Peterborough Bird Club annual report Common Buzzard Buteo buteo | A | Scarce resident 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Rare resident breeder, scarce passage and winter migrant. Another good year for sightings of this raptor. As the population spreads eastwards, sightings have become more common. The peak count was of nine together at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 11 Oct (MM, OM). Other notable counts included eight at Burghley Park on 5 Oct (TSt), seven at Morborne Hill on 14 Sep (SE, RPa) and again on 4 Oct (DGo, MW). Six were at Morborne Hill on 14 Mar (KAF, MAW, MW). One bird at Baston Fen on 19 Aug was mobbed by the 'resident' Red-footed Falcon (CM). Image © Brian Stone. Click for larger version.
2002	Rare resident breeder, scarce passage and winter migrant. This increasingly abundant raptor was recorded from 61 sites in this year - twice as many as in 2001. The majority of sightings come from the PBC area’s hillier west and southern woodlands but records elsewhere are not uncommon and it is now not unusual to see birds soaring over urban parts of Peterborough. The maximum count at one site was of eight at Morborne Hill on 7 Sep, including six together flying towards Warmington (SPD). Four birds were counted at the BirdFest at Ferry Meadows CP 8 Sep (MO) with four also seen around the Nene Washes/March Farmers area 13-22 Sep (RSPB). Records indicating breeding came from three sites. An increase in records for September would seem to indicate a post-breeding dispersal, with many birds appearing in the east at this time.
2001	Rare resident breeder, scarce passage and winter migrant. Increasing in numbers and reporting frequency, this species is now breeding in small numbers in the west of the area with an estimated breeding population of 5-10 pairs. Reported from 29 localities. Up to four birds regularly recorded from the Elton area (BHS) throughout the year, and likewise, up to four, possibly five, present in the Southwick area in June (WB, RB). Elsewhere, counts of more than two birds were three at King’s Cliffe 24 Feb (CM), three at Morborne Hill 28 Sep (RMP, JO) and three at Warmington 8 Sep (RD).
2000	Scarce winter visitor, migrant and non-breeding resident. In the first winter period, 1-2 were seen at ten locations, mostly in the north and west of the PBC area. At Morborne Hill, three present on 17-18 Feb and at Elton, a record count of nine 3 Mar. Spring and summer records of 1-2 birds were similarly widespread and a pair appeared to be resident at one location. September saw a notable influx, presumably of post-breeding birds from further west, but possibly also of long-distance migrants. Single birds were recorded at Elton 1st, 7th, 16 Sep, Elton Furze 24 Sep, Morborne Hill 4th, 25th and 27 Sep, Orton BP 13 Sep, Jones's Covert 23 Sep, east of Newborough 25 Sep, the Nene Washes 25th and 29 Sep, Apethorpe 28 Sep and Ferry Meadows CP 28 Sep. Morborne Hill had four on 23 Sep, with Monks Wood NNR holding the most impressive numbers, peaking at ten on 22 Sep (seven flew south-west), three on 28 Sep and eight on 3- Sep. By October, a series of singles in the usual areas, then just one single at Glapthorn Cow Pasture 12 Nov.
1999	Scarce winter visitor and migrant. In the first winter period, singles were noted at Southwick 1 Jan, New Road 3rd and 12 Feb, Alwalton Hill 19th and 24th Feb and 8th and 21 Mar, and Newborough 10 Mar. In spring, sightings came from the western part of the PBC area, with singles at Tomlin Wood 7th and 9 May, Woodnewton and Glapthorn, both on 9 May. There were no records for June and July, but one pair bred just outside the recording area, west of King's Cliffe, indicating a continued eastward spread through Northamptonshire. One to four birds were present in the March Farmers area of the Nene Washes from 17 Aug to 19 Sep, though five were reported on 17 Sep. Elsewhere, two were at Orton BP/Jones's Covert, one at Crowtree (Farcet Fen), the observer's first at this locality (AL), two at King's Dyke 5 Sep, one at Baston Fen 11 Sep, with further singles at Sawtry 12 Sep, Elton 24 Sep and Southwick and Tomlin Wood 26 Sep. In October, a single was seen over Longthorpe 1 Oct. Elton had one 10 Oct, three 17-18 Oct and one 25 Oct. Another was at America Farm 31 Oct. In the second winter period, singles were at Old Fletton 6 Nov, Elton 1st and 7 Dec, Orton BP 22 Dec and King's Cliffe 23 Dec.
1998	Rare resident; migrant. One was at Ferry Meadows CP 17 Jan, 1-2 at Southey Wood 10th and 18 Feb, one at Folksworth 8 Mar, Woodwalton Fen NNR 4-8 Jun and Dogsthorpe Tip 4 Aug (CBR). Birds were seen at Milton golf course on 9 Sep (WEW), Morborne Hill, 16 Sep and 3 Oct (BHS) and 6 Nov (ARF), at Elton on 15 Nov and 27 Dec (BHS) and near Warmington (two on 15 Nov and one on 20 Dec, ARF). Nene Washes: There was only one record of a passage bird on 1 Oct.
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