Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Scarce passage migrant and very rare breeder. (Green list).
No confirmed reports of breeding were received, though birds were in suitable locations in May and June, including King’s Wood at Houghton Conquest, near Aspley Heath and in Ampthill Park. One was singing at The Lodge on 23rd April, and was there again on 1st May, but was not noted subsequently.
Overall, records were received for every month of the year. In the first winter period singles were at Houghton Hall Park, Whipsnade Common, near Bedford WTW, Southill Park, Cooper’s Hill and Woburn Park, with two at Ampthill Park on three dates in early March. With the exception of three at Wrest Park on 1st September, autumn reports were limited to singles, with the first at King’s Wood at Houghton Conquest on 25th August, followed by one at Rushmere CP on 9th September and one at Deepdale Quarry on 20th October. There were records from Ampthill Park on five dates from 29th October, Maulden on 6th November, Aspley Guise on five dates from 6th November, Wrest Park on 1st December and Leighton Buzzard on 30th December.
