Birds of Lymington
What has actually been seen around Lymington: 262 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 262 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 174,202 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Common Redshank
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 1 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 8 h
What the records say about Lymington
262 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Lymington (Hampshire) since 2010, across 174,202 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Common Redshank, Little Egret and Black-headed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 59% of records near Lymington are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Common Redshank, Little Egret and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Marsh-Harrier.
Records peak in May and are lowest in November — 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.
Milford on Sea, 5 km to the south-west, has a similar number of species on record (264 against 262).
Daylight runs from 16 h 30 min at midsummer to 7 h 57 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:13 in mid-April and 4:52 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Lymington
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 3,653 |
| 2 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 3,639 |
| 3 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 3,598 |
| 4 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 3,440 |
| 5 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 3,424 |
| 6 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 3,318 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 3,297 |
| 8 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 3,161 |
| 9 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 3,044 |
| 10 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 2,927 |
| 11 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 2,890 |
| 12 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 2,825 |
| 13 | DunlinCalidris alpina | 2,824 |
| 14 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 2,821 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 2,671 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 2,642 |
| 17 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 2,604 |
| 18 | Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa | 2,574 |
| 19 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 2,562 |
| 20 | Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres | 2,551 |
Records by month
What to put out in Lymington
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
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 Lymington?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Lymington are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling and Blackbird, based on 174,202 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Lymington?
262 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Lymington?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:52.
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.