Birds of Wickford
What has actually been seen around Wickford: 177 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 177 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 19,831 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mallard
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 8 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Wickford
177 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Wickford (Essex) since 2010, across 19,831 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mallard, Black-headed Gull and Graylag Goose.
Water shapes this list. 56% of records near Wickford are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Mallard, Black-headed Gull and Graylag Goose lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 2.4 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.
Pitsea, 5 km to the south, has more species on record (203 against 177). Birds logged far more often around Wickford than there include Egyptian Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Common Goldeneye and Goldcrest.
Daylight runs from 16 h 40 min at midsummer to 7 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:03 in mid-April and 4:39 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Wickford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 711 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 658 |
| 3 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 643 |
| 4 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 632 |
| 5 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 619 |
| 6 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 601 |
| 7 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 595 |
| 8 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 539 |
| 9 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 538 |
| 10 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 538 |
| 11 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 524 |
| 12 | MagpiePica pica | 521 |
| 13 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 510 |
| 14 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 509 |
| 15 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 466 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 452 |
| 17 | Great TitParus major | 419 |
| 18 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 383 |
| 19 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 354 |
| 20 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 340 |
Records by month
What to put out in Wickford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Great Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts · Suet
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- 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 Wickford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Wickford are Carrion Crow, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit and Magpie, based on 19,831 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Wickford?
177 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Wickford?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. 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.