Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Common breeder and very common winter visitor. Included in 41.2% of BirdTrack lists, compared to 36.7% in 2023. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -32%. (Green list).
During the first quarter there were 400 at Brogborough Lake (the highest count in the year) and 162 at Broom East, all on 1st January, 100 at Stewartby Lake on 17th January and 110 at Luton Hoo on 12th February. During the April to June period the highest counts were 72 at Broom East on 3rd June, 64 at Priory CP on 27th June and 56 at Grovebury SP on 30th June. Numbers started to increase during July and August, but then fell back again. There were 109 at Grovebury SP on 9th July, 174 there on 13th September, 94 at Priory CP on 18th July, 100 at Deepdale Quarry on 5th August and 100 at Broom East on 11th August. In the last quarter the highest counts were 195 at Brogborough Lake on 25th December, 83 at Grovebury SP on 19th November and 67 at Stewartby Lake on 29th December.
In general, numbers were lower than in 2023, but only two counts were received for Brogborough Lake (historically the main site for this species) because of access problems.
