Birds of Ayton
What has actually been seen around Ayton: 174 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 174 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 5,093 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- July
- Elevation
- 49 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Ayton
174 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Ayton (The Scottish Borders) since 2010, across 5,093 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Northern Gannet.
Water shapes this list. 53% of records near Ayton are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Northern Gannet and Eurasian Oystercatcher lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in July and are lowest in December — about 4.3 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.
Eyemouth, 4 km to the north-east, has more species on record (199 against 174).
Daylight runs from 17 h 35 min at midsummer to 6 h 59 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:22 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Ayton
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 242 |
| 2 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 156 |
| 3 | Northern GannetMorus bassanus | 140 |
| 4 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 131 |
| 5 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 130 |
| 6 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 128 |
| 7 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 127 |
| 8 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 127 |
| 9 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 111 |
| 10 | Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis | 104 |
| 11 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 103 |
| 12 | Common MurreUria aalge | 97 |
| 13 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 97 |
| 14 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 90 |
| 15 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 79 |
| 16 | Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla | 78 |
| 17 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 77 |
| 18 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 76 |
| 19 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 76 |
| 20 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 75 |
Records by month
What to put out in Ayton
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for The Scottish Borders
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 Ayton?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Ayton are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Blackbird and Barn Swallow, based on 5,093 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Ayton?
174 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Ayton?
Observation records peak in July and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:22.
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.