Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Rare breeding resident, scarce migrant and winter visitor. (Green list).
The majority of reports were received from the reedbeds around the south-western section of Rookery North ClP where birds were present all year and no doubt bred successfully; one record noted a bird carrying a faecal sac. High counts at this site were eight in both March and early May, then 12 on 18th May, of which at least two were juveniles. A pair and four young were there on 12th June. Some individuals had dark eyes, a form previously noted at this location and potentially originating from populations in Suffolk (Blain 2019).
Elsewhere in the brick pits, birds were noted at Quest ClP in all seasons, including a report of a male carrying food on 29th June when a minimum of five were present. Singles were at Coronation ClP on 26th April and 18th May, and a pair were at MCP Wetlands NR on 26th April and 27th May. Winter records from Meadow Lane GP were of one on 3rd January, three on 9th November and four on 29th December.
