Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Scarce, but becoming more regular in Marston Vale. (Amber list).
Breeding was again confirmed at MCP Wetlands NR, where a pair raised two young. There were a total of 366 records, more than double the 167 of the previous year, with 255 (70%) coming from Marston Vale. A pair, plus an immature male, were widely recorded around the former clay pits. The earliest record was of a female on 1st January and the first sighting of a pair was on 27th January. Th e last of the year in Marston Vale was a female on 21st December.
Away from Marston Vale there were 61 records from the well-watched localities around the Broom gravel pits. All sightings were of singles and occurred in all months. Th e first was a female at Broom East on 27th January and the last was also at Broom East, on 31st December. An immature was at Tetworth Hall Estate between 10th June and 11th September and was joined by an adult male on 5th August and again on 11th September. There was an immature at Meadow Lane GP between 10th and 17th January, one there on 3rd March, then an adult female there on 19th March and again on 29th April. They were followed by a series of October records there, with one on the 4th, two on the 10th and then regular sightings of an immature until 22nd November. Elsewhere, there was one at Harrowden WM on 27th May.
