Birds of Maldon
What has actually been seen around Maldon: 183 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 183 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 41,728 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 34 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Maldon
183 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Maldon (Essex) since 2010, across 41,728 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Black-headed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 43% of records near Maldon are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard 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 January and are lowest in September — 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.
Wickham Bishops, 5 km to the north, has fewer species on record (150 against 183). Birds logged far more often around Maldon than there include Black-tailed Godwit, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew and Brant.
Daylight runs from 16 h 41 min at midsummer to 7 h 47 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:03 in mid-April and 4:38 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Maldon
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,490 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,413 |
| 3 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,327 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,220 |
| 5 | MagpiePica pica | 1,207 |
| 6 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,194 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,185 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,149 |
| 9 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,097 |
| 10 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,021 |
| 11 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 989 |
| 12 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 961 |
| 13 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 961 |
| 14 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 953 |
| 15 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 870 |
| 16 | Great TitParus major | 818 |
| 17 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 804 |
| 18 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 751 |
| 19 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 742 |
| 20 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 736 |
Records by month
What to put out in Maldon
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
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 Maldon?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Maldon are Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie, House Sparrow and Blue Tit, based on 41,728 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Maldon?
183 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Maldon?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:38.
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.