Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Fairly common summer visitor. Included in 5% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -32%*. (Green list).
Breeding was confirmed at Brogborough Hill, Maulden Wood and MCP Wetlands NR, with probable breeding at another ten sites. Records were received from 73 sites during the breeding season, compared to 56 in 2023.
The first records of the year were at Henlow and Langford on 10th April, five days ahead of the 12th. Records were received for every day between the 17th–30th, with a main arrival around the 27th. Th e highest count of the month was seven at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 29th. During May, eight were at Broom East on the 4th, 6th and 9th, with counts of seven from MCP Wetlands NR on the 6th and Bison Hill on the 8th. The number of records and their geographical distribution declined significantly during June. The month’s high counts were six at Felmersham NR on the 18th, five at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 7th and five at Thurleigh Airfield on the 23rd. In July, only three sites recorded more than one, with two at Brogborough Hill on the 27th, Myers Farm Potton on the 19th and Potton Wood on the 18th.
During August, counts of two were received from MCP Wetlands NR on the 3rd, Meadow Lane GP on the 8th, Myers Farm on the 1st and the River Ivel at Blunham on the 14th. Following the penultimate record of the year at Blows Downs on 31st August, there was a 14-day gap until the next – and last of the year – at Harrowden WM on 13th September, five days before the ten year average last date.
