Birds of Isle of Cumbrae
What has actually been seen around Isle of Cumbrae: 152 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 152 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 9,158 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 116 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Isle of Cumbrae
152 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Isle of Cumbrae (North Ayrshire) since 2010, across 9,158 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Woodpigeon.
Water shapes this list. 50% of records near Isle of Cumbrae are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Eider lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 3.6 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.
Fairlie, 4 km to the east, has a similar number of species on record (155 against 152).
Daylight runs from 17 h 34 min at midsummer to 7 h 0 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 in mid-April and 4:34 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Isle of Cumbrae
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 479 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 374 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 348 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 324 |
| 5 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 316 |
| 6 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 284 |
| 7 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 262 |
| 8 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 248 |
| 9 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 231 |
| 10 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 219 |
| 11 | Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator | 217 |
| 12 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 215 |
| 13 | MagpiePica pica | 212 |
| 14 | Common GullLarus canus | 212 |
| 15 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 188 |
| 16 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 182 |
| 17 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 179 |
| 18 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 176 |
| 19 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 169 |
| 20 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 165 |
Records by month
What to put out in Isle of Cumbrae
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
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 Cumbrae?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Isle of Cumbrae are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Robin and Blackbird, based on 9,158 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Isle of Cumbrae?
152 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 Cumbrae?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:34.
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.