Birds of Swanscombe
What has actually been seen around Swanscombe: 197 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 197 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 44,906 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 30 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Swanscombe
197 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Swanscombe (Kent) since 2010, across 44,906 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Robin and Magpie.
Swanscombe 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. Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie and Blue Tit make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard 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 April and are lowest in July — about 2.5 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.
Stone, 3 km to the west, has more species on record (221 against 197).
Daylight runs from 16 h 38 min at midsummer to 7 h 50 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Swanscombe
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,730 |
| 2 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,610 |
| 3 | MagpiePica pica | 1,549 |
| 4 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,372 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,279 |
| 6 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,268 |
| 7 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,243 |
| 8 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,240 |
| 9 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 1,224 |
| 10 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,217 |
| 11 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,127 |
| 12 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 1,045 |
| 13 | Great TitParus major | 1,008 |
| 14 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 969 |
| 15 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 922 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 826 |
| 17 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 815 |
| 18 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 802 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 743 |
| 20 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 716 |
Records by month
What to put out in Swanscombe
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
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 Swanscombe?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Swanscombe are Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit and Blackbird, based on 44,906 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Swanscombe?
197 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Swanscombe?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 4:41.
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.