Birds of Hythe
What has actually been seen around Hythe: 198 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 198 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 34,634 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 29 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Hythe
198 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Hythe (Hampshire) since 2010, across 34,634 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and European Herring Gull.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Hythe are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull and Eurasian Oystercatcher lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in October and are lowest in July — about 2.0 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.
Netley, 4 km to the north-east, has more species on record (206 against 198).
Daylight runs from 16 h 31 min at midsummer to 7 h 56 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:13 in mid-April and 4:51 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Hythe
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,435 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,372 |
| 3 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,354 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,191 |
| 5 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 930 |
| 6 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 910 |
| 7 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 885 |
| 8 | MagpiePica pica | 870 |
| 9 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 860 |
| 10 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 822 |
| 11 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 796 |
| 12 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 795 |
| 13 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 718 |
| 14 | BrantBranta bernicla | 699 |
| 15 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 678 |
| 16 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 658 |
| 17 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 643 |
| 18 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 637 |
| 19 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 618 |
| 20 | Common LoonGavia immer | 604 |
Records by month
What to put out in Hythe
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Hampshire
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 Hythe?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Hythe are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin, Rock Pigeon and Magpie, based on 34,634 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Hythe?
198 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Hythe?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 4:51.
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.