Peterborough Bird Club annual report Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros | A | Quite rare 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Rare migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant. The first record of the year was of a female near King’s Dyke NR on 9 Apr (PP). A singing bird was recorded at a city location on the 19 Jun (DW). At an undisclosed private site, a pair produced two successful broods of three and two young, following their first unsuccessful attempt. A female was at the Nene Washes on 23 Jun on the reserve sheds and there was a late record on 6 Nov near the Millennium Bridge at Wash Northey (BHS) (pictured left). Image © Steve Dudley. Click for more
2002	Rare migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant. One bird called from a city location on 6 Jul (GW). Two records of adult males came from Eldernell: on 2 Nov, a bird with a prominent wing-panel was on the farm buildings (SPD, MW) and on 19 Nov, a male fed around the Morton’s Leam sluice gate (JT, SG). Also on 2 Nov, one was at Morborne Hill (ARF, RJJ).
2001	Rare migrant breeder and scarce passage migrant. Up to five males have held territories in the City Centre in past years. A maximum of 50 pairs bred in the UK in 1999 and only 15 of these were proved successful. This is, therefore, one of the area’s most important breeding birds. Against this background the success of the only pair in the area this year is notable. Pairs of Black Redstarts have nested for several years at a disused factory site within the city. The site is due for redevelopment so a study of how the birds used the site was commissioned in 2001. The first record was a male on 12 Apr with a pair present from 17th. The first clutch was probably laid before the end of April and hatched around 11 May. Three young successfully fledged from this first brood. The second clutch probably hatched around 28 Jun but by 5 Jul all five nestlings were found dead in the nest, probably victims of very hot weather. A third clutch was laid at a new location around 10 Jul, which hatched around 28-30th. Three young fledged from this last brood on 12-13 Aug. There were no further sightings from 17 Aug.
2000	Rare summer visitor and migrant. First recorded in Peterborough on 10 Apr, with a number of singing males recorded at suitable sites near the city centre. One pair bred at a traditional (private) site. Away from Peterborough, a female was at Morborne Hill on 22 Apr (BHS) and there was one there on 4 Oct (SPD).
1999	Rare summer visitor and migrant. A single at Morborne Hill on 2 Apr (MJW, BHS) preceded a fantastic series of records in the area. A pair arrived at Orton BP on 25 Apr (KWo, AF, NC). The male was a second calendar-year bird and although vigorously holding territory, the last sighting was of a female on 9 May. Males were singing at Peterborough railway station from 10 May to early June, with a female also seen there (TW, BHS et al). A popular male sang for over a month from the spires of St John the Baptist, Cathedral Square, Peterborough from 2 Jun to 5 Jul (DP, JR et al). Males were also noted at Rivergate and Priestgate - possibly the same bird. A pair bred successfully at the derelict Baker Perkins site in the north of the city, the male first being seen in late February (MC).
1998	Rare passage migrant and summer visitor. A male held territory in Peterborough during April but did not breed (MC). One flew over Westfield Road, Peterborough on 11 Jun (GRH). A male was in a Walton garden on 6 Dec (BC).
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