SyStematic LiSt Bird report for 2006 and 2007 The species accounts for the systematic lists for 2006 and 2007 were prepared by Paul Bright-Thomas, Brian Clews, Richard Crawford, Ken Moore, Bill Nicoll, Sarah Priest, Marek Walford and Ken White. Contributors of records to the systematic lists are usually identified by initials: a table of names and initials is shown at the end of the lists. The systematic lists for 2006 and 2007 were edited by Chris Heard. abbreviations and place names Abbreviations used in the systematic lists are shown below. For place names difficulties arise where there are several names for the same sites including where, for example, a gravel pit complex is named but not the individual pit . A map and guide to the main sites is included towards the end of the report to assist with identification and further detail can be found at www.berksbirds.co.uk/pits.asp. age/Sex PlaceS/LocaLitieS ad adult com Common f/s First summer CP Country Park f/w First winter (plumage) fm Farm imm Immature GC Golf course juv Juvenile GP Gravel Pit(s) s/p Summer plumage K&a Kennet and Avon s/s Second summer res Reservoir s/w Second winter r. River w/p Winter plumage Sf Sewage Farm w Winter StW Sewage Treatment Works 3/s Third summer dorney W Dorney Wetlands 3/w Third winter QMR Queen Mother Reservoir 4/s Fourth summer 19 2006 Bird report for 2006 mUte SWaN Cygnus olor Locally common resident Monthly maxima at the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Burghfield GPs 26 24 8 6 – – – – 58 81 87 49 Dinton Pastures CP 74 55 19 2 2 10 5 45 60 3 70 36 K&A Canal Newbury 69 58 73 – 88 57 – 27 42 87 – 97 R. Thames, Remenham 58 76 74 28 – – – – – – – 18 Theale/Moatlands GPs 88 32 20 – – 51 – 8 41 34 32 111 R. Thames, 201 304 – – – 342 – – – 210 208 221 Windsor Esplanade NB. Theale and Moatland GPs have been combined, as often the Swans commute when excessive disturbance occurs at either site. Counts of up to 60 were received from nearly 70 sites. The count of 342 at Windsor Esplanade on Jun 30th (DF) is the highest ever recorded in Berkshire (18 more than Jan 2004, the previous record, also at Windsor Esplanade). Breeding: 39 pairs only recorded, with 117 cygnets noted, an obvious understatement of the breeding status of this species. WHite-FRONted gooSE Anser albifrons Uncommon passage migrant and occasional winter visitor A flock of 17 Eurasian White-fronted Geese (a mix of adults and f/w) (KEM) flew in from south at 1550 hrs Feb 4th (with a small flock of Canada & Greylag Geese) at Pingewood GP. They settled on the West Pit for 5 minutes or so, lifted off and headed north. They were relocated on 5th (RHS) at Pingewood again and flew off north easterly at 13.55 (MFW). The usual feral adult, present for at least its sixth year, was being seen from Feb 17th on and off until Dec 31st in the Kennet valley, primarily between Brimpton and Padworth Lane. greyLAG gooSE Anser anser Common and widespread introduced resident Monthly maxima at the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bearwood Lake – 36 26 12 15 25 30 26 35 – 79 11 Borough Marsh – 6 – – – – – 26 107 66 2 – Cockmarsh 6 – – – – 120 136 – 124 – – – Great Meadow Pond 1 26 30 23 24 32 15 37 23 56 1 1 Padworth Lane GP – – 47 32 40 – – 98 65 – – – Pingewood GPs – 23 46 – – – – 67 – – – – Summerleaze GP – – 4 4 – – – 102 150 1 – 30 Theale GPs 156 149 109 39 45 – – – 50 – 88 122 Twyford GPs – – 6 9 8 – – 80 66 – – 2 Woolhampton GP – 17 – – 2 – – – 90 – 107 102 Wraysbury GPs 5 8 2 29 – 30 – – 63 70 131 160 20 2006 Counts of up to 60 were received from a further 58 sites, with higher individual counts being received from The Home Park, Windsor of 74 Feb 11th (CDRH) and 126 in a stubble field at Englefield Aug 8th (RCr); 96 at QMR on Aug 18th (CDRH); 160 at Switchback Rd., Cookham, Aug 24th (DJB) and 152 there Sept 3rd (WAS); 88 at Sonning Meadows on the Reading Blue Coat playing fields Sept 24th (ABT). grey gooSe sp. On Oct 14th 4 unidentified grey geese flew over Great Thrift Wood heading south (DJB) SNoW gooSE Anser caerulescens Occasional escapee and feral resident at one site where it has bred 4 were present in the Moor Green/Eversley area throughout the year (MO). Additionally, there were 4 ‘Blue Snow’ Geese at Summerleaze GP Aug 16th (CDRH) and up to 3 of the same