Birds of Kelso
What has actually been seen around Kelso: 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
- 2,221 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mallard
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 40 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.5 h / 7 h
What the records say about Kelso
110 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Kelso (The Scottish Borders) since 2010, across 2,221 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mallard, Little Grebe and Woodpigeon.
The records split between garden birds (55%) and waterbirds (35%), so a feeder in Kelso sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Common Reed Bunting, while Mallard and others turn up on nearby water.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Kestrel. 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 June and are lowest in January — 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.
Town Yetholm, 11 km to the south-east, has fewer species on record (99 against 110). Birds logged far more often around Kelso than there include Whooper Swan, Bank Swallow, Starling and Spotted Flycatcher.
Daylight runs from 17 h 31 min at midsummer to 7 h 2 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:07 in mid-April and 4:25 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Kelso
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 82 |
| 2 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 80 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 74 |
| 4 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 72 |
| 5 | Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus | 64 |
| 6 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 63 |
| 7 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 62 |
| 8 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 54 |
| 9 | Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus | 49 |
| 10 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 48 |
| 11 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 47 |
| 12 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 47 |
| 13 | SwiftApus apus | 44 |
| 14 | JayGarrulus glandarius | 42 |
| 15 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 42 |
| 16 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 41 |
| 17 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 40 |
| 18 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 39 |
| 19 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 39 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 37 |
Records by month
What to put out in Kelso
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Jay
Peanuts · Whole acorns
- Pied Wagtail
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 Kelso?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Kelso are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Common Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Jackdaw, based on 2,221 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Kelso?
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 Kelso?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 4:25.
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.