Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Regular spring and autumn migrant in small numbers. (Red list).
Spring passage consisted of seven records totalling nine birds. Two were at Blows Downs on 13th April, seven days earlier than the ten-year average arrival date, with another there on the 26th. Brogborough Tip & Pools also attracted two on 14th April, while singles were in Broom village on 20th April and Pegsdon Hills on 26th April. The last of the spring were both on 4th May, with one at Wrestlingworth and another near Sutton.
As expected, autumn passage was significantly more extended than that of the spring, with many more individuals, including a number of juveniles. Approximately 40 birds were recorded during the period from 18th August until 9th October, with a peak in the first two weeks of September. The majority of reports were of single birds, but three were at Houghton Brook Pools on 12th–14th September, and three were at Tetworth Hall Estate on 16th September. The last of the year were two at Blows Downs on 9th October.
