Birds of Grain
What has actually been seen around Grain: 169 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 169 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 9,841 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Starling
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 12 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Grain
169 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Grain (Medway) since 2010, across 9,841 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Starling, Magpie and Goldfinch.
The records split between garden birds (56%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Grain sees the familiar Starling, Magpie and Goldfinch, while European Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
12 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in October and are lowest in November — about 5.1 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.
Sheerness, 4 km to the south-east, has fewer species on record (164 against 169).
Daylight runs from 16 h 38 min at midsummer to 7 h 50 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:03 in mid-April and 4:39 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Grain
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 438 |
| 2 | MagpiePica pica | 371 |
| 3 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 346 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 334 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 324 |
| 6 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 322 |
| 7 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 310 |
| 8 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 306 |
| 9 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 290 |
| 10 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 218 |
| 11 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 203 |
| 12 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 192 |
| 13 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 176 |
| 14 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 175 |
| 15 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 165 |
| 16 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 161 |
| 17 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 152 |
| 18 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 152 |
| 19 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 148 |
| 20 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 145 |
Records by month
What to put out in Grain
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Medway
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 Grain?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Grain are Starling, Magpie, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon, based on 9,841 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Grain?
169 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Grain?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:39.
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.