Birds of Wivenhoe
What has actually been seen around Wivenhoe: 214 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 214 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 54,651 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 10 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Wivenhoe
214 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Wivenhoe (Essex) since 2010, across 54,651 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 46% of records near Wivenhoe are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard and Common Moorhen lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
16 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Eurasian Marsh-Harrier.
Records peak in April and are lowest in August — about 2.7 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.
Alresford, 3 km to the east, has fewer species on record (205 against 214).
Daylight runs from 16 h 43 min at midsummer to 7 h 46 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 Wivenhoe
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,354 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,329 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,254 |
| 4 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,246 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,219 |
| 6 | MagpiePica pica | 1,188 |
| 7 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,168 |
| 8 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,148 |
| 9 | Great TitParus major | 1,052 |
| 10 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 1,014 |
| 11 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 1,005 |
| 12 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 989 |
| 13 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 948 |
| 14 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 914 |
| 15 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 906 |
| 16 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 882 |
| 17 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 874 |
| 18 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 848 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 832 |
| 20 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 829 |
Records by month
What to put out in Wivenhoe
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 Wivenhoe?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Wivenhoe are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Magpie and Robin, based on 54,651 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Wivenhoe?
214 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Wivenhoe?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in August. 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.