Birds of Weymouth
What has actually been seen around Weymouth: 276 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 276 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 112,148 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- -2 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 8 h
What the records say about Weymouth
276 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Weymouth (Dorset) since 2010, across 112,148 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Great Cormorant.
Water shapes this list. 56% of records near Weymouth are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Great Cormorant lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Marsh-Harrier and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in April and are lowest in December — about 2.2 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.
Overcombe, 3 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (263 against 276).
Daylight runs from 16 h 29 min at midsummer to 7 h 59 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 in mid-April and 4:56 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Weymouth
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 3,795 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 3,418 |
| 3 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 2,862 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 2,842 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 2,764 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 2,615 |
| 7 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 2,322 |
| 8 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 2,306 |
| 9 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 2,291 |
| 10 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 2,242 |
| 11 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 2,224 |
| 12 | Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus | 2,174 |
| 13 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 2,151 |
| 14 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 2,144 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 2,121 |
| 16 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 2,042 |
| 17 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,964 |
| 18 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,933 |
| 19 | Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti | 1,877 |
| 20 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 1,874 |
Records by month
What to put out in Weymouth
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Dunnock
Sunflower hearts · Suet pellets · Crushed peanuts
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 Weymouth?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Weymouth are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie and Blackbird, based on 112,148 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Weymouth?
276 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Weymouth?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:56.
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.