Birds of Gourock
What has actually been seen around Gourock: 125 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 125 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 3,149 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- July
- Elevation
- 10 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Gourock
125 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Gourock (Inverclyde) since 2010, across 3,149 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Common Eider and Jackdaw.
Water shapes this list. 50% of records near Gourock are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Common Eider and Black Guillemot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Jackdaw is still the most logged garden bird.
7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard. 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 July and are lowest in November — about 5.8 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.
Greenock, 4 km to the south-east, has more species on record (145 against 125).
Daylight runs from 17 h 37 min at midsummer to 6 h 58 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 in mid-April and 4:32 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Gourock
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 215 |
| 2 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 188 |
| 3 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 141 |
| 4 | Black GuillemotCepphus grylle | 126 |
| 5 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 126 |
| 6 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 114 |
| 7 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 98 |
| 8 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 92 |
| 9 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 91 |
| 10 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 81 |
| 11 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 79 |
| 12 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 79 |
| 13 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 79 |
| 14 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 77 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 75 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 74 |
| 17 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 70 |
| 18 | Common GullLarus canus | 69 |
| 19 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 65 |
| 20 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 59 |
Records by month
What to put out in Gourock
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Inverclyde
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 Gourock?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Gourock are Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon and Robin, based on 3,149 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Gourock?
125 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Gourock?
Observation records peak in July and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:32.
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.