Birds of Fortrose
What has actually been seen around Fortrose: 165 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 165 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 22,939 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 25 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.1 h / 6.6 h
What the records say about Fortrose
165 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Fortrose (Highland) since 2010, across 22,939 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Gull.
Water shapes this list. 56% of records near Fortrose are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
11 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in June and are lowest in February — about 3.8 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.
Ardersier, 6 km to the east, has more species on record (190 against 165).
Daylight runs from 18 h 4 min at midsummer to 6 h 34 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:09 in mid-April and 4:16 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Fortrose
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,151 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 1,096 |
| 3 | Common GullLarus canus | 810 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 756 |
| 5 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 718 |
| 6 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 672 |
| 7 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 651 |
| 8 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 607 |
| 9 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 590 |
| 10 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 513 |
| 11 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 499 |
| 12 | Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator | 494 |
| 13 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 492 |
| 14 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 486 |
| 15 | Common LinnetLinaria cannabina | 474 |
| 16 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 448 |
| 17 | Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis | 441 |
| 18 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 428 |
| 19 | Common MurreUria aalge | 421 |
| 20 | Common TernSterna hirundo | 417 |
Records by month
What to put out in Fortrose
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Highland
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 Fortrose?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Fortrose are Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Blackbird and Barn Swallow, based on 22,939 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Fortrose?
165 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Fortrose?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:16.
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.