Birds of Saint Osyth
What has actually been seen around Saint Osyth: 200 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 200 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 51,552 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 17 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Saint Osyth
200 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Saint Osyth (Essex) since 2010, across 51,552 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Starling and European Herring Gull.
The records split between garden birds (53%) and waterbirds (38%), so a feeder in Saint Osyth sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Starling and House Sparrow, while European Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard. 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 April and are lowest in December — about 1.9 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.
Brightlingsea, 4 km to the west, has more species on record (223 against 200).
Daylight runs from 16 h 42 min at midsummer to 7 h 47 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:01 in mid-April and 4:36 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Saint Osyth
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,646 |
| 2 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,643 |
| 3 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,580 |
| 4 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,549 |
| 5 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 1,431 |
| 6 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,425 |
| 7 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,334 |
| 8 | MagpiePica pica | 1,328 |
| 9 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,308 |
| 10 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,270 |
| 11 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,229 |
| 12 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,193 |
| 13 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 1,147 |
| 14 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 1,130 |
| 15 | Great TitParus major | 1,094 |
| 16 | Eurasian Marsh-HarrierCircus aeruginosus | 1,049 |
| 17 | Stock DoveColumba oenas | 1,020 |
| 18 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 1,008 |
| 19 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 937 |
| 20 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 936 |
Records by month
What to put out in Saint Osyth
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · 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 Saint Osyth?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Saint Osyth are Woodpigeon, Starling, House Sparrow, Collared Dove and Carrion Crow, based on 51,552 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Saint Osyth?
200 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Saint Osyth?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in December. 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.