Peterborough Bird Club annual report Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common winter and passage migrant. On the Nene Washes, 2,000 birds were present on 2 Jan (RSPB) but numbers then lower until February due to deep flooding on the Washes with 3,000+ there on 27 Feb (JO). Early March saw a rapid and brief build up to 9,500 birds on 3 Mar, with 5,000 present on 7 Mar falling to 1,570 by 21 Mar (RSPB). Elsewhere, notable counts included 1,700+ at Landy Green Way on 4 Jan (MJW), 2,000+ at Ferry Meadows CP on 17 Jan (TD, DG), and 1,000+ at Orton BP on 30 March (KW). The last birds were at Conington Fen on 7 May (RL). The first returning birds were three moulting individuals at Prior’s Fen GP on 6 Aug (BHS). Numbers on the Nene Washes during the autumn and second winter period were very low due to the lack of any flooding; the highest count was of 240 on 17 Nov (RSPB). Away from the Nene Washes, notable counts included c1,500 at Deeping High Bank on 29 Oct (RB, WB), 1,200 at Ferry Meadows CP on 7 Nov (DG), 1,500 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 23 Nov (JJ, WB) and 1,300 between Fletton and Hampton on 4 Dec (BHS).
2002	Common winter and passage migrant. As usual, the main concentrations were on the Nene Washes; the traditional late-winter build up peaked at 5,600 on 5 Feb (JT). The last bird of the spring was a single bird on 17 May (RSPB). Away from the Nene Washes, notable counts included 1,000 at Orton BP on 17 Mar (MW), 600+ at Hampton Lakes on 3 Mar (SPD) and 500 at Maxey GP on 24 Mar (BT). The first returning birds were five on the Nene Washes on 7 Aug (BHS); there was a steady build-up of numbers with 2,000 there on 15 Nov increasing to 4,320 on 19 Nov (both JT). Other notable counts included 800 on ploughed fields near Etton between 7-21 Nov (BHS) and probably some of these were amongst the 500 seen near Market Deeping on 15 Nov (DW). Some 815 were at Hampton Lakes on 6 Dec with 700+ there on 23 Dec (both BHS). Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more.
2001	Common winter and passage migrant. The winter flock on the Nene Washes reached 4,500 on 6 Feb and peaked at 9,000 on 12 Mar. Thereafter, numbers dropped off very quickly (RSPB). Passage was noted on the Nene Washes during Apr with 300 on 23rd (RSPB). Elsewhere, numbers were significantly lower, especially during Jan–Feb, with the only records received from: Nassington, 100 on 18 Feb and 200 on 25 Feb (BHS); Ramsey Fen, 75 on 18 Feb (RES); 25 at Prior’s Fen GP 25 Feb (GW); 20 at Castor 6 Jan (RD); and four over Milton Park 1 Jan (MJW). From March, passage got underway with 500 at Baston & Langtoft GP 25th (BT), 53 at Deeping Fen 4th (TW) and 31 at Elton 3rd (BHS). In Apr, up to 900 were at Northborough on 8th (TW), 500 at Market Deeping 12th (TW) and 500 at Hampton 18th (BHS) with 300 still there 26th (GW). The first returning birds were on the Nene Washes on 16 Jul (RSPB) and seven at Prior’s Fen GP (SPD) 16 Aug. Small numbers were noted at the latter site through to early Sep, with a maximum of 18 on 23 Aug (SPD). Elsewhere, 19 at Elton 3 Sep (BHS), 100 at Deeping St Nicholas 8 Sep (WB) and up to 35 during Sep-Oct on the Nene Washes (MO). Birds also noted from Deeping Lakes NR and Fletton BP. Numbers increased during Oct with 1,500 at Baston & Langtoft GP 10 Oct (AD), 750 at Northborough 27th (MHo), 200 at Langtoft 28th (RS), 150 at Fletton BP 3 Nov (CBS), 250 at Langtoft 6th (RS), 2,000 on the Nene Washes 20th (RSPB) and 450 at Fletton 28 Nov (BHS). Smaller flocks were also seen at Deeping Lakes NR, Deeping High Bank, Conington, and Ferry Meadows CP. In Dec, 3,000 on the Nene Washes 6th, decreasing to 50 by 16th during a cold spell before increasing to 600 by 19th (RSPB). Elsewhere, significant counts were made at Fletton BP with 1,400 on 13 Dec (SPD), 510 at Langtoft 28 Dec (RS), 250 at Glinton 15 Dec (TW, DW), 200 at Norman Cross 30 Dec (BHS), 150 at Baston & Langtoft GP 16 Dec (TW) and 145 at Baston Fen NR 23 Dec (WB). Smaller flocks were also at Beeby’s BP, Castor and Elton.
