Peterborough Bird Club annual report Common Tern Sterna hirundo | A | Locally common 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Locally common migrant breeder and passage migrant. The first birds of 2003 arrived on the same day as the previous year with two birds at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 4 Apr (GRH); these were followed by a single bird at Eldernell on 8 Apr (BD). Notable counts included 110 at Ferry Meadows CP on 17 Apr (SPD). Records of young birds came from Baston & Langtoft GP, Ferry Meadows CP, Grummit's Scrape, Hampton Lakes, Maxey GP, Prior’s Fen GP, Stibbington GP and Deeping Lakes NR. The last record was of a single bird at Ferry Meadows CP on 12 Sep (DG).
2002	Locally common migrant breeder and passage migrant. The first report was of two birds at Ferry Meadows CP on 4 Apr (BHS, SPD, GRH), with widespread arrival from 24 Apr. Notable counts included 73 at Deeping Lakes NR on 24 Apr (WB), 50 at Ferry Meadows CP on 2 May (MJW) and at least 70 were reported from Grummit's Scrape on 27 May (SPD). A maximum of 17 juveniles (from breeding sites elsewhere) gathered at Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Jul (MJW), Hampton Lakes and Deeping Lakes NR, with 22 juveniles reported on 28 Jul (WB). Passage birds were hard to come by after the end of August, with the last sighting of two late birds seen flying east over Orton Longueville on 12 Oct (SPD).
2001	Locally common migrant breeder and passage migrant. The first record came from Ferry Meadows CP 30 Mar (SPD, CHa) with small numbers reported daily until 22 Apr when up to ten were at Ferry Meadows CP and 60+ there on 25th (SPD), with up to 20 present 26–27th. The Deeping pits didn’t fare as well, with the maximum count during the same period being only three from Deeping Lakes NR. A second wave of passage birds arrived from 3 May with 22 at Hampton Lakes (GW), 22 at Deeping Lakes NR on the 4th (TW) and 25 at Ferry Meadows CP 25th (MJW). More than 30 were at Deeping Lakes NR on the 11th (AD) and 20+ at Ferry Meadows CP on the 14th (FMCP) after which passage tailed off. In addition to the above sites, passage birds were recorded from Orton Mere, Orton Staunch, Orton BP, Northey, Orton Longueville, Elton, along the River Nene, Bainton GP, Baston & Langtoft GP, Nene Washes, Stanground Lock and Maxey GP. Birds seen throughout the breeding season at many sites with a maximum count of 50+ at Deeping Lakes NR 8 Jul (GW). An adult and a juvenile at Prior’s Fen GP 19 Sep (SPD, BHS) were the last of the year.
2000	Locally common migrant and breeder. The first spring bird was at Ferry Meadows CP 6 Apr (DG, RH) and the last autumn record was at 23 at Hampton 13 Sep (ARF). Only small numbers were reported in April, mainly from the Nene valley, except for a surge of migrants 21st-24th, when up to 77 were at Ferry Meadows CP. Always quick to exploit potential new nest sites, 8-10 pairs bred at Hampton Lakes. One pair bred at Prior’s Fen GP. Elsewhere, 20 pairs bred at Deeping Lakes NR and two pairs bred at Beeby's BP. Twenty present at Baston Fen Farm on 1 Jul suggests breeding nearby, as did records from Baston & Langtoft GP.
1999	Uncommon summer visitor but common migrant. The first migrant was recorded at Ferry Meadows CP 1 Apr (NF, AC), with a peak count of 73 two days later (GRH). Numbers at Ferry Meadows CP, presumably migrating birds, continued to ebb and flow throughout April with 67+ present 27 Apr (PBC). Several pairs reared young in front of the hides at Ferry Meadows CP and further success was noted at Baston & Langtoft GP, where at least 25 pairs bred. Single-figure counts were received from Orton BP,  Fletton BP complex, Tansor GP, Peterborough city centre, Nene Washes and Maxey GP, where the last birds were seen 12 Sep (BT).
1998	Scarce summer visitor, common migrant. The first two birds arrived back at Ferry Meadows CP on 1 Apr (RAH) and numbers there peaked at 20+ (29 Apr) and up to 40 in July (CBR). Other records involved six at Baston & Langtoft GP on 22 Apr (AFB), with a juvenile there on 4 Jul (TW), several at Sibson on 3 May (BHS), three pairs at Yaxley Pit on 18 May (ARF), four at North Bank on 28 May (DS) and one at Dogsthorpe Star Pit NR on 13 Sep (DP). Nene Washes: The first bird was seen on 4 Apr, with six around from 23 Apr-5 May, nine on 6 May and then up to 20 on 9 May, with birds passing through at the same time. There were seven present at the month's end. At Eldernell, four pairs nested on flooded arable land, but all appeared to fail. Through July, up to 14 fished along the tidal Nene, using reserve pools for resting. Three were present to 26 Aug.
	report home | species index | introduction | next species | contributors | contact