Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)

Status at Longham Lakes

Status uncertain. Known to breed nearer to Hampreston, but usually recorded at Longham in the autumn and winter.

Earlier records:
1. 4 juveniles on the Hampreston Fields, 19th August 2002.
2. 2 there on 3rd September 2003.
3. 2 on 5th November 2003.
4. 1 on 22nd September 2005.
5. 1 on 20th October 2005 and 2 on 26th October to 13th December.
6. 2 on 12th August 2006.
7. 2 on Hampreston Fields, 13th September 2006.
8. 3, including 2 juveniles, Hampreston Fields, 9th October 2006.
9. 1 on 2nd March 2007
10. A good run of records at Hampreston Fields in September 2007, with 3 on 1st, then 6 from 4th-11th.
11. 1 or 2 wintered from October 2007 to January 2008.
12. 5, including juveniles, 2nd and 14th September 2008. Juvenile also seen on 17th July 2008. Then 4 seen on 12th November 2008.
13. 1 present winter 2008/9 (to January). 2 on 14th February and 5th March 2009.

Winter 2009/10: 1 in autumn 2009, still present early 2010 (2 on 8th January 2010).
Autumn/Winter 2010: 2 on 9th September 2010, 1 on 23rd, 2 on 25th and 1 on 27th November 2010 and then 2 again on 2nd December 2010 – fitful winter records.
2011: First recorded 9th March (3). Then reappeared on 25th August, with 3 (2 on 27th), then 1 on 26th September (Hampreston Fields), with 4 on 15th October and at least 3 on 17th. Finally 1 on 3rd December, 3 on 10th and 2 on 18th December.
2012: 1 on 25th January (Dave and Pat Harris), 1 on 3rd February. 1 on 14th November, 1 on 28th December.
2013: 1 male on 19th March (GG).
2014: 1 on 12th March (OWLS), 1 on 31st October (OWLS), 3 on 7th November (DC), 1 on 28th November (DC), 2 on 30th November (Martin Wood), 1 on 3rd December (Trevor Wilkinson), 1 on 5th December (OWLS) and 1 on 16th December.
2015: 1 on 6th January and again on 11th and 20th; then 1 on 3rd February and 21st February. 1 on 10th September.
2016: 1 on 17th January (Martin Wood), then none until 2 on 14th August, 1 on 15th November, 1 on 16th and 20th December and 3 on 27th December.