Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Declining breeder, common passage migrant and winter visitor. Included in 19.6% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -53%*. (Red list).
Breeding was confirmed at nine sites, with some young fledging, but heavy predation alsoreported. Displaying adults were seen at other suitable breeding sites in the county but there wasno further proof of breeding.
At Grovebury SP, high counts in January were 600 on the 1st and 1,150 on the 30th, and thenin February, 750 on the 3rd, 1,150 on the 9th and 580 on the 20th. The only other significantcount in the first winter period was 400 at Octagon Farm GP on 2nd February. In the secondwinter period the highest counts were 300 at Roxton on 9th October, 300 at Broom South Quarryon 2nd November, 600 at Grovebury SP on 14th December and 500 at Chimney Corner NorthClP on 15th December.
