Peterborough Bird Club annual report Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta | A* | Quite rare 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce winter migrant. All records came from the Nene Washes/Prior’s Fen GP area. One was at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 1 Jan (JT) and 4 Jan (MF), with two there on 5 Jan when one was also seen at Prior’s Fen GP on 5 Jan (SPD). Three birds were present on the Nene Washes from Jan-Mar with two remaining until 9 Apr (RSPB et al). Two were there on 29 Sep then from 27 Oct to the year's end (JT).
2002	Scarce winter migrant. The first was one on Heron Meadow, Ferry Meadows CP, on 2 Mar (BHS), with another bird there on 2-4 Apr (SPD, TD). One or two birds were seen in the RSPB Nene Washes reserve/Eldernell area from 4 Mar until 16 Apr. The first autumn arrivals were two on 14 Oct, with up to two noted to the year’s end (RSPB). On 30 Dec, one fed with Pied Wagtails along the flooded drove near Eldernell car-park (SPD).
2001	Scarce winter migrant. Numbers on the Nene Washes built up from one on 15 Jan to five on 20th and an excellent count of 15 on 13 Feb. Most birds were feeding at the east end of the RSPB reserve and in the Counter Drain and roosting in the reedbed at Eldernell Pit, often gathering pre-roost in the tops of hawthorns around the marsh (RSPB). There were also singles at Eldernell on 20th (MCo) and Dog-in-a-Doublet 7-8 Feb (BHS). Recorded on the Nene Washes again from 23 Oct with a single present to 15 Nov (RSPB). Singles at North Bank Sewage Works (SPD) and Baston Fen NR 29 Dec (KH).
2000	Scarce winter visitor. All records were from the Nene Washes, where there were monthly figures of two in January, four in Feb-Mar, and one in April (1st only), two in Oct-Dec (CK et al). Most records were from the RSPB reserve, mostly at the east end where they fed on the edge of floods and in the reed-fen and often roost over the bank in the low willows of Eldernell Pit (CK).
1999	Scarce winter visitor. In the first winter period, several birds were present on the Nene Washes, with a maximum of eight reported on 14 Mar (BEA). A spring migrant was seen at Hampton Lakes on 3 May (NC, ARF). Wintering birds had returned to the washes by 20 Oct and several remained until the year's end. Two were seen with a large flock of Meadow Pipits at Baston Fen NR on 29 Dec (EJR).
1998	Rare winter visitor. A bird at Baston & Langtoft GP on 8 Nov (KKH, AFB) was the second site and Deepings area record. Nene Washes: Up to eight were present throughout January, two in February, three in March and one in April to 6th. There were five (7 Nov) then only one to the year's end. The birds spent most of their time in the reserve reed-fen area.
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