Birds of Swinford
What has actually been seen around Swinford: 204 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 204 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 44,738 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 123 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.8 h / 7.7 h
What the records say about Swinford
204 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Swinford (Leicestershire) since 2010, across 44,738 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper and Caspian Gull.
Water shapes this list. 70% of records near Swinford are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Sandpiper and Caspian Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Common Raven is still the most logged garden bird.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in October and are lowest in June — about 3.2 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.
Yelvertoft, 5 km to the south-east, has fewer species on record (145 against 204). Birds logged far more often around Swinford than there include Common Sandpiper, Caspian Gull, Red Kite and Little Egret.
Daylight runs from 16 h 49 min at midsummer to 7 h 40 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:09 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Swinford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 13,015 |
| 2 | Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos | 819 |
| 3 | Caspian GullLarus cachinnans | 783 |
| 4 | Red KiteMilvus milvus | 781 |
| 5 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 759 |
| 6 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 729 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 614 |
| 8 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 598 |
| 9 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 598 |
| 10 | Green SandpiperTringa ochropus | 597 |
| 11 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 587 |
| 12 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 552 |
| 13 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 532 |
| 14 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 522 |
| 15 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 509 |
| 16 | GadwallMareca strepera | 489 |
| 17 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 488 |
| 18 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 485 |
| 19 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 471 |
| 20 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 468 |
Records by month
What to put out in Swinford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
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 Swinford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Swinford are Common Raven, Western Yellow Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Cetti's Warbler, based on 44,738 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Swinford?
204 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Swinford?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in June. 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.