Bullfinch.pdf

The Bullfinch is a breeding resident in Kent, with a widespread distribution across the county. It breeds in wooded areas, large gardens, and orchards, and is found in 71% of tetrads in the Folkestone and Hythe area. The species has been present in the area since at least 1871, and is considered to be numerous and generally distributed. However, the population has declined in recent years, with a 26% decline in occupied tetrads between 1988-1994 and 2007-2013, and a 34% decline in population across south-east England between 1995 and 2012. The species is partially migratory, with some populations moving south to the Mediterranean in winter, and has been recorded on migration at the cliffs in late October and early November. There have been records of Northern Bullfinch and Continental Bullfinch in the area, with some individuals showing characteristics of these forms.