Peterborough Bird Club annual report Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus | A, C1 | Scarce 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
2003	Scarce winter migrant. The largest record was of 250-300 birds flying high south over Ferry Meadows CP on 2 Jan (MJW); other notable counts included 35 over Baston Fen NR on 5 Jan (JR), 72 over Crown Lakes CP on 10 Jan (SPD, KAF, MW) and nine on the Nene Washes on 27 Jan (RSPB). Up to two birds also recorded from Eldernell, Ferry Meadows CP, March Farmers, Prior’s Fen GP and Deeping Lakes NR. The first records of the second winter period were of 25 feeding with Greylag Geese near Market Deeping on 23 Sep (MC). Other notable counts included 40 flying south over Peterborough city centre on 23 Sep (BHS), 33 at Langtoft village on 8 Nov (MC), 26 at Prior’s Fen GP on 6 Dec (MW), 26 at Dog-in-a-Doublet on 18 Dec (SPD, JJ) and 110 over Baston & Langtoft GP on 30 Dec (JJ).
2002	Scarce winter migrant. The status of this species in the PBC area can often be confused by feral birds; no attempt has been made in this report to speculate on the origin of any of the records. Single birds were at Langtoft West End GP on 25 Jan (GRH), Prior’s Fen GP on 12 Feb and 1 Mar (BHS, CM) and Baston & Langtoft GP on 10 Mar (TW). Two were at Eldernell on 3 Mar (NCo) with four there on 16-17 Apr (RSPB, BHS). Four were also at Ferry Meadows CP on 1 May (MW). Towards the end of the year, 30-40 were at Werrington on 12 Oct (CM) with 60 at Tongue End on 28 Oct (RB, WB). Nine were recorded at Orton BP on 27 Oct (SPD) with four at Crowland on 23 Dec (PT) and singles on Nene Washes on 30 Nov (MAW) and Ferry Meadows CP on the same day (DG). Image © Brian Stone. Click for a larger version.
2001	Scarce winter migrant. A standard series of records with six on the Nene Washes 12 Feb (RSPB), a single at Deeping Mere 11th (TW), 16 over Orton Longueville 22 Feb (SPD) and one at Deeping High Bank 20 Mar (JH). In autumn, 32 flew over the Nene Washes 8 Nov (JT), and one of three birds with Greylag Geese at Langtoft West End GP 1 Dec (MC, BHS) was ringed and believed, typically, to be of Icelandic origin. Also one at Prior’s Fen GP 27 Dec (GW). Single birds that often associate with Greylag Geese in the area are often presumed to be of feral origin which cast suspicion over singles or small groups. However, as the Langtoft record clearly shows, small groups of wild birds do occur.
2000	Scarce winter migrant. Three were at the Nene Washes 19 Jane and 16 Oct, with at least seven seen heading east on 27 Oct and one 1-2 Jan. Until the early 1960s, this species was a common winter visitor to the washes and fens of central Cambridgeshire, with 5,000+ recorded in 1958. Flocks inland of the Wash estuary are now exceptional, largely due to consistently good feeding conditions in Norfolk. A bird at Ferry Meadows CP 13 May–10 Jul was believed to be of feral/captive origin.
1999	No records.
1998	Scarce winter visitor. Approximately 80 were at Kate's Bridge on 5 Jan (TW), two were on Bassenhally Moor on 16 Jan (GW), and 40 flew south over Orton Wistow and Ferry Meadows CP on 5 Dec (RAH). Nene Washes: A single tagged onto the family of Bean Geese throughout its stay, 14-29 Jan. Another single was seen on 23 Mar.
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