Birds of Welford
What has actually been seen around Welford: 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
- 25,543 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- October
- Elevation
- 155 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.8 h / 7.7 h
What the records say about Welford
194 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Welford (West Northamptonshire) since 2010, across 25,543 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret and Common Sandpiper.
Water shapes this list. 59% of records near Welford are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret and Common Sandpiper lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Western Yellow Wagtail is still the most logged garden bird.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in October and are lowest in February — about 2.9 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.
Husbands Bosworth, 4 km to the north, has fewer species on record (183 against 194).
Daylight runs from 16 h 49 min at midsummer to 7 h 40 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:08 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Welford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 3,870 |
| 2 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 712 |
| 3 | Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos | 604 |
| 4 | Common MerganserMergus merganser | 423 |
| 5 | Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava | 417 |
| 6 | Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula | 415 |
| 7 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 374 |
| 8 | Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis | 371 |
| 9 | Red-crested PochardNetta rufina | 361 |
| 10 | Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti | 353 |
| 11 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 347 |
| 12 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 345 |
| 13 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 345 |
| 14 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 343 |
| 15 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 342 |
| 16 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 337 |
| 17 | GadwallMareca strepera | 334 |
| 18 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 331 |
| 19 | Common TernSterna hirundo | 330 |
| 20 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 323 |
Records by month
What to put out in Welford
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
Seasonal bird notes for West Northamptonshire
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 Welford?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Welford are Western Yellow Wagtail, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Woodpigeon and Barn Swallow, based on 25,543 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Welford?
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 Welford?
Observation records peak in October and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:41.
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.