Peterborough Bird Club annual report Black Tern Chlidonias niger | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce passage migrant. A very quiet year with only two records; one was at Deeping Lakes NR on 18 Apr (RB, LB, WB, BT) and another single bird was at Orton BP on 28 Apr (BHS).
2002	Scarce passage migrant. A relatively quiet year. The first was at Ferry Meadows CP on 13 May (DG), followed by two at Deeping Lakes NR on 18 May (JW, TW) and a single there on 19 May (WB). In August, a moulting adult was seen at Prior’s Fen GP on 19 Aug (SPD) and a juvenile was at Ferry Meadows CP on 29 Aug (MJW). The last record was of one at the Nene Washes on 16 Oct (JT).
2001	Scarce passage migrant. An excellent year, with four at Prior’s Fen GP 10 May (GW) followed by one on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve on 11th (RSPB). The 13th saw an increase with up to four birds on the Nene Washes (March Farmers) (BHS, TW), three at Ferry Meadows CP (MJW) and one at Baston & Langtoft GP (BHS, TW). Two birds were at Ferry Meadows CP on the 14th (DG), another on the Nene Washes RSPB reserve 15th, two more at Prior’s Fen GP (GW) and one at Deeping Lakes NR on 22th (TW, AD) and seven on the Nene Washes RSPB on 23rd. Two to four birds lingered along the Nene Washes during May, raising expectations of a possible breeding attempt at one of the most suitable sites in the country. Autumn passage began on 1 Sep with a juvenile at Ferry Meadows CP (Overton Lake) and another juvenile at Deeping Lakes NR on the 8th (WB). Two juveniles were at Prior’s Fen GP 19th (SPD, BHS) with four there (BHS) and one at Deeping Lakes NR 20th (TW) and one at Baston & Langtoft GP 23rd (BHS). A moulting adult at Ferry Meadows CP (Gunwade Lake) 9–11 Oct (MJW et al).
2000	Scarce migrant. An early record of 12 at Ferry Meadows CP on 8 Apr (DP), then none until 30th, when there was a single there, then two 4 May (DG). One was at Orton BP 6 May, with two on 7th (GW), when 12 were at Ferry Meadows CP, and one at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR 9 May. Along the Nene Washes - always a potential breeding area - there were 19 on 7 May, singles 8-9 May and seven in two groups flew east on 12 May (MW, CK).
1999	Rare migrant. Singles were seen at Baston & Langtoft GP 22 Apr (TW), 27 May and 1 Jun (per AB). At Orton BP, a single was present on 6 May (DP).
1998	Rare migrant. No large flocks were noted away from the Nene Washes, but there was a run of records, largely involving just single birds, starting with one at Ferry Meadows CP on 29 Apr (RAH, DG). One was at Baston & Langtoft GP on 9 May (AFB). All other records came from Ferry Meadows CP with one on 10 Jul (DG), up to four juveniles from 9-11 Sep and singles on 27 Sep (RAH) and 1 Oct (RAH, TD). Nene Washes: An exceptional spring passage consisted of eight birds on 2 May, six on 8 May, 38 on 9 May, three on 10 May, four on 11 May, 18 on 12 May, six on 13 May, singles on 14th and 16 May, three on 21 May and two on 2 Jun.
	report home | species index | introduction | next species | contributors | contact