Peterborough Bird Club annual report Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce migrant breeder and passage migrant. Of 132 records received during 2003, 94% were during the Feb-Jul period. The peak count was of 13 birds on the Nene Washes on 21 March (RSPB). All other counts were of five birds or fewer. Counts of four birds recorded from Baston & Langtoft GP, Nene Washes and Deeping Lakes NR, with five (including two young) there on 14 Jun (WB, RB). One or two birds also reported from nine further locations. Eight records of single birds during the Aug-Oct period with the last record on 16 Nov at Maxey GP (GJ). Eight pairs bred on the Nene Washes: High Wash one, Eldernell Wash one, March Farmers five, and Ring's End one. Successful breeding was also recorded from Baston & Langtoft GP, Prior’s Fen GP and Deeping Lakes NR.
2002	Scarce migrant breeder and passage migrant. Low numbers present in the early part of the year, increasing during March at the start of spring passage. All birds had departed from the area by August with three at Ferry Meadows CP on 1-3 Aug and a single in West Town, Peterborough on 13 Aug (MW). A peak count of 18 was recorded from Beeby’s BP on 22 Jan (BD). Other notable counts included six on Nene Washes on 7th, 14th & 23 Apr, six on Baston & Langtoft GP on 21 Jun (TW) and five at Deeping Lakes NR on 25 Apr (WB). Up to four birds regularly reported from a further 16 locations. Breeding records came from the Nene Washes with all five nests located on washland arable – two pairs at Eldernell and three pairs on March Farmers; one juvenile fledged at Eldernell (RSPB). Breeding also suspected at Deeping Lakes NR and Hampton Lakes.
2001	Scarce migrant breeder and passage migrant. In the first winter period, a single stood on the ice of a frozen Orton BP 21 Jan (GW) with another on the Nene Washes at March Farmers 17 Feb (RSPB). During Mar–May, birds were recorded from (with max counts in brackets) Baston & Langtoft GP (three on 24 Mar) (TW), Deeping Lakes NR (four on 15 May) (BHS), Deeping High Bank, Fletton BP, Hampton Lakes (four on 25 Mar) (NCr), Ferry Meadows CP, Yaxley, Nene Washes (15 on 1 May) (SPD), Prior’s Fen GP, Orton BP and Bainton GP. Breeding season records came from the Nene Washes with six territorial pairs (RSPB), a pair at Deeping Lakes NR (BT) and a pair at Baston & Langtoft GP with a single chick seen there 20 May (AD). In Jun numbers increased at two sites, with five at Baston & Langtoft GP on 3rd (WB) and 16 at Deeping Lakes on 18th (BT). What was presumably the same flock (14+ breeding birds) was noted at Deeping Lakes NR on the same date (TW). Other records in June were 2–3 at Prior’s Fen GP throughout (GW) and six at March Farmers 13th (MM, OM). July was the last month for sightings, with four flying south-west over Park Farm, Stanground 3rd (GW), two at both Thorpe Meadows 5th and Ferry Meadows CP 6th, a single at Prior’s Fen GP, 17th, two on the Nene Washes 22nd and the last at Deeping Lakes NR 23rd (TW).
2000	Uncommon summer visitor and scarce migrant. First recorded at Hampton Lakes 13 Feb, where four pairs were noted 12 Mar and 28 Mar. A maximum of 11 were at the Nene Washes 12 Mar and a single at Baston & Langtoft GP 18 Mar, increasing to four on 31st. Breeding pairs were at the Nene Washes, with three at Eldernell Wash, six at March Farmers and one at Ring's End. A pair held territory at Prior’s Fen GP. Two birds were present at Baston & Langtoft GP from Apr-Jun, with three there 24 Apr and a pair noted nesting 12 May. At Hampton Lakes, 1-3 were seen during Apr-Jun, with five there 30 Apr. Elsewhere, three were at Stanground Wash 23 Apr, with two there 13 May. Two were at Deeping Lakes NR 7 May, one on 7 Jun and a single was at North Bank GP 23 Apr. July was the last month for sightings; birds were noted at the Nene Washes with three at Hampton Lakes 2 Jul, two 13-16 Jul, two at Deeping Lakes NR 17-18 Jul and a single 19 Jul.
1999	Uncommon summer visitor and scarce migrant. Most records came from the Hampton Lakes area in March and April, with two pairs arriving 10 Mar. A maximum of three pairs were noted there on 22 Mar. Elsewhere, singles were at Ferry Meadows CP on 4th, 7th and 12 Apr, two pairs at Fletton BP 16 Mar, one there on 9 Apr, two at Baston & Langtoft GP 21 Mar. In May, one was at Wyman's Bridge on 26th. On the Nene Washes, a total of 14 pairs held territory, the best areas being March Farmers with eight (one juvenile seen) and Eldernell with three pairs seen in June with eight young. Breeding also occurred at Hampton Lakes, with two juveniles noted 22 Jun and three adults and young seen at Baston & Langtoft GP 4 Jul. Other records included a bird calling from Orton Wistow 2 Jul, one at Crowtree (Farcet Fen) 19 Jul, and a final record of four adults at Baston & Langtoft GP 23 Jul.
1998	Rare summer visitor and scarce migrant. One, two or three birds turned up throughout the area from 31 Jan-22 Aug. A pair was seen copulating at Serpentine Lake on 28 Apr (BHS) and a pair nested at Yaxley BP (ARF). Other records came from Ferry Meadows CP, Baston & Langtoft GP, Stanground Wash, Wyman's Bridge, Hampton Lake, North Bank and Alwalton. Nene Washes: Present from January to August, with breeding birds arriving in March. The count of 26 in May was high, though the number of potential breeding pairs was only ten. One family group was present in August.
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