Peterborough Bird Club annual report Whinchat Saxicola rubetra | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce passage migrant. Spring records came from the following locations: Baston Fen, Thurlby Slipe, Hampton, March Farmers, Black Bush Drove and Eldernell, where there were three on 5 May. The first of spring was on 3 May at Baston Fen NR (KKH) and the last one at Black Bush on 15 May (SPD). Autumn birds were recorded at Baston & Langtoft GP, Farcet Fen, Ferry Meadows CP, Morborne Hill, Prior’s Fen GP and the Nene Washes, where the peak count was nine on 4 Sep. The first was at Grummit’s Scrape on 29 Jul (HB) and the last on 9 Oct at Nene Washes (JT).
2002	Scarce passage migrant. Unlike 2001, there were several spring records this year. As with many passage migrant passerines, the place to be was the Nene Washes. The first was a male on the RSPB reserve on 22 Apr (BHS, RSPB). Two were present on the 27th (MW), and a male was still present next day (RB, WB). The next records came on 16 May, with two on the reserve again (JT), and a female at Orton BP (SPD). Left: Image © Brian Stone. Right: Image © Steve Dudley The first returning bird was a very early male on 15 Jul at Prior’s Fen GP (MW). A strong passage through Coney Meadow, Ferry Meadows CP, began with one on 5 Sep (DG), two birds (a male and immature/female) there the next day (TD) and three on 8 Sep (SPD) (one pictured above right); one to three birds were then seen until 12 Sep. One was at Flag Fen on 8 Sep (SPD) and two immatures at Baston Fen NR on 14-21 Sep (KKH). Two were at RSPB Nene Washes on 5 Sep with high count of nine there on 8th falling to 3 by 13th, one on 20th and the last of the year was on 2 Oct (RSPB).
2001	Scarce passage migrant. No spring records. First reported on 24 Jul at the Nene Washes followed by singles here in Aug on 17th, 24th, 28th and 29th. Maximum of three on 7 Sep and singles up to 24th and a final one on 7 Oct (RSPB). Singles also reported at Ferry Meadows CP 14 Aug (MJW), 28 Aug (CHa), 1 Sep (TRo), 28 Sep (CHa) and the last of the year on 14 Oct (TD).
2000	Scarce migrant, has bred. Two records in spring - a male at Orton BP and a bird at Conington airfield on 1 May. In autumn, single birds were present on the Nene Washes from 1 Sep to 18 Oct, with four there on 8 Sep, coinciding with the arrival of the Isabelline Shrike. One was at Hampton Lakes on 4 Sep. A single was at the Nene Washes from 28-29 Oct (CBR).
1999	Scarce migrant. Two birds were seen in spring at Orton BP, a male on 25 Apr (DP) and on 8 May (NC et al). There were two females at Ferry Meadows CP on 30 Aug (DG) and 14 were present on the Nene Washes between 16 Aug and 2 Oct. The last bird was recorded at Crowtree, Farcet Fen, on 19 Oct (AL).
1998	Scarce migrant. Birds were at Ferry Meadows CP on 4 May (DG), Frank's Pit on 10 May (TW), two at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 22 Aug (BHS), Ferry Meadows CP on 15 Sep (DG), Dog-in-a-Doublet on 21 Sep (BHS) and at Eldernell on 7 Nov (BC). Nene Washes: There was one spring record on 23 Apr. It was a poor autumn, with up to five daily between 19 Jul and 21 Sep.
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