2000	Common winter visitor and migrant. In the first winter period, 960 were at the Nene Washes in January, with 2,200 on 11 Feb, rising rapidly to 10,000 on 26 Feb and 7,000 on 28 Feb to 1 Mar. Numbers decreased to 1,050 on 12 Mar, increasing again to 1,200 on 22 Mar, with 40 left by 27 Mar. Elsewhere, 1,000 Bainton GP 1 Jan, 450 Market Deeping 1 Jan, 450 Ferry Meadows CP 20 Jan, 100 Deeping bypass 23 Jan, 300 roosting Baston & Langtoft GP 11 Mar, 400 and 280 in the Elton area 12 Mar, and 108 Newborough 15 Mar. Flocks of fewer than 100 were noted at four sites. A modest spring passage, except for 650 at Langtoft on 9 Apr. Return passage began 27 Jul, when six were on the Nene Washes, then singles at Hampton Lakes 6th and 20 Aug, 45 on the washes 22 Aug, with 120 there 24 Aug. In September, small numbers were noted at Baston & Langtoft GP, Prior’s Fen GP and Deeping Lakes NR. At Deeping High Bank, 1,000 on 28 Sep. Between Oct-Dec fewer than 100 were at Baston & Langtoft GP, Borough Fen and Baston Fen NR. Larger numbers included "hundreds" at Deeping High Bank 6 Nov, 200 Drysides BP 10 Nov, 150 Glinton 26 Nov, 100 at Fletton BP 13 Dec and 200 at Hampton 13 Dec. At the Nene Washes, 500 were noted 26 Nov with 4,000 on 7 Dec decreasing to 500 by 18 Dec, due to freezing weather.
1999	Common winter visitor and migrant. During the first winter period at the Nene Washes, 2,200 were present in early January before departing mid-month due to deep flooding. The receding water by late January/early February drew in a maximum of 7,000 with 6,000 remaining to 8 Mar, reducing to 1,000 by 26th. Elsewhere, flocks of 30-400 were seen at Nobby Gates, New Road (Peterborough), Ferry Meadows CP, Castor, Chesterton, Norman Cross, Alwalton and Thorney. Larger totals were 500 at Hampton 22 Mar and 1,200 at Pinnard's Spinney. During April, small flocks were noted at Crowtree (Farcet Fen), Thorney and Newborough. At Hampton, 200+ noted 23 Apr and 1,000 at Pinnard's Spinney, reducing to 200 19 Apr. A few small groups moved through the Nene Washes, with 300 at Ring's End 18 Apr. The latest record was of three on the washes, 11 May. The return passage/second winter period commenced with one on the Nene Washes on 4 Aug, with occasional birds there until 60 on 5 Sep and 100 on 26 Oct. Eight were noted flying south at Elton 19 Sep (BHS). Outside the washes, flocks of 10-300 were at Maxey, Crowtree (Farcet Fen), Fletton, Langtoft, Casewick, Bainton GP and Glinton. Large flocks were noted at Hampton, with 800 on 20 Nov and 1,000 on 12 Dec. The washes held 3,000 on 2 Nov, with 2,000 5 Nov to 2 Dec here, before hard weather drove them off. At least 300 returned by the year's end.
1998	Common winter visitor, migrant. In the first winter period, there were 11 over Market Deeping on 10 Jan, c300 at Hampton (11 Jan), 150 at Ferry Meadows CP (17 Jan), with 200 there on 20 Jan, 40 between Helpston and Maxey (31 Jan), 600 at Chesterton (8 Feb), 800 at Ferry Meadows CP (8 Feb) and 60 at Baston Fen NR (7 Mar), with 41 there on 14 Mar. In the second winter period, 12 were at Tansor (20 Sep), 140 were at Deeping Common (4 Oct), 120 at Northborough (10 Oct), 29 at Maxey GP (10th and 17 Oct), c250 at King's Dyke NR (18 Oct), 800+ at Warmington (18 Oct), 250 at Orton BP (16 Dec), a large mixed flock with Lapwings at Ferry Meadows CP (20 Dec), 67 at Crowland (20 Dec), 40 at Orton BP (24 Dec) and c2,000 at Chesterton (27 Dec). Nene Washes: The 3,000 present on 15 Jan drew in a count of 6,109, dropping to 2,500 (4 Mar) and then to 250 (2 Apr). These departed, but 700 passed through on 6 Apr and 70 on 12 Apr. One was seen on 9 May. The first returning birds were seven on 10 Aug and 150 on 31 Aug. Up to 20 in September and October built up to 1,200 in November and 2,000 in December.
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