Peterborough Bird Club annual report Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common passage migrant, winter migrant and scarce breeding resident. Notable counts included 200 at Dogsthorpe Tip on 29 Apr (BHS), 250 were at Newborough on 23 Jul (BHS), 300 at Baston Fen on 21 Aug (RB, WB) and 400 at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR on 9 Sep (BHS). Over the last few years, there has been a massive increase in the numbers of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls breeding in urban locations. In many cites in the west and south-west of Britain, they are becoming a problem. This year saw the arrival of this species as a breeding species in the PBC area. Thirty pairs bred at Fengate on the roof of the Perkins factory (HB), whilst juveniles were also reported from Hampton Lakes (WB). It is likely that the number of pairs will increase over the next few years and the species will breed regularly. The only sighting of the south-western Scandinavian intermedius race came from Flag Fen on 19 Sep (BHS).
2002	Common passage migrant, winter migrant and scarce breeding resident. Present throughout the year. Notable counts were of 450 on the Nene Washes on 18 Jun (BHS), 200 at Dogsthorpe Tip on 10 Jun and 140+ at Fletton BP on 13 Oct. Sightings of the intermedius race came from Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR with an adult on 3 Jan, at least one on 8 Aug, a minimum of two at Fletton BP complex on 22 Jul and up to two at Dogsthorpe Tip on 8 Aug (BHS)..
2001	Common passage migrant, winter migrant and scarce non–breeding migrant. Recorded in all months with the largest counts being 100 on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve 19 Feb with 200 there 8 Jun (RSPB), 500 at Dogsthorpe Tip 1 Sep (RMP) with 475 there 23 Oct (MC). Other counts: 26 at Longthorpe 11 Apr, 30 at Prior’s Fen GP on the same date, 44 at this latter site 2nd. Also 44 at Borough Fen 7 Sep and 70 at Deeping High Bank 2 Sep. Single pairs summered/held territory at Deeping Lakes NR and Nene Washes (March Farmers).
2000	Increasingly common migrant, winter and non-breeding visitor. Exceptional roost counts on the Nene Washes c4,000 on 10 Mar and 625 on 20 Nov, but only 15 present by 18 Dec. Two or three birds summered. Elsewhere, small numbers in all months from widespread locations, plus (more representative) records of up to 400 at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR in early spring and 1,300 there 26 Jul (associated with the tip), 30 at Longthorpe 28 Aug, 12 at Deeping High Bank 24 Mar and 17 there 6 Aug,  31 at Dogsthorpe Tip 16 Nov with 300 there on 27 Dec.
1999	Common migrant and winter visitor. Peak numbers occurred at the Nene Washes, where 350 roosted during April. At Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR, 70 were seen 22 Mar (BHS). Many records were received for small flocks moving south during Jul-Aug-Sep. This trend reflects the protracted southerly dispersal of northern breeding birds during the late summer, the largest count being 38 through Eldernell on 5 Sep (GRH).
1998	Common migrant, winter visitor. The peak count was of 140 at Dogsthorpe Tip on 18 Jul (CBR). Otherwise, only a few scattered records came from Baston & Langtoft GP, Deeping High Bank, Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR and Deeping Lakes NR. Nene Washes: Up to seven fed on the wash during the winter periods, with additional birds roosting including 35 on 17 Feb and 90 on 15 Mar. In May, up to 130 were present. Records were scarce during the second winter period.
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