Birds of Newark on Trent

142 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Newark on Trent (Nottinghamshire) since 2010, across 15,494 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Blackbird.

Newark on Trent is a garden-bird place: 67% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin and Blue Tit make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

11 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 August and are lowest in November — 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.

Elston, 6 km to the south-west, has a similar number of species on record (139 against 142). Birds logged far more often around Newark on Trent than there include Rock Pigeon and Grey Wagtail.

Daylight runs from 16 h 57 min at midsummer to 7 h 33 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:06 in mid-April and 4:36 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.

• Woodpigeon

  Seed mix

• Blackbird

  Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms

• Robin

  Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts

• Blue Tit

  Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet

• Goldfinch

  Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts

• House Sparrow

  Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet

• Elston6 km south-west · 139 species
• North Muskham6 km north · 208 species
• Claypole7 km south-east · 129 species
• South Collingham8 km north-east · 206 species
• Bleasby9 km west · 164 species
• Long Bennington9 km south-east · 175 species