Dumfries and Galloway · 54.90°N

Birds of Stranraer

What has actually been seen around Stranraer: 138 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 138 within 5 km
Observation records: 4,050 since 2010
Most recorded bird: Black-headed Gull
Busiest month: January
Elevation: 12 m
Daylight, June / December: 17.4 h / 7.2 h

What the records say about Stranraer

138 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Stranraer (Dumfries and Galloway) since 2010, across 4,050 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and European Herring Gull.

Water shapes this list. 73% of records near Stranraer are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and European Herring Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.

6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.

Records peak in January and are lowest in July — about 5.8 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.

Cairnryan, 8 km to the north, has more species on record (148 against 138). Birds logged far more often around Stranraer than there include Rock Pigeon, Mediterranean Gull and Tufted Duck.

Daylight runs from 17 h 21 min at midsummer to 7 h 11 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:19 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Stranraer

#	Bird	Records
1	Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus	209
2	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	205
3	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	195
4	Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata	127
5	Common EiderSomateria mollissima	126
6	Carrion CrowCorvus corone	125
7	Common GullLarus canus	115
8	Greater ScaupAythya marila	106
9	Mute SwanCygnus olor	106
10	MallardAnas platyrhynchos	104
11	Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator	103
12	Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope	101
13	JackdawColoeus monedula	98
14	Common RedshankTringa totanus	85
15	RookCorvus frugilegus	78
16	Pied WagtailMotacilla alba	78
17	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	75
18	Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus	72
19	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	69
20	Black GuillemotCepphus grylle	65

Records by month

What to put out in Stranraer

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

Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Starling
Suet · Mealworms
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Woodpigeon
Seed mix
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms

Seasonal bird notes for Dumfries and Galloway

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 Stranraer?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Stranraer are Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Pied Wagtail and Starling, based on 4,050 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Stranraer?

138 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Stranraer?

Observation records peak in January and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.

Sources

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.