Birds of Alderholt
What has actually been seen around Alderholt: 180 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 180 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 27,332 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 51 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Alderholt
180 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Alderholt (Dorset) since 2010, across 27,332 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Robin.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Alderholt are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in April and are lowest in June — about 2.0 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.
Fordingbridge, 3 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (153 against 180). Birds logged far more often around Alderholt than there include Great Crested Grebe, Northern Shoveler, Red Crossbill and Common Goldeneye.
Daylight runs from 16 h 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 56 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:14 in mid-April and 4:52 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Alderholt
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 6,590 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 731 |
| 3 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 655 |
| 4 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 604 |
| 5 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 578 |
| 6 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 493 |
| 7 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 486 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 443 |
| 9 | Great TitParus major | 423 |
| 10 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 395 |
| 11 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 390 |
| 12 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 387 |
| 13 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 383 |
| 14 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 367 |
| 15 | Coal TitPeriparus ater | 362 |
| 16 | MagpiePica pica | 362 |
| 17 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 356 |
| 18 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 351 |
| 19 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 336 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 333 |
Records by month
What to put out in Alderholt
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Dorset
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 Alderholt?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Alderholt are Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Wren, based on 27,332 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Alderholt?
180 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Alderholt?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 4:52.
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.