Birds of Layer de la Haye
What has actually been seen around Layer de la Haye: 241 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 241 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 150,788 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mute Swan
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 40 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Layer de la Haye
241 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Layer de la Haye (Essex) since 2010, across 150,788 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mute Swan, Mallard and Great Cormorant.
Water shapes this list. 57% of records near Layer de la Haye are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Mute Swan, Mallard 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.
18 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Eurasian Marsh-Harrier.
Records peak in January and are lowest in June — about 3.4 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.
Abberton, 4 km to the east, has more species on record (252 against 241).
Daylight runs from 16 h 42 min at midsummer to 7 h 46 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:02 in mid-April and 4:36 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Layer de la Haye
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 3,811 |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 3,663 |
| 3 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 3,622 |
| 4 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 3,599 |
| 5 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 3,522 |
| 6 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 3,334 |
| 7 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 3,232 |
| 8 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 3,195 |
| 9 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 3,127 |
| 10 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 3,096 |
| 11 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 2,997 |
| 12 | Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca | 2,839 |
| 13 | Common PochardAythya ferina | 2,660 |
| 14 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 2,652 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 2,545 |
| 16 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 2,526 |
| 17 | GadwallMareca strepera | 2,428 |
| 18 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 2,412 |
| 19 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 2,411 |
| 20 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 2,387 |
Records by month
What to put out in Layer de la Haye
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Essex
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 Layer de la Haye?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Layer de la Haye are Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Blue Tit, based on 150,788 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Layer de la Haye?
241 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Layer de la Haye?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 4:36.
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.