Peterborough Bird Club annual report Goosander Mergus merganser | A | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce winter migrant. There were records from 16 sites. Between one and five birds recorded from seven locations. Higher counts were seven at Tallington GP (including three males) on 19 Jan (RB, WB), and six at Deeping High Bank (two males) on 21 Feb (TW), seven at Baston & Langtoft GP on 29 Dec (WB, JJ). Ten males at Burghley Park Lake on 6 Jan (RW) and 13 (eight males) on 14 Jan (CW). At Maxey GP, there were 25 on 4 Jan (BT), 13 (four males) on 8 Mar (TW), ten (seven males) on 7 Dec (GJ), 18 on 13 Dec (AA, PA) and 24 Dec (MW), with 28 on 23 Dec (BHS).
2002	Scarce winter migrant. The Welland valley remains the best place to see this species. Following a lack of records from the Tallington GP roost in 2001, numbers of records and counts returned to more normal levels. A count of 23 birds was seen at Maxey GP on 20 Jan (RAs). On the same day, 20 birds were also counted at Tallington GP (MHo). A total of at least 22 birds including 9 males were at Maxey GP on 10 Feb (BT) and 15 at Baston Fen NR on 16 Feb (AD). This species disperses to its breeding grounds during the summer and sightings during the summer period are unusual; a male seen at Deeping High Bank on 9 Feb (AD) remained in the area for three months and was last reported on 26 May (AD). It or another was recorded at Deeping Lakes NR on 3rd and 16 Jun (WB, RB). The first returning bird of the second winter period was of a male flying over Deeping Lakes NR on 28 Oct (WB, RB) with a peak count of 24 birds at Tallington GP on 7 Dec (including six males) (MHo) and 14 Dec (13 males) (MHo). The only sightings of birds away from the Welland valley were at Ferry Meadows CP with a male flying over Overton Lake on 3 Nov (MJW), a female on Gunwade Lake on 23 Nov (MJW) and a single on 30 Dec (DG).
2001	Scarce winter migrant. A rather disappointing year for this species, with only one count from the traditional roost site at Tallington GP. Was this site unused or just unrecorded? As usual, most records came from the Welland valley. Unusually, the highest counts didn’t come from the Tallington GP roost. Between 1–5 birds were recorded from Bainton GP, Baston & Langtoft GP, Baston Fen NR and Deeping Lakes NR. Higher numbers recorded from Deeping High Bank (max. 16 on 21 Jan) (AD), Tallington GP (maximum of 16 (including eight males) 11 Jan) and Maxey GP (maximum 31 on 14 Jan) (RAs). Numbers remained quite high into Feb, with 19 still at Maxey GP 11th (BT) and 11 still along Deeping High Bank on 25th (AD), but numbers then quickly dropped off with the last bird recorded from the Deepings area on 11 Mar from Deeping High Bank. Away from the Deepings, recorded from only three sites: a single bird on the Nene Washes on 2 Jan (RSPB), a male at Ferry Meadows CP 1st, 18–19 Mar (CHa) and a female at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 23 Apr (MF). The first returning bird was a male at Deeping Lakes NR 26 Aug (WB), with presumably the same bird recorded irregularly there to 8 Dec (WB, TW). Baston & Langtoft GP held six birds on 25 Nov, and presumably the same birds present during Dec at Bainton GP. Also during Dec, counts of up to nine birds at Baston Fen NR (WB, SK, JR, TW) and up to five along Deeping High Bank (WB, AD, BT, TW). Maxey GP again held the largest gatherings with 20 (including seven males) there on 22 Dec. Three at Ferry Meadows CP on 27 Nov was the only record away from the Deepings.
2000	Scarce winter visitor. Widespread reports, usually of 1-5 birds, up to 18 Mar, the main counts being at the Tallington roost site, which appeared to be drawing in birds from a considerable area, giving a better indication of the total numbers present. On 3 Jan, 28 were present, increasing to 41 by 8 Jan (MH). Elsewhere, there were up to 12 at Maxey GP on 16 Jan and 13 Feb, eight at Bainton GP on 1 Jan, and 1–2 at Ferry Meadows CP on 5, 14 and 25 Jan and 15 Feb. Three at Deeping High Bank on 3 Dec, seven on 28 Dec and a single bird at the Nene Washes on 18 Dec were the only reports from the second winter period.
1999	Scarce winter visitor. In the first winter period, birds were reported from Market Deeping, Ferry Meadows CP, Bainton GP, Langtoft West End GP, Peakirk and Baston & Langtoft GP, with a peak count of 16 at Eastfield on 21 Feb (BT). Two late records were of a male at Ferry Meadows CP on 1 May (RD) and a male at Deeping High Bank on 9-10 May (TW, GRH et al). In the second winter period, records were received from Ferry Meadows CP, Deeping Lakes NR, Bainton GP and Maxey GP, with a peak count from Tallington GP of 27 on 25 Dec (TW).
1998	Scarce winter visitor. In the first winter period, birds were reported from Deeping High Bank, Bainton GP, Maxey GP, Baston Fen NR, Tallington GP (max. 20) and Langtoft West End GP. The last 12 were at Maxey GP on 21 Mar. The first returning bird was at Ferry Meadows CP on 2 Dec, with a peak of five there. Other records came from Bainton GP, Maxey GP (max. 18) and Baston & Langtoft GP (max. 12). Nene Washes: Seven flew south-east on 23 Mar. Single redheads (female/immature) were noted on 11 Oct, 18 Nov, 27 Nov and 6 Dec.
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