Birds of Fairford
What has actually been seen around Fairford: 167 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 167 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 17,845 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 92 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Fairford
167 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Fairford (Gloucestershire) since 2010, across 17,845 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Fairford are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
12 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in January and are lowest in June — about 5.0 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.
Quenington, 3 km to the north, has fewer species on record (114 against 167). Birds logged far more often around Fairford than there include Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose and Gadwall.
Daylight runs from 16 h 41 min at midsummer to 7 h 48 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:12 in mid-April and 4:48 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Fairford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 808 |
| 2 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 574 |
| 3 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 552 |
| 4 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 546 |
| 5 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 541 |
| 6 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 499 |
| 7 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 482 |
| 8 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 482 |
| 9 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 480 |
| 10 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 460 |
| 11 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 437 |
| 12 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 418 |
| 13 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 410 |
| 14 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 408 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 389 |
| 16 | Great TitParus major | 345 |
| 17 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 329 |
| 18 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 313 |
| 19 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 310 |
| 20 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 301 |
Records by month
What to put out in Fairford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Gloucestershire
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 Fairford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Fairford are Woodpigeon, Robin, Blue Tit, Blackbird and Carrion Crow, based on 17,845 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Fairford?
167 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Fairford?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 4:48.
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.