Peterborough Bird Club annual report Greylag Goose Anser anser | C4 | Common resident 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common feral resident breeder. Reported from 32 locations in 2003, an increase over 2003. Peak count was of 360+ at Prior’s Fen GP on 11 Nov (BHS), with 100+ there throughout the year (MO). Other notable counts included 310+ at Deeping Lakes NR on 3 Jan (WB, RB), 269 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 15 Aug (PA, AA) and 250 at Langtoft West End GP on 11 Oct (MC). At least seven pairs bred on the RSPB Low Wash, with breeding also recorded at Baston & Langtoft GP, Castor Hanglands NNR, Hampton West Lake, Serpentine BP and Deeping Lakes NR.
2002	Common feral resident breeder. Reported from 22 locations across the PBC area. Peak count was of 400 birds at Drysides Arable on 30 Dec (GW). Other notable counts include 200+ at Prior’s Fen GP throughout the year (BHS, SPD, LJ, GW), and 225 at Deeping Lakes NR on 3 Aug (AD). A total of 17 pairs bred on the Nene Washes - two at High Wash and 15 at RSPB Low Wash. Breeding also recorded at King's Dyke NR and Orton Meadows.
2001	Common feral resident breeder. Thirty years ago, this species was almost unknown in the Nene valley. The mobility of flocks and a lack of co–ordinated counts makes it difficult to estimate the local population, but autumn counts suggest a post- breeding population of c.500 in the PBC area. The largest counts were 300 at Baston & Langtoft GP 20 Jan (TW) and Prior’s Fen GP 9 Aug (GW), 178 Deeping Lakes NR 9 Sep (BT), 171 Orton BP 1 Dec (KW) and 117 on the Nene Washes in Oct (RSPB). Most birds appeared to leave the area from Apr-Jul or spread out to unreported sites and breeding numbers were low. Isolated pairs can turn up almost anywhere near water, but the only significant records received were of 10+ pairs at Hampton Lakes (GW) and 22 pairs on the Nene Washes (RSPB). At the latter site, a minimum of 43 young fledged including one reared by a pair of Mute Swans, probably due to a stray egg laid in their nest (RSPB). Two broods seen at Prior’s Fen GP (GW).
2000	Common resident. Maximum pre- and post-breeding counts were 325 at Baston & Langtoft GP 17 Sep, 286 on the Nene Washes 19 Nov, 186 at Orton BP 12 Feb, 177 at Deeping Lakes NR 20 Aug, 165 Prior’s Fen GP 12 Feb and 101 at Bainton GP 16 Jan. On the Nene Washes 16 pairs bred, though nine on the RSPB reserve fledged only 26 young. Breeding was also reported at Baston & Langtoft GP, where 42 young were with 27 adults on 17 Jul. There were no breeding records from the Fletton BP complex or from Ferry Meadows CP.
1999	Common resident. Maximum post-breeding counts of 350+ at Orton BP and 268 Baston & Langtoft GP. Only recorded breeding at Ferry Meadows CP, Hampton Lakes, Baston & Langtoft GP and Baston Fen NR. All breeding records are required.
1998	Common resident. Peak counts were c150 at Orton BP 16 Dec, 100 at Ferry Meadows CP 1 Feb and c80 at Eye Green 21 Jan. Two pairs nested in Cedar of Lebanon trees Cedrus libani at Milton golf course. Nene Washes: Often came onto the reserve to roost after dusk, sometimes lingering into daylight to enable detection, allowing counts of 87 (8 Jan), 125 (7 Feb) and 250 (9 Nov and 2 Dec). At least three pairs nested before the flood and a similar number post-flood, resulting in 11 healthy young in July.
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