Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Common summer visitor with a small wintering population. Included in 40.4% of BirdTrack lists, compared to 36.3% in 2023. The East of England long-term trend is increasing +229%*. The long-term trend for Bedfordshire is also increasing +204%*. (Green list).
Breeding was confirmed at the River Ivel at Blunham, Broom East, Houghton Brook Pools, Myers Farm Potton, Pegnut Wood, Priory CP, the River Ouzel at Leighton Buzzard, Strawberry Hill Farm, Sutton Hill, Tempsford Church End, Tetworth Hall Estate, Th e Lodge, Upper Stondon and Warden Hill Everton. In the Summer Garden Bird Survey they were in 47% of gardens, the highest level since the summer survey began in 1998.
In January, overwintering Chiff chaff s were at 25 sites, with a high count of 11 at Stewartby Lake on the 19th, with the next highest counts of five at Bedford WTW and Meadow Lane GP, both on the 6th. During February, the highest count came from Dunstable WTW, with eight on the 7th. Records started to originate from sites other than those known to host overwintering birds from around 5th March, approximately one week earlier than in 2023. The highest counts of the month, both of 19, came from Willington GP and Wrest Park on the 31st, with also 15 at MCP Wetlands NR on the 26th. Migration continued throughout April, with records originating from a year-high of 183 sites; the highest counts were of 24 at Maulden Wood on the 1st, 22 at MCP Wetlands NR on the 20th, 22 at Stewartby Lake on the 10th and 20 at Wootton on the 27th. Migration slowed during May, with a noticeable decline in the number of sites hosting birds (see table below); the highest counts in May were of 26 at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 15th, 21 at Th e Lodge on the 5th and 17 at Pegnut Wood on the 12th. During June, the highest counts were of 12 at Wrest Park on the 9th, 11 at Felmersham NR on the 18th and ten at The Lodge on the 2nd.
During July, the highest counts were of 11, at Biggleswade Common on the 28th and Th e Lodge on the 8th. In August, the number of sites holding birds and the highest counts increased from mid-month, with a peak from the third week: there were 23 at Priory CP on the 25th and 22 at Stopsley Common on the 31st, with counts in the range ten to 21 from a further six sites. In September, migration continued apace, with the year’s highest count of 27 at Renhold on the 13th. Th ere were 21 at Priory CP on the 14th and 20 at Barton Hills on the 21st, with counts in the range ten to 19 from a further ten sites. During October, the highest counts were of 12 at Broom East on the 10th, 11 at Houghton Brook Pools on the 7th, with ten there on the 3rd; there were also ten at Priory CP on the 9th. As can be observed from the table above, there is some evidence of a strong autumn migration. In November, eight were at Meadow Lane GP on the 9th, seven were at Bedford WTW on the 13th and seven were at Priory CP on the 22nd. December’s high count was 15 at Bedford WTW/Meadow Lane GP on the 29th.
Three examples of the Siberian race tristis were observed: one at Bedford WTW on 6th January, one at Broom East on 18th March with possibly the same at this site on 10th April.
