Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Locally common resident and summer visitor. Included in 21.3% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -8% but the long-term trend for Bedfordshire is increasing +3%. (Red list).
Unusually, there was a 20% increase in records and, of the 2,354 logged, 31 involved flocks of 200 or more in the first winter period. The vast majority were at Henlow Grange and involved a flock building from 200 in early January to a peak of 500 on 23rd January. Although numbers fluctuated there, there were still 500 on 20th February, and at least 200 still there by early April. Away from Henlow, there were just three more notable entries, from Th e Lodge (250 in January), Souldrop (200 in January) and Lodge Farm, Chicksands (200 in February).
After a notable gathering of 250 at Stopsley Common on 31st August, a quieter second winter period began, accounting for just 18% of the reports, with only 11 entries of 200 or more from seven sites. From late October, Astwick held 200 and by November, a mixed finch flock at Broom crossroads contained 300 on the 11th and there were 280 at Blue Lagoon, Arlesey on the 15th. Three days later, 250 were at Tithe Farm, Potton and were still present at the end of the month. The Broom crossroads flock remained into December and had increased to 500 by the 20th, during which time there were still 200 at Astwick, as well as the last notable flock of 400 at Broom South Quarry on the 28th.
