Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Once abundant, now in decline and very local. Included in 22.7% of BirdTrack lists, compared to 32.4% in 2023. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -37%*. The long-term trend for Bedfordshire is also decreasing -26%. (Red list).
There were just eight records of 30 or more. During January, there were 30 at Silsoe on the 19th and 30 at Upper Caldecote on the 24th, taking advantage there of spills from farm animal feeders. In February, there were 30 at Priory CP, but then as the breeding season commenced there were no flocks of 30 or more until July. The largest gathering of the year was of 70, feeding in barley fields at Biggleswade Common, on 28th July and 29th August. Also in August, there were 40 at Langford on the 21st, and then in September 50 at Potton on the 15th. At the close of the year there were 33 at Wigmore Lane allotments in Luton on 6th November and 30 at Limbury Mead, Luton on 3rd December.
