Birds of Cheddar
What has actually been seen around Cheddar: 194 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 194 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 13,462 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 12 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Cheddar
194 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Cheddar (Somerset) since 2010, across 13,462 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Woodpigeon.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Cheddar are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in September and are lowest in December — about 4.1 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.
Axbridge, 3 km to the west, has more species on record (199 against 194).
Daylight runs from 16 h 36 min at midsummer to 7 h 52 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 in mid-April and 4:54 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Cheddar
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 433 |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 412 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 396 |
| 4 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 383 |
| 5 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 380 |
| 6 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 360 |
| 7 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 349 |
| 8 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 346 |
| 9 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 344 |
| 10 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 338 |
| 11 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 330 |
| 12 | MagpiePica pica | 328 |
| 13 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 291 |
| 14 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 278 |
| 15 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 258 |
| 16 | Common PochardAythya ferina | 229 |
| 17 | Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus | 229 |
| 18 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 216 |
| 19 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 214 |
| 20 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 198 |
Records by month
What to put out in Cheddar
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Somerset
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 Cheddar?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Cheddar are Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Robin, based on 13,462 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Cheddar?
194 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Cheddar?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:54.
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.