Peterborough Bird Club annual report Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus | A | Common resident 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common resident breeder and winter migrant. Overton Lake at Ferry Meadows CP remains the best place to see large gatherings of this species and held peak counts in both winter periods. During the first winter period, 21 present there on 4 Feb, increasing to 29 by 7 Feb (both DG); towards the end of the year, 21 there on 16 Oct (DB) with 36 there on 19 Oct (BHS). Other double-figure counts were recorded from Baston & Langtoft GP, Deeping High Bank, Orton BP and Prior’s Fen GP. Records of breeding pairs and/or young birds were received from: Baston & Langtoft GP, Crown Lakes CP, Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR, Ferry Meadows CP, Fletton BP, Sibson Lake, Stibbington GP and Yarwell. A pair at Stibbington GP still had small young on 16 Oct (BHS).
2002	Common resident breeder and winter migrant. The largest count was of 36 at Ferry Meadows CP on 1 Apr (MJW); 20-30 birds were regularly recorded at this site. Other notable counts included 19 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 10 Feb (AD), 16 at Orton BP on 4 Jan (SPD), 14 at Drysides BP on 7 Nov (GW), 12 at Maxey GP on 17 Nov (BT) and 10 at Beeby’s BP on 3 Mar (SPD). Confirmed breeding records were received from Baston & Langtoft GP, Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR, King’s Dyke NR, Nene Washes, Orton BP and Woodwalton Fen NNR.
2001	Common resident breeder and winter migrant. Noted at 20 widespread sites but only at five during the breeding season, with single broods reported from King’s Dyke NR (GW), Deeping Lakes NR (BT), Eldernell Pit (RSPB) and the Nene Washes (High Wash) (RSPB), plus two broods (from one pair) at Prior’s Fen GP (GW), of which four juveniles fledged. Probably overlooked at other sites. Maximum winter counts: 21 at Ferry Meadows CP 14 Jan, 21 at Baston & Langtoft GP 10 Feb (AD), 16 at Bainton GP 11 Feb, 15 at Orton BP and impressive counts of 47 at Ferry Meadows CP 8 Nov and 50 there 13 Nov. Otherwise, the highest counts were of spring and post breeding migrants: 11 on Nene Washes 16 Mar, 38+ at Ferry Meadows CP 22 Apr, 13 at Deeping High Bank, Maxey GP, and Ferry Meadows CP late Aug–mid-Sept and 36 at Bainton GP 7 Oct.
2000	Widespread resident and passage migrant; local breeder. Recorded at 17 sites, with peak counts of 28 at Ferry Meadows CP 23 Dec, 18 on the Nene Washes 9 Apr and Orton BP 26 Sep, 15 at Drysides GP 15 Jul, 14 at Bainton GP 15 Oct, 13 at Ferry Meadows CP and 11 at Deeping High Bank on 6 Nov. Five pairs bred in the Nene Washes area, three at Orton BP and one to two pairs bred at eight further sites.
1999	Widespread resident and passage migrant; local breeder. Recorded on most pits and rivers throughout the year, with peaks of 26 at Baston & Langtoft GP in mid-February and 25 at Ferry Meadows CP 22 Oct. Breeding records included "several pairs" at Orton BP, an early brood of four juveniles at Maxey GP on 21 Mar, and one pair at Eldernell Pit.
1998	Common resident. Breeding was confirmed at Bainton GP (four broods), Maxey GP (three broods) (CBR) and Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR. The best counts were of 27 at Ferry Meadows CP 2 Apr, with 22 at Tallington GP 21 Nov, 17 at Bainton GP, eight at Fletton BP, six at Orton Mere and one at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR.
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