An estimated 65,000 pairs breed in Britain, mainly
in northern England and Scotland and it is thought that over 100,000 birds
winter in Britain and Ireland. The first reference to Twite was in 1562 then
known as 'twyes' which was thought to have been a misprint of 'twytes'. It is
echoic and representative of its call but probably first known by bird catchers
of the time as 'tweet'. As its name implies its call is a distinctive 'twit';
the song containing fast trills and twitters. Some historical names for Twite
include; Twite Finch, Moor Peep, Little Peewit and Peepie Lannart.
There have been around a hundred and eighty Twite reported
from S. Gloucestershire;
2012: (4)
Four were present at Oldbury Power Station between January 14th
- 25th around Lagoon III and in stubble south of the
Lagoon with at least three lingering up to February 13th;
Twite at Oldbury Power Station. Pete Hazelwood
2011: (c.4)
One possibly this species was seen 200 metres west of Plough
Farm at Marshfield on January 21st around ST: 797 760;
At
Oldbury Power Station two or three were seen with a large
finch flock in vegetation around Lagoon III on
December 20th. They were flushed by workers and not seen
again after midday..... I Watched them for about ten minutes
before the mixed finch flock (c.100 birds mainly Chaffinch)
were flushed by some power station workers. I thought at
first they were Redpoll but realised that they didn't have
any red on the head and looked too dark and long-tailed.
Strikingly streaky on mantle and rusty face, throat and
upper breast. Whitish under parts, quite heavily streaked on
lower flanks. Bills looked quite small, grey/ dull yellowish
on one bird. They were mostly difficult to see, feeding in
tall weeds on edge of lagoon III. They perched very briefly in
bushes a couple of times. (Matt Plenty)
Twite at OPS. December 2011 Matt Plenty.
1994: (1)
At least one was seen at Severn Beach on November 11th.
1991: (1)
One record of a single bird at Oldbury Power Station on
November 23rd.
1986: (c.20)
Up to twenty birds recorded from 1985 at Aust Warth with the
last spring record on March 23rd; Two were seen at Aust
Warth on November 15th.
1985: (c.20)
Up to eleven lingering from 1984 at Aust Warth until January
11th; One at Northwick Warth on February 16th; Up to eleven
from October 27th at Aust Warth and into 1986; Ten were seen
at New Passage on December 29th.
1984: (c.25)
Ten were reported between February 19th and March 3rd from
Lagoon I at Oldbury Power Station; From October 28th there
were fifteen reports many from Aust Warth with flocks of up
to twenty birds involved.
1982: (c.11)
Up to eleven birds were reported from Severn Beach between
January 18th and March 13th in the first winter period and
between December 11th - 21st in the second winter period.
1981: (1)
An individual was reported from Severn Beach on February
11th.
1980: (c.18)
Flocks of up to eighteen birds were reported from Hallen in
the first winter period between January 1st and March 19th
and in the autumn between October 30th and November 29th.
1979: (c.35)
Reports of up to thirty-five birds were noted from Severn
Beach between January and April 8th and from November 11th
until December 31st.
1978: (c.40)
Reports of up to forty birds were noted from Severnside
between January 6th and March 27th in the first winter
period and from October 4th until December 31st in the
autumn and second winter period.