Birds of Milborne St Andrew

131 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Milborne St Andrew (Dorset) since 2010, across 9,154 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Robin, Common Buzzard and Mute Swan.

Milborne St Andrew is a garden-bird place: 63% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Wren make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

11 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. 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 February and are lowest in July — 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.

Bere Regis, 5 km to the south-east, has a similar number of species on record (130 against 131). Birds logged far more often around Milborne St Andrew than there include Mute Swan, Gray Heron, Common Moorhen and Cetti's Warbler.

Daylight runs from 16 h 31 min at midsummer to 7 h 57 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 in mid-April and 4:55 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.

• Robin

  Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts

• Woodpigeon

  Seed mix

• Blackbird

  Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms

• Wren

  Mealworms · Suet pellets

• House Sparrow

  Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet

• Pied Wagtail

  Mealworms

• Bere Regis5 km south-east · 130 species
• Puddletown6 km south-west · 150 species
• Winterborne Stickland8 km north-east · 100 species
• Charlton Marshall12 km north-east · 149 species
• Wool12 km south · 135 species
• Blandford Forum12 km north-east · 139 species