Birds of Merriott
What has actually been seen around Merriott: 110 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 110 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 3,681 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Jackdaw
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 59 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Merriott
110 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Merriott (Somerset) since 2010, across 3,681 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and Robin.
Merriott is a garden-bird place: 81% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Robin and Blackbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
10 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl. 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 October — about 6.3 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.
Crewkerne, 3 km to the south, has fewer species on record (80 against 110). Birds logged far more often around Merriott than there include Stock Dove.
Daylight runs from 16 h 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 56 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:18 in mid-April and 4:56 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Merriott
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 219 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 209 |
| 3 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 192 |
| 4 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 178 |
| 5 | SwiftApus apus | 157 |
| 6 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 155 |
| 7 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 148 |
| 8 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 146 |
| 9 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 133 |
| 10 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 118 |
| 11 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 115 |
| 12 | Great TitParus major | 112 |
| 13 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 110 |
| 14 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 109 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 107 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 84 |
| 17 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 79 |
| 18 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 75 |
| 19 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 73 |
| 20 | GreenfinchChloris chloris | 64 |
Records by month
What to put out in Merriott
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
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 Merriott?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Merriott are Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird and House Sparrow, based on 3,681 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Merriott?
110 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Merriott?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:56.
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.