2003 birds

List of species photographed during 2003:

Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata, River Nene, 15.05.2003
Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica, River Nene, 07.02.2003
Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis, Dog-in-a-Doublet, 18.12.2003
Bittern, Botaurus stellaris, Woodwalton Fen, 05.02.2003
Bittern, Botaurus stellaris, Woodwalton Fen, 18.02.2003
White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, Eldernell, 02.04.2003
Greenland White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons flavirostris, Prior's Fen, 05.01.2003
Greenland White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons flavirostris, Hampton, 08.12.2003
Brent Goose, Branta bernicla, Ferry Meadows CP, 28.03.2003
Mandarin, Aix galericulata, Ferry Meadows CP, 02.09.2003
Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis, Dogsthorpe Star Pit, 26.10.2003
Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, Baston & Langtoft GP, 16.06.2003
Buzzard, Buteo buteo, Elton, 14.12.2003
Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, Baston Fen, 22.06.2003
Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, Woodwalton Fen, 08.02.2003
Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus, Blackbush, 17.05.2003
Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea, Prior's Fen, 20.08.2003
Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, private site, 03.09.2003
Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, Prior's Fen, 11.08.2003
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa limosa, RSPB Nene Washes, 26.05.2003
Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus, Ferry Meadows CP, 01.04.2003
White-winged Black Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus, Welland Bank Pits, 12.07.2003
Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur, North Bank, 23.08.2003
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, 04.11.2003
Sand Martin, Riparia riparia, King's Dyke NR, 26.06.2003
Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, Crown Lakes CP, 10.01.2003
Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, Longthorpe, 16.03.2003
Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros, Millennium Bridge, 06.11.2003
Stonechat, Saxicola torquata, Deeping High Bank, 18.10.2003
Blackbird, Turdus merula, Langtoft, 14.10.2003
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos, Langtoft, 15.05.2003
Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca, Ferry Meadows CP, 24.11.2003
Dartford Warbler, Sylvia undata, Stanground Wash, 10.12.2003
Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, Bainton, 11.07.2003
Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix, Eye tip, 02.12.2003
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla, Farcet Fen, 08.02.2003
Lesser Redpoll, Carduelis cabaret, Langtoft, 15.12.2003
Corn Bunting, Miliaria calandra, Farcet Fen, 29.05.2003

Shag at Dog-in-a-Doublet

© Brian Stone




© Steve Dudley

This is probably the most reliable location in the area for Shags but it has been a while since the last one here. This one was also seen feeding at Eldernell Lakes and may also be responsible for other brief local sightings. Previous occurences here have stayed for a while and this one is no exception. It may have stayed longer had it not been for its untimely demise, probably a casualty of the adjacent road.

Along with Red and Black-throated Divers, Guillemot and Kittiwake it makes a fine set of recent seabird records for the PBC area's own bit of "coast".

Goldcrest at Langtoft

© Phil Ackerman

Lesser Redpolls at Langtoft

© Phil Ackerman


© Josh Jones

The last couple of months of 2003 saw a widespread arrival of Lesser Redpolls. These were photographed in and around Langtoft.

Common Buzzard at Elton

© Brian Stone

This is an extremely pale adult and has been present in the Elton area since at least December 2001. In flight it even shows a tail with a pale base leading to possible confusion with Rough-legged Buzzard.

Dartford Warbler at Stanground Wash

© Brian Stone

"A most unexpected find and an unusual location. I check out the Sewage Works and outfall here for Green Sandpipers and Grey Wagtails and always take a look at the washland opposite where Short-eared and Barn Owl are regular as well as Stonechats and the like.

"What I didn't expect was what looked like a brown Long-tailed Tit bouncing towards me through the vegetation along the River Nene. As it passed just below me I couldn't quite believe I was having point blank views of a Dartford Warbler. The bird stayed on the bank next to me for a while but typically, just as I went for the camera, it flew to the far side of the opposite river bank and gave me 20 nerveracking minutes before Steve Dudley caught a brief glimpse then I saw it again in the middle of the wash.

"Views were more distant but I was extremely relieved that there was something for the arriving hoards to see. It showed well enough to provide these record shots, most of which were taken at long range or in low light.

"This is the 270th species for the PBC area and there are also no other records for Huntingdonshire. There are two other Old Cambs records, neither of which were twitchable - one from 1870 at Great Abingdon and one in a garden in Cherry Hinton in February 2001."

For another account see Toadsnatcher.

Greenland White-fronted Goose at Hampton North Lake

© Brian Stone

This adult with very dense barring and rather dark upperparts was initially located on Orton Brick Pit with a group of mainly Greylag Geese, which also contained a Pink-footed Goose and the regular Barnacle and Bar-headed Geese. Part of the flock containing these geese then headed off to Hampton North Lake where the White-front posed for these pictures.

Hooded Crow at Eye tip

© Steve Dudley

Only just split as a full species from Carrion Crow, this is the first twitchable bird in the area for some time. Found by Kevin Du Rose.