Birds of Pitsea
What has actually been seen around Pitsea: 203 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 203 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 43,978 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 22 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Pitsea
203 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Pitsea (Essex) since 2010, across 43,978 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 50% of records near Pitsea are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gull 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 and Eurasian Marsh-Harrier.
Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 5.7 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.
Basildon, 4 km to the west, has fewer species on record (191 against 203).
Daylight runs from 16 h 39 min at midsummer to 7 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:04 in mid-April and 4:39 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Pitsea
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 2,052 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,055 |
| 3 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,043 |
| 4 | MagpiePica pica | 1,007 |
| 5 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 971 |
| 6 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 950 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 905 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 854 |
| 9 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 844 |
| 10 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 832 |
| 11 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 811 |
| 12 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 810 |
| 13 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 797 |
| 14 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 790 |
| 15 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 739 |
| 16 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 721 |
| 17 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 705 |
| 18 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 694 |
| 19 | Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti | 665 |
| 20 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 661 |
Records by month
What to put out in Pitsea
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
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 Pitsea?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Pitsea are Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit and Robin, based on 43,978 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Pitsea?
203 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Pitsea?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:39.
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.