Birds of Isle of Arran
What has actually been seen around Isle of Arran: 127 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 127 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 4,699 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Robin
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 287 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.5 h / 7 h
What the records say about Isle of Arran
127 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Isle of Arran (North Ayrshire) since 2010, across 4,699 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Robin, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Pied Wagtail.
The records split between garden birds (57%) and waterbirds (36%), so a feeder in Isle of Arran sees the familiar Robin, Pied Wagtail and Chaffinch, while Eurasian Oystercatcher and others turn up on nearby water.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Barn Owl. 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 May and are lowest in December — about 35.8 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.
Brodick, 4 km to the east, has more species on record (133 against 127).
At about 287 m above sea level, Isle of Arran sits higher than most places in North Ayrshire. Spring arrives a little later with height, and feeders matter more in cold snaps — keep a supply of high-fat food going through late winter.
Daylight runs from 17 h 31 min at midsummer to 7 h 3 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:18 in mid-April and 4:36 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Isle of Arran
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 168 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 167 |
| 3 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 167 |
| 4 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 153 |
| 5 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 147 |
| 6 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 141 |
| 7 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 126 |
| 8 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 120 |
| 9 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 110 |
| 10 | Common GullLarus canus | 104 |
| 11 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 103 |
| 12 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 100 |
| 13 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 99 |
| 14 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 91 |
| 15 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 91 |
| 16 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 90 |
| 17 | Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator | 89 |
| 18 | Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula | 85 |
| 19 | House MartinDelichon urbicum | 83 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 82 |
Records by month
What to put out in Isle of Arran
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for North Ayrshire
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 Isle of Arran?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Isle of Arran are Robin, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow and Barn Swallow, based on 4,699 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Isle of Arran?
127 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Isle of Arran?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:36.
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.