 |
Peterborough
Bird Club annual report Spotted Crake Porzana porzana | A* | Quite rare 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
Rare migrant breeder and passage migrant. During 2003, this species was only reported from the Nene Washes with 1-2 singing males between 16 May and 3 Jun (RSPB et al). |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 |
 Rare migrant breeder and passage migrant. The only record from the Nene Washes was of two calling birds on 8 Jun (SPD). The spring drought and slow vegetation growth was considered responsible for the lack of breeding (RSPB). In autumn, a very obliging immature bird -pictured left- at Ferry Meadows CP from 29 Aug to 2 Sep (MJW et al) was often seen in the company of Water Rail and was seen to clash with feeding Snipe. Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 |
Rare migrant breeder and passage migrant. First bird heard on the Nene Washes on 8 May (CK) with three calling on the 15th and four territories regularly recorded during nocturnal surveys. In addition, three new calling birds were also heard on 26th, though none were heard on the next visit leaving survey workers puzzled as to whether the birds had moved on or had paired up. Two birds were again heard calling on 9 Jun and one calling on the 29th was the last record of the year. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 |
Rare
summer visitor and winter visitor. First recorded at Baston Fen NR on 19 Apr (JR), with the second at the Nene Washes 22 Apr. Five to six territories were noted at the washes, with singing birds heard regularly until 20 Jun. Four to five singing males were on the RSPB reserve and one at Eldernell Wash. A bird was flushed on 4 Jun from an area well away from the known calling sites, revealing bird feeding movements. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 |
Rare
summer visitor and migrant. All records came from the Nene Washes. A minimum of four males arrived in two waves, the first birds on 21st and 24 Apr, and then two more on 1 Jun, with birds singing up until 26 Jun. As part of a study into the habitat requirements and monitoring techniques for this species, a bird was successfully caught and radio-tagged by John Mallard (UEA), resulting in the eventual discovery of a nest that produced a successful hatching of young. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 |
Rare summer visitor and migrant. One bird was flushed from Stanground Wash on 12 May (GW). At Woodwalton Fen NNR there were up to three calling males on 27 Apr and one on 3 May (CBR). Nene Washes: Singing males were present from 18 May to 2 Jul. The complexities of this species' ecology make an accurate count difficult. All the following records are from the reserve and Eldernell. An estimated 13 males may have held territory for more than one night, a minimum of five for more than a week, and at least two for a month. The following is a list of nocturnal visits showing the amazing influx on 4 Jun, when there may have been up to 15 birds present, and how the next night only had half that number singing.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
report home | species index | introduction | next species | contributors | contact |
||||||||||||||||||||||