Birds of Sandwick
What has actually been seen around Sandwick: 240 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 240 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 66,190 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Starling
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 14 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.9 h / 5.9 h
What the records say about Sandwick
240 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Sandwick (Shetland Islands) since 2010, across 66,190 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Starling, European Herring Gull and Blackbird.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Sandwick are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Curlew and Common Redshank lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Starling is still the most logged garden bird.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in October and are lowest in February — about 4.7 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.
Scalloway, 16 km to the north, has fewer species on record (197 against 240). Birds logged far more often around Sandwick than there include Northern Fulmar, Common Loon, Dunlin and Sedge Warbler.
Daylight runs from 18 h 52 min at midsummer to 5 h 53 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 5:50 in mid-April and 3:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Sandwick
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 2,946 |
| 2 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 2,560 |
| 3 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 2,523 |
| 4 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 2,432 |
| 5 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 2,283 |
| 6 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 2,276 |
| 7 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 2,163 |
| 8 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 2,021 |
| 9 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 1,963 |
| 10 | Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis | 1,872 |
| 11 | Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres | 1,796 |
| 12 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 1,789 |
| 13 | Common GullLarus canus | 1,769 |
| 14 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 1,698 |
| 15 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 1,611 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 1,544 |
| 17 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 1,352 |
| 18 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 1,351 |
| 19 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 1,341 |
| 20 | Common SnipeGallinago gallinago | 1,204 |
Records by month
What to put out in Sandwick
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Redwing
Apples · Soaked sultanas
Seasonal bird notes for Shetland 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 Sandwick?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Sandwick are Starling, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Hooded Crow and Wren, based on 66,190 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Sandwick?
240 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Sandwick?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 3:40.
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.