Peterborough Bird Club annual report Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor | A | Scarce resident 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce resident. 2003 saw an increase in the number of sightings with records from 16 locations, although all records refer to single birds. Reported from Aversley Wood, Bedford Purlieus NNR, Bluebell Wood, Highlees Spinney (Bretton), Burghley Park, Castor Hanglands NNR, Eldernell, Farcet Fen, Ferry Meadows CP, Holme Fen NNR, Langtoft village, Orton Waterville and Woodwalton Fen NNR; the latter site is now one of the best places to see this species with singles recorded on six occasions during the year.
2002	Scarce resident. Reported from 10 locations this year. At Bedford Purlieus NNR, 1-3 birds were recorded between 5-24 Apr (MHd, BHS, GW). Two were at Thorpe Wood, one drumming, on 20 Feb (TD) and nearby at Ferry Meadows CP, single birds were seen on four occasions between Aug-Dec (MJW, TD and RD). At Woodwalton Fen NNR, single birds were seen on five occasions during the year. Singles also reported from Bluebell Wood, Castor, Castor Hanglands NNR, Lolham Fisheries, the Marholm-Ufford road and Stibbington GP.
2001	Scarce resident breeder. With over half of records occurring in February, this is clearly the time to attempt to see, or, more likely, hear this elusive resident. No records were received from several likely breeding areas, but this may have been due to access restrictions due to Foot & Mouth Disease during the birds’ most active period. Reports of drumming between Jan and Mar at Milton Golf Course (WEW), one drumming at Longthorpe 9 Feb (GRH), several drumming at Holme Fen NNR 17 Feb (WB), one at Bretton Centre 23 Feb (GG) and one at Deeping Lakes NR 8 Sep (TW) went a fair way to make up for records missing from other areas. Bluebell Wood remained the best bet, with two birds displaying 10 Feb (MJW) and a bird drumming 14th (MF) with further singles seen here 18 Mar (NC) and 25 Jul (TD). One on the nearby Ferry Meadows CP reserve 9 Apr (MJW) was probably one of the Bluebell Wood birds. This species is known to breed in several woods on the Milton estate and records of these would be very welcome. Recent declines in the population may have reached a minimum and may even be reversing.
2000	Rare resident. The only records received were of one drumming in Bluebell Wood 19 Feb (GW), a pair at Monk's Wood NNR 23 Mar (RB) and one at Bedford Purlieus NNR 1-2 Apr (NC, BHS). Five birds called in the breeding season at Milton Park and surrounding woods and singles were at Castor Hanglands NNR, Oxey Wood and Sutton Wood. Also seen outside the breeding season at Ferry Meadows CP. A pair held territory at the species' former stronghold of Milton Park (BW), completing a rather dismal picture. The reasons for the species' rapid decline in the early 1990s are not clear, though doubtless it is still overlooked in some woods, being hard to locate even at known sites. Late winter/early spring remains the key period for recording this species.
1999	Rare resident. Three records were received, highlighting the increasing scarcity of this species in British woodlands. A female was seen in a tree at Orton BP 4 Apr (AF, NC), a drumming bird was at Thorpe Wood 13 May (RD) and a bird called at Milton Golf Course 9 May (GRH et al).
1998	Rare resident. A pair was at Milton Golf Course from 1 Feb-23 Mar (WEW), with a juvenile seen there on 11 Aug. A male there on 24 Nov was in a mixed tit flock. One bird drummed at Washingley Lake on 12 Apr (ARF). A female fed a juvenile just out of the nest at Ferry Meadows CP on 10 Jul (DG). A bird was seen near Apethorpe on 29 Dec (ARF). Nene Washes: One flew between Eldernell Pit and Lord's Holt on 9 Nov - probably only the second washes record.
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