Birds of Appleby Magna
What has actually been seen around Appleby Magna: 166 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 166 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 15,472 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 92 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.9 h / 7.6 h
What the records say about Appleby Magna
166 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Appleby Magna (Leicestershire) since 2010, across 15,472 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Common Pochard.
Water shapes this list. 44% of records near Appleby Magna are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Common Pochard 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 Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel 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 March and are lowest in August — about 2.3 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.
Measham, 3 km to the north-east, has more species on record (178 against 166).
Daylight runs from 16 h 52 min at midsummer to 7 h 37 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:10 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Appleby Magna
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 576 |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 563 |
| 3 | Common PochardAythya ferina | 444 |
| 4 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 432 |
| 5 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 432 |
| 6 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 417 |
| 7 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 407 |
| 8 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 405 |
| 9 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 401 |
| 10 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 388 |
| 11 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 381 |
| 12 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 372 |
| 13 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 360 |
| 14 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 345 |
| 15 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 343 |
| 16 | Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope | 326 |
| 17 | MagpiePica pica | 298 |
| 18 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 287 |
| 19 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 286 |
| 20 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 285 |
Records by month
What to put out in Appleby Magna
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Leicestershire
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 Appleby Magna?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Appleby Magna are Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird, Starling and House Sparrow, based on 15,472 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Appleby Magna?
166 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Appleby Magna?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in August. 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.