Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Common Redpoll
Scarce winter visitor in erratic numbers. (Amber list).
After an influx in the latter stages of 2023, it was no surprise that small numbers were still present into the New Year. Confined exclusively to the first winter period, there were 66 reports, an unusually high number, considering there were none at all in 2022. Records came from nine main areas, all centred around east Bedfordshire and associated with large Lesser Redpoll flocks. Of the multiple reports, in January, there were up to four at Broom GP and two at both Potton and The Lodge. Away from those areas, there were two at Ampthill Park and a year’s high count of six at Brogborough Hill on the 21st, a flock that had diminished to four by 3rd February. In March, there were still small numbers at Broom GP (2), Rushmere CP (3) and Potton (1). From the 17th, a small flock at Rookery North ClP grew to up to three, until the last sighting of the year on the 26th.
Lesser Redpoll
Probably no longer breeds in the county, winter numbers erratic from year to year. (Red list).
It was a good start to the year, aft er a strong end to 2023. There were 567 records, with almost a third from the wider Broom GP area. The first winter period accounted for 71% of the reports and contained all the counts of 50 or more. In January, the first triple-figure flocks were at both Broom South Quarry and Th e Lodge, bookending the month with 120 at each site. In February, there were up to 100 at Brogborough Hill by the 11th and during that time there were also 100 at The Lodge, a flock which diminished to 50 by the 29th. In March, numbers generally began to dwindle, but a flock at Rushmere CP increased throughout the month, peaking at 50 by the 23rd, and was the last significant gathering of the period. April saw a further 35 entries and, unusually, there were still 21 at Deepdale and Sandy Heath on the 21st. There was one at The Lodge on 1st May before the last spring report, with a late single at Cooper’s Hill on 20th May.
After a very early individual on 4th August at Leighton Buzzard, there were none in September. Unsurprisingly, the first returning bird in autumn was seen as part of a vismig watch at Blows Downs on 4th October, and then there were modest numbers at traditional sites throughout the month, with the best being a flock of eight at Broom East on the 29th. Numbers remained disappointingly low until the end of the year with just five double-figure counts from two sites, all in November, with up to 26 at Broom East on the 7th and 14 at Sandy Smith NR on the 9th. A poor December produced just 40 records with a handful of multiple ones, with up to six at Pedley Birches, Bedford being the best.
