Peterborough Bird Club annual report Redwing Turdus iliacus | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common winter migrant and passage migrant. The last birds of the winter were seen at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR (PT) and Longthorpe (GRH) on 21 Apr with the first returning bird recorded over Stamford on 2 Sep (CP). Peak counts in the first winter period were 150 with Fieldfares at Tallington GP on 4 Jan (PT), 100 at Nene Park on 8 Jan (DG) and 100+ at North Bank on 2 Jan (BHS). The highest count in the second winter period was of 130 at Deeping Lakes NR on 9 Dec (WB).
2002	Common winter migrant and passage migrant. This thin ‘seeep’ calls of this charming thrush can easily be heard on clear nights between late September and April as they fly overheard - it should be a sure-fire garden tick for everyone! The biggest first winter period count was of 40+ over a Longthorpe garden on 12 Mar (GRH). Spring records began to peter out from mid-March and the last spring record was of two at Ferry Meadows CP on 4 Apr (MJW). There were no more until a single bird recorded at Ferry Meadows CP on 29 Sep (MJW). The year’s largest count was of an estimated 250 at Morborne Hill on 10 Nov (BHS). Other notable flocks: 200 at Belham Wood on 18 Oct (KAF) and 150 at Thornhaugh on 31 Dec (GW).
2001	Common winter migrant and passage migrant. Rather scarce with few large parties and only one count over 50. Reported from 26 sites in total: 14 in the first part of the year and 17 in the second. A maximum of 10 reported in the first half of the year from Crown Lakes CP and Hampton Lakes 17 Feb (BD) and Morborne Hill 9 Jan (BHS). Last report was a single at Deeping Lakes NR 31 Mar (TW) and in fact there was only one other record in March, 7 over Longthorpe on 14th (GRH). An extraordinary record of an adult, with signs of an old brood patch and a lot of new feather growth, picked up injured at the entrance to Ferry Meadows CP on 8 Aug (FMCP). It was taken into care but died shortly afterwards. This smashed the previous earliest record for Hunts and Cambridgeshire – 1 Sep 1979. Otherwise reported again from 20 Sep with two at Dogsthorpe (TD) and one at Ferry Meadows CP (MJW). Soon after this, the best counts of the year were recorded: 50 at Monk’s Wood NNR on 24th (RBr) and 120 at Ferry Meadows CP on 25th (MJW). Other counts of 20 or more: 37 at Ferry Meadows CP 2 Nov (BHS), 23 at the Nene Washes 23 Oct (RSPB), 22 at Prior’s Fen GP 27 Dec (GW) and 20+ at Elton 4 Nov (BHS). Only small movements noted with 23 over Orton Brimbles 25 Sep (MJW), three over Elton on 28th, two over Fletton BP 14 Oct (MW), four over Fletton, 10 over Elton and four over Stanley Park, Peterborough, on 16th (BHS), several over Peterborough and Stamford on 17th (MC) and two over Prior’s Fen GP 1 Nov (BHS).
2000	Common winter visitor and migrant. Well-represented in both winter periods, the peak first winter period count being 100 birds at Baston Fen NR on 2 Feb, with the last spring bird recorded at Morborne Hill on 19 Apr. Returning birds were noted as night migrants over Stamford and Peterborough betweeen 2-7 Oct. The highest count of the second winter period was of 65+ birds at Morborne Hill on 1 Nov.
1999	Common winter visitor and migrant. Well-recorded throughout the area. Latest recorded date for the first winter period was of 16 birds flying north-west at Crown Lakes CP on 23 Mar (GW). The first returning birds were three at Ferry Meadows CP on 29 Sep (RH). The largest counts included 200 west at Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Oct, 50 with Fieldfares at Beeby's BP on 30 Jan, 50 over Ferry Meadows CP on 5 Oct and 40 at Castor on 31 Oct.
1998	Common winter visitor. There were no huge numbers reported (c.f. Fieldfare). The last record for the first winter period was one bird in Bluebell Wood on 17 Mar (GRH). There were 32 at Stangate, Deeping St James, on 1 Feb (BT). The first four returning birds were over Orton BP on 6 Sep (GW). Approximately 150 were at Folksworth on 5 Oct (BHS). Nene Washes: Very scarce during the first winter period. Of note were 690 flying south between 9am-10am on 6 Oct and 79 feeding along the washes on 8 Nov.
	report home | species index | introduction | next species | contributors | contact