2004 birds

List of species photographed during 2004:

Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer, River Welland, 17.11.2004
Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer, River Welland, 18.11.2004
Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer, River Welland, 19.11.2004
Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, Welland Bank Pits, 13.11.2004
Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus, Ferry Meadows CP, 14.12.2004
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena, Ferry Meadows CP, 29.12.2004
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena, Ferry Meadows CP, 30.12.2004
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, Decoy Road, 08.02.2004
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 15.07.2004
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 19.07.2004
Mute Swan, Cygnus olor, Baston & Langtoft GP, 16.05.2004
Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus, Prior's Fen, 28.10.2004
Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus, Prior's Fen, 20.11.2004
Whooper Swan, Cygnus cygnus, Deeping High Bank, 19.11.2004
Bean Goose, Anser fabalis rossicus, Bassenhally Moor, 10.12.2004
Pink-footed Goose, Anser brachyrhynchus, Ferry Meadows CP, 23.04.2004
Shelduck, Welland Bank Pits, 16.04.2004
Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Stone Bridge Corner, 12.12.2004
Gadwall, Anas strepera, Ferry Meadows CP, 19.12.2004
Mandarin, Aix galericulata, Welland Bank Pits, 16.05.2004
Mandarin, Aix galericulata, Grummit's Scrape, 11.06.2004
Teal, Anas crecca, Ferry Meadows CP, 16.12.2004
Garganey, Anas querquedula, Prior's Fen, 02.09.2004
Garganey, Anas querquedula, Woodwalton Fen NNR, 26.12.2004
Scaup, Aythya marila, Prior's Fen, 24.10.2004
Scaup, Aythya marila, Woodwalton Fen NNR, 11.12.2004
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, Welland Bank Pits, 05.11.2004
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, Welland Bank Pits, 13.11.2004
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, Welland Bank Pits, 14.11.2004
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, Welland Bank Pits, 20.11.2004
Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis, Welland Bank Pits, 28.11.2004
Common Scoter, Melanitta nigra, Ferry Meadows CP, 01.11.2004
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator, River Welland, 10.04.2004
Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus, Eldernell, 01.12.2004
Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, Peterborough, 06.10.2004
Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Baston, 14.05.2004
Hobby, Falco subbuteo, Prior's Fen, 31.08.2004
Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix, Baston & Langtoft GP, 16.04.2004
Coot, Fulica atra, Grummit's Scrape, 22.04.2004
Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus, Grummit's Scrape, 22.04.2004
Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, Baston & Langtoft GP, 31.03.2004
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius, Baston & Langtoft GP, 22.03.2004
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius, Grummit's Scrape, 14.05.2004
Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus, Grummit's Scrape, 18.04.2004
Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus, Prior's Fen, 02.09.2004
Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Prior's Fen, 18.09.2004
Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Prior's Fen, 24.10.2004
Dunlin, Calidris alpina, Prior's Fen, 13.11.2004
Little Stint, Calidris minuta, Prior's Fen, 27.09.2004
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, Welland Bank Pits, 15.08.2004
Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, Grummit's Scrape, 18.08.2004
Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica, Grummit's Scrape, 25.04.2004
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 06.07.2004
Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Grummit's Scrape, 14.03.2004
Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 14.07.2004
Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 03.03.2004
Sabine's Gull, Larus sabini, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 12.09.2004
Caspian/Yellow-legged Gull, Larus argentatus ssp., Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 04.01.2004
Caspian Gull, Larus argentatus cachinnans, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 06.09.2004
Caspian Gull, Larus argentatus cachinnans, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 27.09.2004
Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus, Prior's Fen, 30.01.2004
Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides, Eye tip, 15.02.2004
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo, Grummit's Scrape, 15.06.2004
Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur, Langtoft, 02.07.2004
Little Owl, Athene noctua, Baston & Langtoft GP, 18.09.2004
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, Prior's Fen, 13.11.2004
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, Prior's Fen, 15.12.2004
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, Deeping High Bank, 26.12.2004
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus, Thurlby Slipe, 31.12.2004
Hoopoe, Upupa epops, Stibbington, 25.04.2004
Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, Ferry Meadows CP, 27.06.2004
Wryneck, Jynx torquilla, Langtoft, 10.10.2004
Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis, Ferry Meadows CP, 31.08.2004
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, Ferry Meadows CP, 27.06.2004
Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, RSPB Nene Washes, 12.04.2004
Rock Pipit, Anthus petrosus, Prior's Fen, 16.10.2004
Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba, Eldernell, 01.12.2004
Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea, Eldernell, 28.10.2004
Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Prior's Fen, 14.04.2004
Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Ferry Meadows CP, 28.08.2004
Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Ferry Meadows CP, 31.08.2004
Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra, Black Bush, 12.09.2004
Stonechat, Saxicola torquata, Nene Washes, 12.12.2004
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Welland Bank Pits, 22.03.2004
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Ferry Meadows CP, 16.04.2004
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Hampton, 29.08.2004
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Serpentine BP, 09.09.2004
Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe, Baston & Langtoft GP, 15.09.2004
Blackbird, Turdus merula, Langtoft, 27.05.2004
Blackbird, Turdus merula, Peterborough, 01.12.2004
Blackbird, Turdus merula, Peterborough, 02.12.2004
Redwing, Turdus iliacus, Welland Bank Pits, 20.11.2004
Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, PC World, 04.01.2004
Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, Peterborough, 30.11.2004
Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, Peterborough, 01.12.2004
Dunnock, Prunella modularis, Tanholt GP, 11.12.2004
Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, Welland Bank Pits, 23.07.2004
Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, Baston & Langtoft GP, 19.05.2004
Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, Ferry Meadows CP, 01.09.2004
Goldcrest, Regulus regulus, Langtoft, 27.03.2004
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, Baston & Langtoft GP, 09.05.2004
Great Tit, Parus major, Baston & Langtoft GP, 21.06.2004
Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus, Langtoft, 15.06.2004
Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus, Bedford Purlieus, 31.05.2004
Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris, Ferry Meadows CP, 28.07.2004
Treecreeper, Certhia familiaris, Welland Bank Pits, 20.11.2004
Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio, Prior's Fen, 03.09.2004
Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio, Prior's Fen, 04.09.2004
Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio, Prior's Fen, 05.09.2004
Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Langtoft, 09.03.2004
Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Eldernell, 23.09.2004
Lesser Redpoll, Carduelis cabaret, Bluebell Wood, 21.02.2004
Lesser Redpoll, Carduelis cabaret, Baston & Langtoft GP, 27.03.2004
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, Farcet Fen, 16.03.2004
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, Baston & Langtoft GP, 22.03.2004
Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris, Langtoft, 24.12.2004
Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Southey Wood, 18.01.2004
Bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Woodwalton Fen NNR, 26.12.2004
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Castor Hanglands, 21.02.2004
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Ferry Meadows CP, 24.12.2004
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, Market Deeping, 21.06.2004
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, Farcet Fen, 22.08.2004
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, Eldernell, 13.11.2004
Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, Welland Bank Pits, 16.05.2004
Corn Bunting, Miliaria calandra, Deeping High Bank, 31.07.2004

