Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Declining summer migrant. The East of England long-term trend is decreasing -88%*. (Red list).
Confirmed breeding took place at Blunham, Cooper’s Hill, Deepdale, King’s Wood at Houghton Conquest, The Lodge, Manor Park at Flitwick, Pegsdon Hills, Putnoe Wood, Rushmere CP, Thurleigh Airfield and Woburn Park. Probable breeding took place at another four sites.
The earliest to arrive was one at Bedford GC on 5th May, with the next at Wrest Park on the following day. More obvious arrivals started from 12th May, with the largest numbers during May being five at The Lodge on the 25th, four at Wrest Park on the 26th and four at King’s Wood, Houghton Conquest on the 27th. Autumn gatherings included 14 at Wrest Park on 28th July, six in Ampthill Park on 17th August and five at Whipsnade Common on 6th September. After those, records diminished, and the last were singles at Myers Farm Potton on 17th September and East Hyde on the 22nd.
