Peterborough Bird Club annual report Pochard Aythya ferina | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce resident breeder and common winter migrant. With the onset of high water levels on the Nene Washes at the start of the year, numbers rose to an impressive 2,853 by the February WeBS count but dwindled to 74 by 21 Mar as the water levels rapidly receded (RSPB). The second winter period produced only 30 birds on the December WeBS count; these were all between Eldernell Pits and the High Wash skating fields. Away from the Washes, there were reports from 21 sites, mostly in small numbers; however the sites to the north of the recording area do tend to hold most birds, with high counts of 187 at Bainton GP on 4 Jan (BT), 103 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 16 Nov (JJ) and 100 at Deeping Lakes NR on 8 Aug (WB). There were more records of summering or potential breeding birds this year, with records received from Baston & Langtoft GP, Fletton BP, Hampton Lakes, Holme Fen, Old Sulehay and Serpentine BP. On the Nene Washes there were three pairs on the Low Wash and two pairs at Eldernell pits; sadly, there was no proved breeding for any sites.
2002	Scarce resident breeder and common winter migrant. There was no repeat of last year’s large numbers at the Nene Washes; the lack of flooding in the first winter period meant that there were no suitable washland habitats. At the Nene Washes, the peak count during the first winter period was of 48 on 3 Mar (RSPB). Numbers were still relatively low at the end of the year, however a peak count of 271 on 9 Dec (RSPB) was notable; this was the highest count reported in the PBC area in 2002. Away from the Nene Washes, this species was recorded from 22 sites, mainly gravel pit complexes in the Welland valley with 179 at Bainton GP on 10 Feb (BT) a notable count. Away from this area, many of the gravel pits held smaller numbers. Birds were present throughout the breeding season at a number of sites. There were a potential five pairs on the RSPB Low Wash, though as usual they were very difficult to census and no broods were seen this year. The only evidence of successful breeding this year was of two juveniles seen at Prior’s Fen GP on 24 Jul (GW) and a female and a single duckling at Yarwell Pits on 22 June (NOw).
2001	Scarce resident breeder and common winter migrant. Like most wildfowl, the Nene Washes is this species stronghold for both wintering and breeding. During the first winter period, recorded in record numbers with 2,253 on 15 Jan and a massive 4,102 on 12 Feb (RSPB), but numbers soon dropped with only 1,500–2,000 present on 23 Feb (MJW) and as few as four by the end of Mar (RSPB). Up to 49 drakes were present through May, but this clouded an accurate assessment of breeding pairs; eight males and three females on the RSPB reserve in early May were probable breeders with much displaying followed by lone females in the reed-fen and floods area throughout with broods of five, six and eight were seen in Jun (RSPB). Virtually non-existent during the second winter period with a max of ten recorded from Eldernell Pits 16 Dec. Recorded from only 15 other sites in the area. With so many on the washes during the first winter period, many sites received few or no birds during this period, but during the back end of the year, when the washes were largely dry, most sites picked up small numbers. At Bainton GP, first winter peak of 122 on 11 Feb (BT), with a single male present throughout Jun (but no sign of a female) and second winter peak of 176 on 22 Dec (BT). At Baston & Langtoft GP, a peak count of 163 on 14 Jan (AD), but few present at the back end of the year with a max of ten on 26 Dec (MH). At Deeping Lakes NR, none during the first winter period, a single male present during Jun and a second winter period max of 22 on 30–31 Dec (BT). At Ferry Meadows CP, a maximum of 15 on 11 Jan (DB), with a single male present in May, and a max of ten on 31 Dec (MJW). At Prior’s Fen GP, none present during the first winter period (no surprise, given the high numbers on the nearby Nene Washes), but a brood of three large young seen 20 Jul (GW). A build of birds from 1 Oct peaked at 93 on 27 Oct (SPD, BHS) and probably indicated the start of the winter arrival, but with little water on the washes, birds soon dispersed and the max count to the year’s end was only 20 on 27 Dec (GW). Orton BP held birds from Sep-Dec, with max counts of 41 on 13 Oct and 22 on 8 Sep and 13 Dec. Elsewhere, eight at Tallington GP 7 Feb (DB), 11 at Orton Mere on 27 Mar (GRH), a single bird at King’s Dyke NR 15-16 Apr, a juvenile seen on 20 Jun and five there on 23 Dec (GW), a single male at Hampton Lakes 26 Apr–3 May (GW), ten Maxey GP 7 Oct (BT), four at Tansor GP 16 Nov (BHS) and in Dec, 1-4 at Fletton BP complex throughout (SPD, BHS), nine at Crown Lakes CP 12th (SPD) and 25 at Tanholt GP 27th (GW).
2000	Common winter visitor and rare breeder. There were 11 potential breeding pairs on the Nene Washes and two broods were recorded. Two pairs bred at Crown Lakes CP, but only two young were noted (GW). Four males and three females at Drysides BP 10 Jun were probably from the washes. Bainton GP held 150 on 4 Jan, declining to 87 on 13 Feb and only a late male remained by 14 May. There were 30 at Eldernell in early February, and post-breeding flocks of 26 at Fletton BP 24 Jun and 13 at Drysides BP 15 Jul; otherwise, there were few records until an autumn build-up of 68 at Bainton GP 15-19 Oct and 97 there 4 Nov, 88 at Ferry Meadows CP 6 Nov, 55 at Eldernell Pit 8 Nov, 193 at Baston & Langtoft GP 15 Oct and 207 there 16 Dec. Flooding at March Farmers, Nene Washes in mid-December attracted a sudden arrival of 688 on 19th, increasing to 1,255 by 18 Dec out of a washes total of 1,285.
1999	Common winter visitor and rare breeder. Maximum winter counts of 441 at Baston & Langtoft GP mid-Jan, 150 at Bainton GP 4 Dec, 71 at Beeby's BP, 48 at Fletton BP, 46 at Ferry Meadows CP 12 Nov and 30 at Orton BP on 14 Jan. One to three males noted at several sites during the breeding season, and up to eight pairs were present on the Nene Washes (but no broods noted). Winter flooding there attracted up to 1,943 in Jan/Feb with 850 on 13 Mar falling to 120 by 21st.
1998	Rare resident and common winter visitor. The best counts came from Fletton BP with 85 there on 26 Nov (MJW) and Orton BP with c65 on 16 Dec (MJW). Maximum of Ferry Meadows CP was 10 on 17 Mar, though one there on 25 May (RD) was unusual for the time of year. There were five at McCain's BP on 6 Dec. Nene Washes: A brief influx of 435 in mid-January was the only notable number. Up to 11 (four pairs) were present from Apr-Jun, resulting in only one brood on the reserve. A pair on Eldernell Pit also bred. Up to 17 were on Eldernell Pit in Nov-Dec.
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