Birds of Ross on Wye
What has actually been seen around Ross on Wye: 111 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 111 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 1,962 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Swift
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 39 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Ross on Wye
111 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Ross on Wye (Herefordshire) since 2010, across 1,962 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Swift, Blackbird and Woodpigeon.
Ross on Wye is a garden-bird place: 62% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin and Carrion Crow make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders 2–3 metres from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.
Records peak in May and are lowest in October — about 27.8 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.
Crow Hill, 4 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (102 against 111). Birds logged far more often around Ross on Wye than there include Mandarin Duck, Common Merganser and Rock Pigeon.
Daylight runs from 16 h 43 min at midsummer to 7 h 46 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:15 in mid-April and 4:49 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Ross on Wye
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SwiftApus apus | 132 |
| 2 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 85 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 74 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 71 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 62 |
| 6 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 55 |
| 7 | Mandarin DuckAix galericulata | 54 |
| 8 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 53 |
| 9 | Great TitParus major | 51 |
| 10 | Common MerganserMergus merganser | 49 |
| 11 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 48 |
| 12 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 47 |
| 13 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 45 |
| 14 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 41 |
| 15 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 41 |
| 16 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 41 |
| 17 | MagpiePica pica | 40 |
| 18 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 40 |
| 19 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 38 |
| 20 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 36 |
Records by month
What to put out in Ross on Wye
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Herefordshire
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 Ross on Wye?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Ross on Wye are Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Robin, Carrion Crow and Great Tit, based on 1,962 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Ross on Wye?
111 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Ross on Wye?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:49.
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.