Peterborough Bird Club annual report Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common and widespread resident breeder in farmland and fenland areas. The peak counts in 2003 all occurred in January, with 200 at Deeping Fen Farm on 10 Jan (PNW) with 170 there on 26 Jan (MO). On Farcet Fen, 175+ were at Park House Farm on 9 Jan and 140+ at Farcet Cemetery on 10 Jan (SPD). Other notable counts included 34+ at Crowtree, Farcet Fen, on 4 Feb (SPD), 42 at Willow Drove, Newborough, in 1 Jan (PT), 42 at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 5 Feb (SPD), 35+ at West Fen, March, on 29 Mar (WF) and 20 at Deeping High Bank on 12 Oct (PNW). Breeding records from the Nene Washes were fewer than 2002 and included a singing male at Stanground, two singing males at Eldernell and 12 at March Farmers (RSPB). Elsewhere, a maximum of 38 singing birds were reported from 14 locations throughout the fenland areas, a similar number to 2002. Image © Steve Dudley. Click for larger version.
2002	Common and widespread resident breeder in farmland and fenland areas. A significant increase in records, but still under-recorded. Records received from 29 localities, with the stronghold being the fenland areas in the north, south and east of the area. Largest reports were generally in the first winter period, with 110 at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 13 Jan (RMP) and 100 (with up to 180 recorded) at Deeping Fen Farm on 27 Jan (GRH). In December, a significant find was three different feeding flocks on stubble areas on Farcet Fen totalling 106 birds on 18 Dec (SPD). The birds dispersed when these areas where ploughed during the Christmas period, but 44 birds were at Park House Farm and 34 at Crowtree present until the year's end. On the Nene Washes, 25 singing males were distributed as follows: Stanground five, RSPB Low Wash three, March Farmers 14, Ring's End three (RSPB). In the main fenland strongholds, a maximum of 40 singing birds was reported from 14 locations.
2001	Common and widespread resident breeder in farmland and fenland areas. Under recorded. In the first winter period reported from only five sites – near Eye, Thorney Dyke, Pondersbridge (max 14 on 10 Feb) (MAW), Eldernell Pits (max 24 at roost on 12 Feb) (RSPB) and Baston Fen, which held around 200 birds 18 Feb (GRH). During the breeding season, singing birds were reported from the following sites (max number of birds in brackets): Newborough (three), Deeping Fen (five), Hod Fen (two), Nene Washes (three territories on Stanground Wash and four territories bordering the RSPB reserve), Prior’s Fen GP (three), Ramsey Fen (two), White Fen, Benwick (five), Marholm (two) and Flag Fen (one). In the second winter period, birds recorded from Flag Fen, Deeping High Bank (max seven on 16 Dec) (TW), Eldernell (max 15 on 23 Dec) (GS), Baston Fen (max 40 on 30 Dec) (AD).
2000	Scarce resident. A large count of 109 birds was reported at Yaxley Fen on 22 Jan and counts of 80+ were made there on 9 Jan and 19 Feb and at Baston Fen Farm on 6 Feb. There were 55 at Orton BP on 26 Jan, 30 at Flag Fen on 10 Nov and 25 at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 16 Dec. Three were seen feeding young at King's Delph on 2 Jul. In addition, this species was recorded from Thorney Dyke, Baston Fen NR, Stanground Wash, Holme Fen, Knarr Fen, Newborough, Nene Washes, Helpston, Baston & Langtoft GP and Eldernell. On the washes, this species experienced a very bad year, the highest count being 18 at March Farmers on 13 Feb.
1999	Scarce resident. Reported from Crowtree Farm (Farcet Fen), Goosetree Farm, Orton BP, Drysides BP, Eye, Newborough, Thurlby Slipe, Nene Washes, Baston and Morborne Hill. Large counts were of c60 at Drysides BP on 21 Mar and 30 at Yaxley on 12 Dec.
1998	Common resident. The best flocks were c250 (in two groups) on Yaxley Fen (10 Jan), with c180 there (23 Jan), 100+ (19 Jan), c100 (23 Mar) and 72 (12 Dec), 100 at Stanground Wash (16 Feb) decreasing to 38 (7 Apr), 48 on Baston Fen Farm (8 Feb), 40 at the Deeping bypass (10 Jan) and 39 at Stangate (1 Feb). Others were reported from Eye, Farcet Fen, Willow Hall Lane and King's Dyke Drove. Nene Washes: The usual flock at March Farmers peaked at 256 through January-February. The flood saw off any breeders and birds were absent for the rest of the year. In December, up to 40 were on wasteland behind the office in Whittlesey.
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