Birds of Musselburgh
What has actually been seen around Musselburgh: 240 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 240 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 144,004 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Carrion Crow
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 9 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Musselburgh
240 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Musselburgh (East Lothian) since 2010, across 144,004 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull and Eurasian Oystercatcher.
Water shapes this list. 58% of records near Musselburgh are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in August and are lowest in December — about 2.6 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.
Danderhall, 5 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (217 against 240). Birds logged far more often around Musselburgh than there include Eurasian Curlew, Common Eider, Common Redshank and Bar-tailed Godwit.
Daylight runs from 17 h 37 min at midsummer to 6 h 58 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:08 in mid-April and 4:25 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Musselburgh
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 4,356 |
| 2 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 4,188 |
| 3 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 4,073 |
| 4 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 3,853 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 3,633 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 3,372 |
| 7 | MagpiePica pica | 3,217 |
| 8 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 3,082 |
| 9 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 3,032 |
| 10 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 3,031 |
| 11 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 3,023 |
| 12 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 2,763 |
| 13 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 2,661 |
| 14 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 2,630 |
| 15 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 2,498 |
| 16 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 2,482 |
| 17 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 2,465 |
| 18 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 2,340 |
| 19 | Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica | 2,106 |
| 20 | Common GullLarus canus | 2,009 |
Records by month
What to put out in Musselburgh
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for East Lothian
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 Musselburgh?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Musselburgh are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jackdaw and Starling, based on 144,004 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Musselburgh?
240 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Musselburgh?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:25.
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.