Peterborough Bird Club annual report Brambling Fringilla montifringilla | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce winter migrant and scarce passage migrant. An adult female at Crowtree, Farcet Fen, on 8 Feb was followed by a male on 18-19 Mar (SPD). An excellent autumn/winter started with one south at Nene Washes on 3 Oct (JT). On 11 Oct three flew over Ferry Meadows CP (DG, MJW), one over Vine House Farm (TW) and one over Woodwalton Fen NNR. An adult male was along the Nene Valley Railway on 13 Oct and 6-7 Nov and a female was at Ferry Meadows CP on 12 Nov (CP, DG). Four were at Eldernell on 29 Oct (SE), one male in a Langtoft garden on 29-30 Oct (JJ), a female/immature at Wash Northey on 6 Nov (BHS), one at Orton Northgate on 11 Nov (GW), one at Holme Fen NNR on 1 Dec (HB, KW), one at Tanholt GP on 3rd and 9 Dec (BHS, MW et al), one at Prior’s Fen GP on 21 Dec (MW) and one female at King’s Dyke NR on 31 Dec (GW). One at Baston & Langtoft GP on 21 Dec was the first of at least one male and three females present to the end of the year (AA, PA, JJ, KD, RB, WB). Image © Steve Dudley. Click for bigger version
2002	Scarce winter migrant and scarce passage migrant. An excellent year for this cracking winter finch, with many reported from gardens. The largest count was of up to 20 at Deeping Fen Farm in Jan (PNW). Two males at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 21 Jan (MW), one male at Longthorpe garden 24 Jan-25 Mar (GRH, BTO), one female in a West Town garden on 3 Feb (MW), one at Eldernell on 15 Feb (RBA), five at Castor Hanglands NNR on 2 Mar (MJW), one in an Orton Waterville garden on 5 Mar (DT) and the last on 12 Apr, a male in breeding plumage near Werrington (GRH). Seen again from 13 Oct with a male in a Deeping St Nicholas garden (PNW). Two near Serpentine BP on 17 Oct  (GW), one female/immature at Norman Cross BP on 18 Oct (SPD), two at the Nene Washes and two at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 19 Oct (JL, MH) and one over West Town on 20 Oct (MW).
2001	Scarce winter migrant and scarce passage migrant. All records of the Chaffinch’s sexy winter cousin were of single birds. Single birds were seen at Eldernell 1 Jan (GRH), Maxham’s Green Lane (male) 9 Jan (PJP), Nene Washes on 2nd, 8th and 16 Jan, 2 Feb and 7 Nov (RSPB), Prior’s Fen GP 21 Oct (SPD), Flag Fen 13 Nov (BHS, SPD), and Vine House Farm 16 Dec (DB).
2000	Rare winter visitor. All records as follows: one at Marholm on 7 Jan, two at Baston Fen NR on 30 Jan and four at Baston Fen Farm in a large finch flock attracted by Nicholas Watts' winter feeding programme (6 Feb). One was in a Helpston garden on 5 Mar and a male was at Bainton on 25 Mar. The only second winter period records were of four birds at King's Dyke on 21 Oct (GS) and one at Marholm on 8 Nov.
1999	Rare winter visitor. Three at Helpston on 21 Mar and one at Elton on 26-27 Dec were the only records.
1998	Scarce winter visitor. One was at Baston Fen on 24 Jan with two there on 31 Jan and 2 Feb (AFB). One called as it flew south over Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Oct (RAH). Two came to a bird table in Helpston on 8 Dec (RAs) and one was noted on several occasions in December at Orton BP (MO). Nene Washes: Singles were along the counter drain on 15 Feb and Eldernell Pits on 8 Nov. One was behind the office in Whittlesey on 15 Dec.
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