Birds of Helmsdale
What has actually been seen around Helmsdale: 101 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 101 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 673 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 12 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.2 h / 6.4 h
What the records say about Helmsdale
101 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Helmsdale (Highland) since 2010, across 673 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, European Shag and Great Black-backed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 60% of records near Helmsdale are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, European Shag and Great Black-backed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Jackdaw is still the most logged garden bird.
Brora, 17 km to the south-west, has more species on record (141 against 101).
Daylight runs from 18 h 13 min at midsummer to 6 h 26 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:09 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Helmsdale
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 49 |
| 2 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 43 |
| 3 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 42 |
| 4 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 29 |
| 5 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 28 |
| 6 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 26 |
| 7 | Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla | 25 |
| 8 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 15 |
| 9 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 15 |
| 10 | Iceland GullLarus glaucoides | 14 |
| 11 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 14 |
| 12 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 14 |
| 13 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 13 |
| 14 | Common GullLarus canus | 13 |
| 15 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 12 |
| 16 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 11 |
| 17 | Northern GannetMorus bassanus | 10 |
| 18 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 10 |
| 19 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 10 |
| 20 | Black GuillemotCepphus grylle | 9 |
Records by month
What to put out in Helmsdale
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
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 Helmsdale?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Helmsdale are Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow, Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail, based on 673 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Helmsdale?
101 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Helmsdale?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:09.
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.