Uncommon resident and winter visitor which has formerly bred. 

Reed Buntings are mainly wetland birds, when their population levels were high in the late 1960s and early 1970s they were also found nesting in dry farmland, and they also colonised newly planted Conifer plantations. Their numbers subsequently declined between the mid-1970s and early 1980s.

They are vulnerable during cold winters and were badly affected by the winter of 1962/63 and the severe winters of the early 1980s. During the winter they roost communally, the largest such roost in the County was of 150 birds at Box Wood in 1979.

The earliest record for Stevenage is of the 10 noted at the old sewage works, Roaring Meg on 21 June 1966.

In the 1970’s they were recorded from: Aston, Aston End (where 30 came into roost with a mixed flock of Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings on 6 January 1977); Astonbury (where 15 were seen on 15 January 1979); Box Wood (where 100 roosted during January 1979); Fairlands Valley (where 16 were seen on 11 February 1973 and, 20 in January 1976); Martins Way (where 30 plus were seen by the former Dixons Warehouse on 23 March 1974); Norton Green (where up to 12 were seen in November 1977).

During the 1980’s and 1990’s they were recorded from: Box Wood; Lords Farm, Aston; Norton Green Tip (where a pair bred in 1983); Ridlins Mire; Stevenage Brook (along which 10 and 15 were counted on 14 June 1981) Watery Grove (where a mixed flock of 50-60 Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers (Emberzia citrinella) were seen on 20 January 1981).

Between 2000 and 2010 they were recorded from: New Park Lane, Aston; Norton Green Tip; River Beane Aston; un-recorded Stevenage Gardens (where four were seen on 27 January 2007 and, two on 23 March 2008).

Since 2010 they have been recorded from: Fairlands Valley Lakes, Norton Green Tip, Potters Spring, Upper Kitching Spring and, River Beane, Aston and, Aston End. The most recent record is up to three birds at Fairlands Valley Lakes between 23 March and 20 April 2024.

They were confirmed as breeding from two of Stevenage’s tetrads in 1973 Breeding Atlas, three in the 1992 Atlas but, from none in the 2012 Atlas.

At Watery Grove the Common Bird Census recorded a single breeding territory being held in 1978, and their presence during the 1989 breeding season.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from four of the tetrads covering Stevenage.