Peterborough Bird Club annual report Teal Anas crecca | A | Common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Rare resident breeder, common winter migrant. On the Nene Washes, peak winter counts were respectable but not exceptional with 1,270 in January and 2,062 in December. Away from the Nene Washes, reports came from 21 sites. High counts were 88 at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 2 Jan (SPD), 450+ at Drysides BP on 16 Feb (GW), 134 at Ferry Meadows CP on 23 Oct (GW) and 148 at Old Sulehay on 2 Dec (BHS). No breeding was proved, however pairs were on the Nene Washes, with a single pair on RSPB Low Wash and at Ring's End. Two males and a female were at Prior's Fen GP on 8 Jun (MW) and two males and a female were present at Ferry Meadows CP on 28 Jun (KAF).
2002	Rare resident breeder, common winter migrant. The Nene Washes saw one the poorest winters ever for this species during the first winter period, with a peak of 760 on 10 Feb and up to 239 present until mid-April (RSPB). The situation was reversed towards the end of the year, however, with a Nene Washes record count of 4,046 on 8 Dec (RSPB, JT). Elsewhere reported from a further 24 locations with notable counts as follows: 210 at Baston Fen NR on 14 Jan (JR) and 336 present at Deeping Lakes NR on 17 Nov (TW). At Ferry Meadows CP present in low numbers in the first part of the year, rising to regular counts of over 100 birds by September with a peak of 175 on 27 Oct (MJW). The only breeding records came from the Nene Washes with two pairs on RSPB Low Wash. No broods were seen, though a female was performing a 'broken wing' display in June (RSPB).
2001	Rare resident breeder, common winter and passage migrant. Winter counts on the Nene Washes were unexceptional, with peaks of 450–460 Jan–Feb, 940 in Sep, many of which would have been migrants, with only 300 remaining through Nov, increasing to 500 by mid-Dec (RSPB). Elsewhere, widespread reports were received during Jan–mid-Apr and late Jul–Dec, mostly of under 30 birds but more notable gatherings of passage and wintering birds included 80 at Baston Fen NR 25 Jan (JR) and 100 on 17 Dec (JR), 33 Ferry Meadows CP 11 Jan (DB), 46 on 27 Aug (SPD), rising to 106 on 9 Sep (SPD) and 165 by 18th (MW), 59 Fletton BP 13 Oct (SPD) and 46 on 24 Dec (SPD), and 50+ Deeping Lakes NR 31 Dec (BT). Other than 2–3 birds which appeared to summer in the Deeping Lakes NR/Deeping High Bank area, the only breeding activity was, as usual, on the Nene Washes. Three pairs bred there and one brood was seen. The eggs in one nest were addled. A territorial male at Eldernell remained unmated.
2000	Common winter visitor and rare breeder. Widespread in winter but numerous only on the Nene Washes, where there was a peak of 1,548 on 16 Jan and (briefly) 2,580 in November. A maximum of 150 at Woodwalton Fen NNR on 9 Dec, 130 birds at Baston Fen NR on 11 Mar, 121 at Ferry Meadows CP on 6 Nov, 42 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 9 Sep and 25 at Deeping Lakes NR on 29 Oct. Seven potential pairs were noted on the Nene Washes; no broods were seen, but up to 15 were still present in June/July. There was no evidence of breeding elsewhere.
1999	Common winter visitor and rare breeder. At Ferry Meadows CP, peaks of 160 on 8 Oct and 84 on 22 Oct, 65 at Baston Fen NR 26 Mar, 22 at Baston & Langtoft GP on 13 Sep, 19 at Deeping Lakes NR on 4 Dec. The Nene Washes held up to 2,990 on 21 Jan, 430 in early September, but only up to 660 in early winter. Though 44 still present in late June, only one pair possibly bred. A male summered at Baston & Langtoft GP.
1998	Common winter visitor; scarce resident. Maximum at McCain's BP was 230 on 6 Dec (DP). There were 80 at Baston Fen NR on 20 Mar (AFB), with 60 there on 18 Jan. Peaks at Ferry Meadows CP were 56 (16 Dec) and 52 (20 Nov). At Maxey GP, there were 25 (10 Oct) and 22 (8 Feb). A male was at Baston & Langtoft GP on 20 Jun with a female there on 14 Jun. Nene Washes: It was a good year, with steady numbers of between 1,935-2,054 from Jan-Mar and almost identical numbers of 1,934 in November. Breeding birds did not appear on the washes until early June. Three pairs bred on the reserve and we enjoyed the rare sight of two broods in late July, with a further two pairs on the High Wash. As usual, numbers built up in August to 300, all on the tidal River Nene.
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