United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Montrose Basin
207 bird species recorded; the most in May and from August to September.
Thomas Andy Branson · CC BY-SA 4.0
This month here
131 species in January.125 species in February.124 species in March.137 species in April.150 species in May.133 species in June.143 species in July.163 species in August.163 species in September.142 species in October.127 species in November.129 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
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NTNTNTNTNTNTNT- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
207 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 207Speciesrecorded more than once
- 107Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 12ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 35,480Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 9Raptors
- 4Owls
- 33Waders
- 34Gulls & seabirds
- 34Ducks & geese
- 9Herons, ibises & grebes
- 66Songbirds
- 18Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 207 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors9 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Waders33 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataVU
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
Gulls & seabirds34 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- FulmarFulmarus glacialis
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaVU
- Sooty shearwaterPuffinus griseus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Ivory GullPagophila eburneaNT
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- Black GuillemotCepphus grylle
- Roseate TernSterna dougallii
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Long-tailed SkuaStercorarius longicaudus
Ducks & geese34 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- SmewMergellus albellus
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisVU
Herons, ibises & grebes9 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
Songbirds66 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Isabelline ShrikeLanius isabellinus
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
Other birds18 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- European SwiftApus apus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- CootFulica atra
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Willow PtarmiganLagopus lagopus
- Western CapercaillieTetrao urogallus
- WryneckJynx torquilla
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in May and from August to September.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan6°/3°83 mm
- Feb6°/3°65 mm
- Mar7°/3°64 mm
- Apr9°/5°52 mm
- May12°/7°58 mm
- Jun14°/10°75 mm
- Jul16°/12°84 mm
- Aug16°/12°96 mm
- Sep15°/10°62 mm
- Oct12°/8°104 mm
- Nov9°/6°92 mm
- Dec7°/4°79 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Montrose Basin.
River estuary and nature reserve in Angus, Scotland, UK
Montrose Basin is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
207 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 35,480 open records.
The most recorded are the Eurasian Oystercatcher, the Common Eider and the European Herring Gull.
59 species come for the summer, 48 for the winter and 0 only pass through.
12 are threatened worldwide, including Black-legged kittiwake, Long-tailed duck and Curlew Sandpiper.
The most species are recorded in May and from August to September.
Get there and watch
- South Links Holiday Parkcampsite · 3.0 km · 7 within 10 km
- George Hotelplace to stay · 2.2 km · 11 within 10 km
- Montrosenearest town · 2.4 km in a straight line
- Dundee Airport (DND)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 43 km in a straight lineCar hire at ABZ airport (Aberdeen)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 2bird hides within 6 kmThe Bank of Scotland Hide, Shelduck Hide
- 1observation towers within 6 km
- 4marked trails within 4 kmLurgies Walk, Shelduck Hide, Wigeon Hide and 1 more
- 3visitor centres within 6 kmMontrose Basin Wildlife Centre, St Cyrus Visitor Centre
- 2viewpoints within 5 km
- 72car parks within 3 km
- 22restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 7campsites within 10 kmSouth Links Holiday Park, Lunan Bay Campsite, Ecclesgreig Holiday Park and 4 more
- 11places to stay within 10 kmGeorge Hotel, Star Hotel, Links Hotel and 8 more
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Montrose Basin.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas9 mountains within 25 kmWhite Caterthun · 17 kmCaterthun · 17 kmStrathfinella Hill · 21 kmHound Hillock · 23 kmHerscha Hill · 23 kmCairn o' Mount · 24 kmHill of Wirren · 24 kmDroop Hill · 25 km
Riveryasthe river nearbyRiver South Esk79 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Montrose Basin
United Kingdom
- 86Birdyas Score
- 207Species
- 107Migrants
- 12Threatened
Gladhouse Reservoir
United Kingdom · 111 km
- 69Birdyas Score
- 167Species
- 63Migrants
- 6Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q3632562) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 35,480 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Islandyas, Riveryas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit