Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Scarce but regular spring migrant, recently increasing in autumn. (Red list).
The vast majority of records came in the spring from the two regular and well-watched locations of Blows Downs and Pegsdon Hills. The first was on 14th March, 17 days earlier than the ten year average earliest, at Blows Downs, with two there on the 19th and another on the 26th. One was at Pegsdon Hills during 21st–25th March. In April, Blows Downs hosted birds from the 8th to 29th, including peaks of seven on the 11th and 22nd, while Pegsdon Hills supported individuals from the 5th to 17th, with a maximum count of three together on two dates. Elsewhere singles were at Upper Caldecote on 26th March, Knocking Hoe on 7th April and The Lodge on 25th April.
The autumn passage produced six records, all in October. Migrants passed during vismig watches at The Pinnacle on the 3rd and 12th, Blows Downs on the 5th and 12th, Warden Hill Everton on the 15th, with the final bird of the year being a nocmig recording over Meppershall on the 29th.