blue morph birds were in the Cookham area during August and September (WAS; DJB). caNada gooSe Branta canadensis Common and widespread introduced resident Monthly maxima at the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Borough Marsh – – – – – – – – 505 401 375 – Bray GPs 27 – 26 21 12 33 23 7 114 3 8 – Burghfield GPs 21 8 105 – 5 – – – – 56 14 53 Dinton Pastures CP 184 94 36 17 20 130 – 3 250 – 130 30 Great Meadow Pond 182 15 39 50 39 30 45 16 83 163 15 80 Lower Farm GP 120 115 120 18 41 42 121 237 100 239 307 250 R. Thames, 128 – 23 – – – – – 92 99 71 140 Reading to Pangbourne Summerleaze GP 168 6 22 13 – – – 400 300 20 – 48 Thatcham GPs 295 183 147 156 72 122 177 176 157 189 211 221 Theale GPs 126 90 109 7 21 – – – 84 – 74 82 Twyford GPs 20 – – 8 – – – 205 50 – – – R. Thames, 158 194 – – – 155 – – – 157 107 108 Windsor Esplanade Wraysbury GPs 61 47 59 12 2 2 – – 58 68 192 136 Counts of up to 100 were received from a further 41 sites, with higher counts of 112 Cliveden Reach Jan 24th (WAS); 192 Remenham Feb 11th (DJB); 463 Cookham, Switchback Road Sep 3rd (WAS); 450 West End, nr Shurlock Row Sep 4th (DJB); 244 R. Thames, Remenham Farm meadow Sept 11th (GV); 253 Bearwood Lake Sep 20th (DJB); Sonning Meadows 364 Sep 30th (ABT); 100 Greenham Com Nov 10th (JL); finally 100 plus at The Home Farm, Windsor Gt Pk Nov 28th (RGS). Breeding: creches obscure the picture, but 36 pairs with 160 young were recorded. 21 2006 BarNacLe gooSe Branta leucopsis A localised feral visitor/resident-reducing in numbers, year on year. Monthly maxima at the main site were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Eversley GPs 57 7 2 4 3 – 3 – 44 51 50 50 Away from the main site, 2 were at Summerleaze GP Jan 11th and 31st (CDRH), with 1 there on Feb 2nd and 5th (CDRH) and 1 at Cookham Aug 6th (BDC) and Aug 11th to 31st (CDRH), 1 was at Summerleaze GP Aug 8th, 2 Aug 16th and 1 Sep 4th to 7th (CDRH), a flock of circa 40 were seen over Tickleback Row on Oct 13th (CDRH) and 1 was at Widbrook Common Dec 13th, 18th (BAJC) and 22nd (CDRH), with another at Aston the same day (CDRH). No breeding was confirmed this year. BreNt gooSe Branta bernicla Scarce passage migrant A first-winter Dark-bellied Brent B.b.bernicla was at Horton Fields from Feb 1st to Mar 21st (CDRH et al). On Apr 19th, a Brent Goose was located on the West Marsh at Jubilee River (SP) but was not identified as pale or dark bellied. egyptiaN gooSe Alopochen aegyptiacus Now locally common introduced resident / visitor There were at least 5 locations in West Berks indicating the spread there, as well as the East and Mid Berks strongholds. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bearwood – 1 2 2 – – 4 6 2 2 – 6 BoroughMarsh/Charvil 2 – – – – – – 10 41 22 37 12 Eversley/Moor Green 8 10 18 10 15 16 30 22 60 60 32 33 Summerleaze GP – 5 – – – – – 104 98 3 – – Theale GPs 6 9 9 2 6 4 9 8 9 9 9 22 Great Meadow Pond 3 5 10 20 13 11 10 6 6 13 11 8 There were eight counts above 20 which do not form part of the above: – 24 Braywoodside Oct 7th (CDRH) and 52 Cockmarsh Jul 3rd (WAS). Switchback Rd., Cookham was quite exceptional with probably one of the highest County records at a single location, 106 on Aug 24th (DJB) and smaller counts of 63 Aug 6th (BDC), 95 Aug 11th (CDRH), 99 Aug 31st (CDRH), 64 Sept 3rd (WAS) and 43 Sep 14th (DF). Closeby, Summerleaze GP had probably part or all of the same flock with 104 on Aug 23rd (WAS) and 98 on Sept 1st (WAS). Finally the December WeBS count had 22 at Theale Main Pit. The albino bird was again at Charvil, associating with Canada Geese, on Jan 4th (CDRH). Breeding: 22 pairs were recorded breeding at 12 locations, with 81 juveniles. 22 2006 SHeLdUck Tadorna tadorna Uncommon passage migrant and summer visitor (Amber listed) Overall, Shelduck were noted at 36 locations in the County. Monthly maxima at the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Lower Farm GP 4 9 10 13 2 2 1 4 – – 2 1 Padworth Lane GP 3 3 6 8 6 4 16 12 – – 1 1 Pingewood GPs inc 4 4 7 8 8 14 – 1 1 – – – Burnthouse Lane GPs Queen Mother Reservoir – – – 4 8 3 – 1 – – – – Thatcham GPs 4 8 12 6 – – – – – – – – Woolhampton GPs – 2 2 6 4 2 1 – – – – 1 Additionally there were two other counts, in excess of 10, both 13 from Burghfield GPs – Apr 2nd (SAG) and Aug 13th (JA).