Birds of Desford
What has actually been seen around Desford: 200 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 200 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 37,753 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 134 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.9 h / 7.6 h
What the records say about Desford
200 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Desford (Leicestershire) since 2010, across 37,753 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Blackbird.
Water shapes this list. 44% of records near Desford are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Eurasian Coot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
14 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 April and are lowest in July — about 2.0 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.
Newbold Verdon, 3 km to the west, has a similar number of species on record (203 against 200).
Daylight runs from 16 h 52 min at midsummer to 7 h 38 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:09 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Desford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,668 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,068 |
| 3 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,055 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,053 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,049 |
| 6 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 951 |
| 7 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 936 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 847 |
| 9 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 836 |
| 10 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 821 |
| 11 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 765 |
| 12 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 750 |
| 13 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 737 |
| 14 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 735 |
| 15 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 731 |
| 16 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 722 |
| 17 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 694 |
| 18 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 673 |
| 19 | Great TitParus major | 645 |
| 20 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 639 |
Records by month
What to put out in Desford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
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 Desford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Desford are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit and Carrion Crow, based on 37,753 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Desford?
200 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Desford?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.
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.