Short-eared Owl at Thurlby Slipe

© Phil Ackerman

Click to view bigger version.

Red-necked Grebe at Ferry Meadows CP

© Will Bowell


© Terry Simms

Red-necked Grebe at Ferry Meadows CP

© Kevin Du Rose




© Mike Weedon


© Brian Stone


© Katie Fuller

Found by Kevin Wicks on December 28, this is the first Red-necked Grebe in the PBC area since 1998 - also the last year when all five British grebe species were recorded in the area.

Short-eared Owl at Deeping High Bank

Visit the Wandering Birders website for more, bigger pics and commentary.

© Will Bowell

Bullfinch at Woodwalton Fen NNR

© Mike Weedon

Garganey at Woodwalton Fen NNR

© Mike Weedon

This bird can now be confidently sexed as a male from the grey feathering starting to come through on the flanks. The same bird as was seen there in February this year?

Greenfinch at Langtoft

© Josh Jones

Hawfinch at Ferry Meadows CP

© Kevin Du Rose

Gadwall at Ferry Meadows CP

© Katie Fuller

Teal at Ferry Meadows

© Katie Fuller

Short-eared Owl at Prior's Fen

© Brian Stone

Slavonian Grebe at Ferry Meadows

© Steve Dudley


© Mike Weedon


© Katie Fuller

Found by Terry Daunt on Gunwade Lake in the afternoon of December 13, this is the first twitchable Slav Grebe since 1998, when one was at Ferry Meadows from 20-29 Jan.

Stonechat on Nene Washes

© Will Bowell

Egyptian Geese at Stone Bridge Corner

© Will Bowell

We want your pictures!

If you've taken some good photos of birds in the Peterborough area lately, we'd really like to be able to display them on this gallery. Photos will be credited to the photographer with a link to their website if applicable.

Good images of common species are just as welcome as rarer ones. The pics will displayed at a maximum width of 400 pixels; file size should be no larger than c.50kb.

E-mail your masterpiece to: brianhstone [at] btinternet.com
Please remember to state when and where you took the picture.

Scaup at Woodwalton Fen

© Kevin Du Rose


© Katie Fuller

This bird is interesting! At first glance, it appears to be a female Scaup, but a closer look reveals it has quite a lot of black on its bill - suggesting Tufted Duck? At some angles, the bird's mantle also looks a bit darker than perhaps it should. The size and shape all look right for Scaup, however.

John Oates commented: "That looks like a Scaup to me. The black on the bill looks OK - the nail when viewed head on is quite broad, so it does look as though there is a lot of black there. The plumage, size and shape seem Scaup-like. I bet you could find birds like this quite easily in a flock up north somewhere."

Mark Hawkes says: "As John has pointed out, the black on the bill, although rather extensive, is OK for Scaup, because (if I recall correctly) juveniles tend to show more black than adults. Also the dark back, and notable ear-spot would also suggest juvenile. However, Aythya hybirds (and pure female Scaups) are always a lot easier to deal with in the field (as opposed to photos)."

Mark Ward reckons: "Looks like a first-winter female Scaup to me. A lot of people seem to forget that there is considerable variation within a species. Not every individual looks the same! The extent of black on the bill of pure-bred Aythya ducks is very variable and not a reliable feature for proving or disproving the ID of a bird alone (this bird does not have an excessive amount of black, anyway.
"It is a juvenile, based on the the dark mantle and brown flanks. Backed up by everything else on this bird: the nice large round head, larger size than Tufted, good, bright white blaze - there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary with your bird. I agree with Mark Hawkes that it is best to see and judge hybrid ducks for yourself in the field to be sure, but I see no reason why this isn't a first-winter female Scaup."

Dunnock at Tanholt GP

© Mike Weedon

Bean Geese at Bassenhally Moor

© Brian Stone


© Mike Weedon

A group of eight tundra Bean Geese (and one Pink-footed Goose) has been in the area north of the River Nene, along Thorney Dyke Road, for at least a week now. This is the first record of the species since 2000, when a skein were in the same area.

Blackbirds at Asda, Peterborough

© Katie Fuller


© Mike Weedon

Blackbird at Asda, Peterborough

© Kevin Du Rose

Pied Wagtail at Eldernell

© Mike Weedon

Hen Harrier at Eldernell

© Mike Weedon

Waxwings at Asda

© Kevin Du Rose