Twite Cardeulis flavirostris

Fairly common breeding resident and summer visitor

Evans and Buckley (cited in Pennington et al. 2004) recorded the birds on the island in the 1800’s.

In 1973, 12 pairs were recorded, but breeding ceased later in the 70s (Furness, 1983).

One or two birds are occasionally recorded in the winter months, and start to increase (still in single figures) slowly as birds filter through in March, April and into May. It is not until August that numbers reach double figures and then on into October.

Highest counts include:

75 on 26^th September, 1993

c.100 on the 22^nd September, 1995

45 on the 24^th September, 1998

50 on the 23^rd September, 2000

50 on the 1^st September, 2002

90 on the 14^th September, 2003

65 on the 29^th September, 2004