Species Account
Extract from Bird Report 2024
Widespread but declining summer visitor. Included in 7.8% of BirdTrack lists. Th e East of England long-term trend is decreasing -87%*. (Amber list).
Breeding was confirmed at MCP Wetlands NR, Pegsdon Hills, Rookery North ClP and Sandy Smith NR, with probable breeding at a further nine sites, illustrating how this species is rapidly attaining the status of scarce breeder within the county.
The first was at Blows Downs on 20th March, nine days ahead of the ten-year average arrival date. Th ere then followed singles at Potton on 22nd March and Priory CP on the 23rd, and the first record of multiple birds, two at Willington GP on the 25th. Records came from five further sites through to the end of the month. Arrivals continued throughout the first half of April, until the first significant influx on the 10th, with 20 at Strawberry Hill Farm, 17 at Stewartby Lake and ten at MCP Wetlands NR. At Priory CP there were 30 on the 11th, but it was not until the 20th that the next double-figure count occurred, with 39 at MCP Wetlands NR – that was also the highest count of the year. During May, numbers were generally lower as migrants moved on, although 25 were at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 15th. At Coronation ClP there were seven on the 1st, with seven also at Mowsbury, Bedford on the 18th. In June, counts of six came from Sandy Smith NR on the 1st, Strawberry Hill Farm on the 7th, The Lodge on the 12th and Clophill Lakes on the 15th. Numbers dwindled significantly through to the end of the month. The highest count in July was of four at Strawberry Hill Farm on the 21st, with records received from 16 sites. Records increased significantly in August, with 36 sites returning counts as autumn migrants started to filter through. At The Lodge there were six on the 26th, at Houghton Brook Pools four on the 11th and at Blunham Bridges four on the 14th. During September, records originated from only 13 sites, with a maximum count of two at Pegsdon Hills on the 3rd. In a neat symmetry, the last of the year was at Blows Downs on the 18th, at the same site and recorded by the same observer as the county’s first.
