Birds of Kirk Ireton
What has actually been seen around Kirk Ireton: 189 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 189 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 50,461 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 217 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.9 h / 7.6 h
What the records say about Kirk Ireton
189 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Kirk Ireton (Derbyshire) since 2010, across 50,461 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Coot and Canada Goose.
Water shapes this list. 48% of records near Kirk Ireton are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Coot and Canada Goose lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Robin is still the most logged garden bird.
12 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in January and are lowest in June — about 3.1 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.
Wirksworth, 4 km to the north-east, has more species on record (196 against 189).
At about 217 m above sea level, Kirk Ireton sits higher than most places in Derbyshire. Spring arrives a little later with height, and feeders matter more in cold snaps — keep a supply of high-fat food going through late winter.
Daylight runs from 16 h 57 min at midsummer to 7 h 33 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:09 in mid-April and 4:39 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Kirk Ireton
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 2,671 |
| 2 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 1,397 |
| 3 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,371 |
| 4 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,365 |
| 5 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 1,349 |
| 6 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 1,327 |
| 7 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,305 |
| 8 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,207 |
| 9 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,200 |
| 10 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 1,165 |
| 11 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,165 |
| 12 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,157 |
| 13 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,136 |
| 14 | MagpiePica pica | 1,128 |
| 15 | Great TitParus major | 1,048 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 991 |
| 17 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 945 |
| 18 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 893 |
| 19 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 885 |
| 20 | GadwallMareca strepera | 866 |
Records by month
What to put out in Kirk Ireton
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Great Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts · Suet
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Derbyshire
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 Kirk Ireton?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Kirk Ireton are Robin, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Woodpigeon, based on 50,461 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Kirk Ireton?
189 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Kirk Ireton?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 4:39.
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.