Birds of Leysdown-on-Sea
What has actually been seen around Leysdown-on-Sea: 217 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 217 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 35,080 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Eurasian Marsh-Harrier
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 12 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Leysdown-on-Sea
217 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Leysdown-on-Sea (Kent) since 2010, across 35,080 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Black-headed Gull and Woodpigeon.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Leysdown-on-Sea are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in January and are lowest in June — about 5.2 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.
Eastchurch, 5 km to the west, has fewer species on record (185 against 217). Birds logged far more often around Leysdown-on-Sea than there include Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover and Common Ringed Plover.
Daylight runs from 16 h 37 min at midsummer to 7 h 51 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:02 in mid-April and 4:38 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Leysdown-on-Sea
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurasian Marsh-HarrierCircus aeruginosus | 935 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 902 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 878 |
| 4 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 850 |
| 5 | Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus | 830 |
| 6 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 795 |
| 7 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 781 |
| 8 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 701 |
| 9 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 692 |
| 10 | Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa | 672 |
| 11 | MagpiePica pica | 636 |
| 12 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 621 |
| 13 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 614 |
| 14 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 594 |
| 15 | Common LinnetLinaria cannabina | 591 |
| 16 | Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus | 584 |
| 17 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 579 |
| 18 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 577 |
| 19 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 574 |
| 20 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 560 |
Records by month
What to put out in Leysdown-on-Sea
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Kent
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 Leysdown-on-Sea?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Leysdown-on-Sea are Woodpigeon, Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Meadow Pipit, based on 35,080 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Leysdown-on-Sea?
217 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Leysdown-on-Sea?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 4:38.
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.