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.