Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Once locally common but has since declined. Included in 4.4% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -22%. (Red list).
Confirmed breeding took place at Thurleigh Airfield, with probable breeding at another 13 sites, mostly in the eastern half of the county.
The 580 records were spread evenly throughout the year and, aft er a modest end to 2023, the first winter period supplied 17 reports of flocks of ten or more from ten locations. There were no triple-digit flocks, though January held a season’s best of 70 at Arlesey on the 3rd and 40 at Henlow Grange on the 10th. East Bedfordshire produced the rest of the notable gatherings, including 26 at Wrestlingworth on 12th February and, three days later, 40 at Broom South Quarry. In March, there were 24 at Sutton on the 21st, whilst the Wrestlingworth flock had grown to 35 by the 31st. Winter flocks began to dwindle, but there were still good numbers at traditional breeding sites at many locations, especially in east Bedfordshire. During April, double-figure counts remained at Broom South Quarry and Havannah Farm, Sutton and, in the south of the county, there were ten at Barton Hills and finally, nine territories at Galley Hill, Luton, where 18 individuals were present on 10th May.
The second winter period accounted for just 87 of the entries, though all the flocks containing 20 or more came in the last two months. In November, there were 30 at Streatley on the 4th, 66 at Meadow Lane GP on the 17th and 30 at Broom South Quarry from the 29th. In December, there were still 30 at Meadow Lane GP, but Broom South Quarry supplied the rest when a gathering present until the end of the year, and seen by many observers, accounted for up to 80 in a winter seed crop.
