Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Fairly common summer visitor. Included in 5.1% of BirdTrack lists, compared to 3.3% in 2023. The East of England long-term trend is increasing +26%. (Green list).
The first confirmed breeding record of the year was on 29th May, at MCP Wetlands NR. Elsewhere, breeding was confirmed at Houghton Brook Pools and Myers Farm Potton, with probable breeding indicated at ten sites and possible breeding at a further 22 sites. Records were received from 84 sites during the breeding season, compared with 48 in 2023.
The first of the year was at Rookery North ClP on 7th April, five days before the ten-year average earliest date. Singles were recorded on the 8th, from Priory CP and Strawberry Hill Farm. There was then a four-day hiatus until the next record, when two were at Chalton Solar Farm. A significant arrival occurred on the 13th, when ten sites hosted singing birds, and from then, records were received for every day of the month. The highest count of the month was of five at Brogborough Tip & Pools on the 17th. Typically, May witnessed the highest number of records received, although the number of sites holding birds remained consistent with April, perhaps reflecting the species’ preferred habitat requirements both for breeding and whilst on migration. The highest counts of the month were of four at Houghton Brook Pools on the 3rd and four at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 10th. Counts of three came from seven sites and two from a further six. During June, five were at Houghton Brook Pools on the 21st, four at Myers Farm on the 19th and three at a further five sites. In July, three were at Meadow Lane GP on the 26th, with counts of two from Brogborough Hill on the 27th, Houghton Brook Pools on the 10th and Wrest Park on the 28th.
During August, records were received for 22 days, with the highest count being an excellent 12 at Blows Downs on the 26th; four were at Brogborough Tip & Pools on the 17th, three at Meadow Lane GP on the 8th and two at a further 11 sites. In September, only three sites held multiple birds, with three at Thurleigh Airfield on the 3rd, two at Houghton Brook Pools on the 8th and two at Myers Farm on the 3rd. There were two October records, of singles at Houghton Brook Pools on the 3rd and Warden Hill Everton on the 5th, ten days aft er the ten-year average latest date.
