Birds of Retford
What has actually been seen around Retford: 199 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 199 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 33,877 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 19 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17 h / 7.5 h
What the records say about Retford
199 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Retford (Nottinghamshire) since 2010, across 33,877 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Mallard.
The records split between garden birds (57%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Retford sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Blackbird, while Lesser Black-backed Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in April and are lowest in December — about 7.4 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.
Clarborough, 4 km to the north-east, has more species on record (208 against 199).
Daylight runs from 17 h 0 min at midsummer to 7 h 30 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:06 in mid-April and 4:35 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Retford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,683 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,074 |
| 3 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,033 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,007 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 965 |
| 6 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 909 |
| 7 | MagpiePica pica | 859 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 811 |
| 9 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 784 |
| 10 | Great TitParus major | 740 |
| 11 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 736 |
| 12 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 725 |
| 13 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 692 |
| 14 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 669 |
| 15 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 658 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 622 |
| 17 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 614 |
| 18 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 602 |
| 19 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 591 |
| 20 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 576 |
Records by month
What to put out in Retford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Nottinghamshire
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 Retford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Retford are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin and Magpie, based on 33,877 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Retford?
199 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Retford?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:35.
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.