Orkney Islands · 58.83°N

Birds of Saint Margaret's Hope

What has actually been seen around Saint Margaret's Hope: 140 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 140 within 5 km
Observation records: 4,961 since 2010
Most recorded bird: Eurasian Oystercatcher
Busiest month: June
Elevation: 12 m
Daylight, June / December: 18.5 h / 6.2 h

What the records say about Saint Margaret's Hope

140 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Saint Margaret's Hope (Orkney Islands) since 2010, across 4,961 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, Starling and Common Eider.

Water shapes this list. 67% of records near Saint Margaret's Hope are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Eider and European Herring Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Starling is still the most logged garden bird.

8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .

Records peak in June and are lowest in January — about 134.9 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.

Kirkwall, 18 km to the north, has more species on record (151 against 140). Birds logged far more often around Saint Margaret's Hope than there include Northern Lapwing, Little Tern, Common Loon and Sanderling.

Daylight runs from 18 h 27 min at midsummer to 6 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:01 in mid-April and 3:59 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Saint Margaret's Hope

#	Bird	Records
1	Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus	177
2	StarlingSturnus vulgaris	157
3	Common EiderSomateria mollissima	152
4	Barn SwallowHirundo rustica	140
5	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	137
6	Common GullLarus canus	134
7	Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata	133
8	Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis	131
9	Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula	129
10	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	126
11	Rock PigeonColumba livia	116
12	Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus	116
13	European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis	114
14	Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis	113
15	Arctic TernSterna paradisaea	107
16	Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensis	105
17	Common RedshankTringa totanus	103
18	Great SkuaStercorarius skua	99
19	Black GuillemotCepphus grylle	92
20	Graylag GooseAnser anser	92

Records by month

What to put out in Saint Margaret's Hope

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

Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
Greenfinch
Sunflower hearts · Black sunflower seed

Seasonal bird notes for Orkney Islands

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 Saint Margaret's Hope?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Saint Margaret's Hope are Starling, Barn Swallow, Rock Pigeon, Meadow Pipit and Eurasian Skylark, based on 4,961 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Saint Margaret's Hope?

140 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Saint Margaret's Hope?

Observation records peak in June and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 3:59.

Sources

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.