Peterborough Bird Club annual report Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii | A | Common resident 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Common resident breeder, passage migrant and winter migrant. The peak count was of 174 on a freshly-tilled field at Crowtree, Farcet Fen, on 20 Nov (SPD), up from 137 on the previous day. Other notable counts included 120 at Eldernell on 11 Jan (NC). Roost counts were received from three locations with 70 coming into roost at Market Deeping town centre on 24 Feb (TW), 80 flying south towards the city centre along Park Road and 150+ at Sainsbury’s on Oxney Road, Peterborough, on 11 Feb (PT).
2002	Common resident breeder, passage migrant and winter migrant. The maximum count was of 43 at Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Oct (SPD). Other counts of between 20-30 came from a further seven locations. On the RSPB Nene Washes reserve, a pair bred on the Low Wash in a reserve tractor. It was in use during incubation, going as far as two miles from base, though this did not perturb the birds and they fledged one brood (RSPB). No roost counts were received.
2001	Common resident breeder, passage migrant and winter migrant. Recorded from 11 sites in all months except June but generally under recorded, especially during summer. A maximum count of several hundred in a pre-roost gathering on Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough 13 Feb (GRH). Otherwise notable counts included 100 at Ferry Meadows CP 6 Oct (MJW), 80 at Eldernell in Dec attracted to beet harvesting (RSPB), 51 on Heron Meadow at Ferry Meadows CP 30 Mar (SPD), 40+ at Prior’s Fen 6 Oct (SPD), 28 at Baston Fen NR 14 Jan (JR), 27 at Ramsey Fen 20 May (RES), 23 at the Nene Washes 23 Jan (RSPB) and 14+ at Hampton Lakes 16 Apr (SPD). The distinct peak in numbers around 6 Oct could indicate passage movement.
2000	Common resident. A number of post-breeding/winter flocks reported, including 165 at Ferry Meadows CP on 3 Jan, 120 at Flag Fen on 19 Nov (CBR), 72+ roosting at Tesco, Serpentine Green, on 4 Sep, 40 at Alwalton on 24 Mar (CBR), 34 at Eldernell on 9 Feb, 20+ at Elton on 10 Oct and at Peterborough city centre, Morborne Hill and Deeping High Bank. Few breeding records were received.
1999	Common resident. Peak counts occurred in the first winter period, with 100+ at Ferry Meadows CP on 1 Feb (DG) and 60+ at Milton Folly storm reservoir on 9 Mar (BHS). Recorded regularly across the area, but no breeding records received.
1998	Common resident and migrant. Best counts reported were c200 roosting at Ring's End on 15 Feb (BHS) and 20 at Ferry Meadows CP on 31 Mar (GRH). Nene Washes: Highest counts were 71 at Eldernell through January and 20 on the reserve on 7 Oct. A pair bred in the reserve sheds.
	White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce passage migrant. A poor year with only one record submitted. One was at Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Oct (DB).
2002	Scarce passage migrant. Five records of this tricky subspecies were submitted: one was with two Pied Wagtails at Ferry Meadows CP on 16 Mar (MJW); two accompanied eight Pied Wagtails at Ferry Meadows CP on 26 Mar (BHS); one bird was by Lynch Lake, Ferry Meadows CP, on 27 Apr (MJW). There was another at Ferry Meadows CP on 29 Apr (BHS) and a further two birds at Prior’s Fen GP the same day (MW).
2001	Scarce passage migrant. These reports are unconfirmed. All observers are requested to submit brief notes of sightings of this very scarce and easily confused taxon. In April, a male at Yaxley on 3rd (GRH), three at Deeping Lakes NR on 13th (TW), two at Hampton Lakes on 16th (SPD) and one on the Nene Washes on 23rd (RSPB). In September, there were six, including a family party of five, at Ferry Meadows CP on 6th (DB), 10 on 8th and two on 20th (MJW), one on the Nene Washes 10-12 Sep and two on 2 Oct.
2000	Scarce migrant. Nine at Eldernell on 18 Apr was an excellent record. More typical were three at Hampton Lakes on 16 Apr, two at Ferry Meadows CP on 19 Apr, and one at Conington on 25 Apr. Birds at Newborough on 12 Jul (DB) and Hampton Lakes on 3 Sep were more unusual.
1999	Scarce migrant. Regular checking of wagtails at The Mound, Ferry Meadows CP, revealed at least three White Wagtails on 16 Apr (RH).
1998	Scarce migrant. One was on the RSPB Nene Washes reserve on 2 Apr.
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