Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Widespread resident, common passage migrant and winter visitor. Included in 29.9% of BirdTrack lists. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -18%*. The long-term trend for Bedfordshire is also decreasing -3%. (Red list).
Breeding codes were only included for 310 records, about 13% of spring/summer (March–August) records. Breeding was confirmed at just three sites: Brogborough Tip & Pools (fledged young), Ashmore Farm Everton and Myers Farm Potton (adults carrying food). Probable breeding was noted at a further 44 sites. Surprisingly, singing was recorded from only two sites where probable or confirmed breeding was reported. Singing was reported from 40 other sites and was noted from 11th January until 29th October, was most often in March and April, but with none between 25th July and 28th September.
Counts mostly referred to fewer than 30 birds, with only 11 reports of 50 or more. Of those, six were in the first winter period: 60 near Maulden allotments on 14th January; 50 at Hill Farm, Langford on 16th February; 50 at Manor Farm, Beeston on 19th February and 6th March; 50 at Upper Caldecote FCA on 23rd February and 50 at Brogborough Tip & Pools on 17th April. There were five records of 50 or more in the second winter period: 145 (the highest count of the year) at Warden Hill Everton on 17th October; 50 at Manor Farm on 17th October and 22nd November; 74 around Meppershall on 21st November and 64 at Sutton Hill on 3rd December. Autumn movements were only noted over Luton and Henlow Grange.
