SyStematic LiSt Bird report for 2000–2001 observers Please see the list of contributors at the end of this report to whom we extend our thanks. abbreviations and place names The normal abbreviations are shown below in the table. 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. 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) m Male res Reservoir pr pair r. River f or fem Female Sf Sewage Farm r/h Redhead StW Sewage Treatment Works r/t Ringtail S/p Summer plumage e Berks East Berkshire S/s Second summer m.Berks Mid Berkshire S/w Second winter W Berks West Berkshire W/p Winter plumage dorney W Dorney Wetlands W Winter K&a Kennet and Avon 3/s Third summer Qmr Queen Mother Reservoir 3/w Third winter In an attempt to show the national status of our breeding birds, any species that is protected under Schedule One of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and any species that may be red or amber listed in the most recent list of Birds of conservation concern for the UK will have the species status placed in brackets after the county status which precedes the species account. 25 red-tHROATED diVer Gavia stellata Scarce winter visitor. 2001 One long staying winter-plumaged bird was found at QMR on Nov 19th remaining until Dec 6th (JAS). The 19th record since 1900. GREAT NORTHerN diVer Gavia immer Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. 2001 A 1st winter bird arrived on Dec 23rd (BTB) at Twyford GP. This much-admired bird, the 24th county record since 1900, stayed into 2002. LittLe greBe Tachybaptus ruficollis A widespread resident, breeding in all river valleys and suitable lakes and ponds. 2000 Records were received from 51 locations, 17 in W Berks, 13 in M Berks and 21 in E Berks. Monthly maxima from the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Burghfield GPs – – 11 6 2 1 4 5 13 20 18 14 Eversley GPs 5 7 10 6 5 6 9 22 23 9 5 6 Field Fm GP 13 – 12 – 1 1 – 25 30 23 32 21 Lower Fm GP – – 12 9 12 13 28 29 23 17 3 4 Old Slade NR 2 2 – – – – – 4 13 6 5 4 Padworth Lane GP 4 5 12 6 – 2 – 8 14 14 6 20 Dorney W / Slough SF 2 2 – – – – – 6 6 10 – 3 Twyford GPs (inc Whistley Green GP) 1 1 1 5 4 4 4 15 14 9 – – Wraysbury / Horton GPs 12 4 6 3 2 1 2 7 2 4 4 – The high count of 32 at Field Fm GP occurred on Nov 10th (RCr). Elsewhere there were only 2 counts that exceeded 6 birds, 7 at Rapley Lake on Apr 29th (DJB) and 8 at Lane End Fm Shinfield on Sep 2nd (MBu). Breeding: Evidence of breeding was received from 11 locations. The highest concentration of breeding pairs occurred at Lower Fm GP where 2 young were seen on Jun 4th (IW; JL), increasing to 5 broods of 1,2,3,3 and 4 young plus a sitting adult on Jul 29th (DJB) and a count of 13 ads and 16 juvs on Aug 25th (DJB). Elsewhere an adult was feeding a juv at Crookham Com on Jun 22nd (JPM), a pair with 4 chicks at Oval Pond Padworth on Jun 28th (GEW), a pair with 3 young at Thatcham Marsh on Jul 9th and 15th (IW; JL), a pair with 2 chicks at Aldermaston GP on Aug 2nd (JPM), 2 broods of 3 and 5 at Whistley Green GP Twyford on Aug 7th (DJB) increasing to 3 broods of 3, 3 and 2 on Aug 24th (TGB), 4 ads and 4 juvs at Datchet Com GP on Aug 26th (BDC), 4 ads and 3 juvs at Horton GPs on Aug 26th (BDC), an adult on a nest at Hungerford Marsh on Sep 19th (RF), 14 young were reared at Eversley GPs (IHB) and a pair bred in the Pang valley between Bucklebury and Marlston (PDM). A prolonged and successful breeding season. 2001 Occasional records involving 6 or more birds came from Frogmill, Hurley with 6 on Mar 6th (FMF; SJF), Old Slade NR, 6 on Jan 16th (BDC), Oct 5th and Nov 18th (DR), 10 at Dorney W on Oct 28th with 9 there on Dec 12th (DJB) and 9 at Orlitts South Lake on Dec 8th (DR). Breeding: Successful breeding was reported at Aldermaston GP (JPM), Avington near Kintbury (DR), R Pang Bucklebury to Marlston (PDM), Hamstead 26 Marshall (LS; GS), Windsor Great Park (WAS), Lower Fm GP (IW; JL; RF), Old Slade GP (DR), Twyford GP (BTB; BDC) and Woolhampton GP (JPM). Highest breeding count involved 3prs all with young at Hamstead Lock on Jul 4th (IW; JL). Monthly maxima at regular sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Aldermaston GP – – 1 4 1 – 2 3 3 4 2 – Eversley GPs 9 5 3 5 4 7 6 9 2 8 6 – Field Fm GP 10 7 8 – – 10 – 17 28 30 15 12 Lower Fm GP 3 5 14 18 16 11 23 28 31 12 5 4 Padworth Lane GP 9 20 14 10 – 3 5 11 10 9 7 6 Twyford GPs – – 1 – – 5 13 9 7 – – – GREAT creSted greBe Podiceps cristatus A breeding resident and winter visitor of our larger waters and along the R Thames. 2000 Records were received from 36 locations, 7 in W Berks, 13 in M.Berks and 16 in E Berks. The monthly maxima at the main sites were: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Bray GPs 15 – – 13 – – – – – 22 17 14 Burghfield / Searles Lane GP 10 – – 7 3 – – – – – 15 10 Eversley GPs 19 14 14 14 10 23 27 22 14 18 13 15 Hosehill Lake – – – – 5 5 15 5 4 10 – – Moatlands GPs – – 25 8 15 10 46 20 30 30 15 15 Muddy Lane GP Thatcham 4 3 3 7 – 8 5 – 6 10 20 17 QMR 36 24 23 – – – – – – – – – Theale Main GP 25 5 6 5 5 5 10 10 20 20 – 20 Twyford / Whistley Green GP 10 10 8 5 2 – – 3 3 – – – Wraysbury GPs 41 60 57 31 47 14 22 19 26 24 49 56 Old Slade NR – – 10 – – Br* – – – 11 6 8 * BR – Breeding confirmed The high count of 60 at Wraysbury GPs occurred on Feb 13th (VAC). Elsewhere the only count to exceed 20 birds was 25 including 4 juvs at Horton GPs on Aug 26th (BDC). Breeding: Evidence of breeding was first received from Searle`s Lane GP Burghfield, where an adult was seen on a nest on Mar 13th (JA). Records were received from a further 15 locations involving at least 30 pairs, with the most favoured breeding locations being lakes or GPs. Only 1 record involved pairs on a river, 3 pairs rearing 4 young on the Thames between Old Windsor and Datchet (WAS). 2001 Counts of 20 or more came from Wraysbury GP with a peak of 67 on Jan 14th and 58 in Feb (VAC), Muddy Lane GP with 24 on Jan 20th (GJS; IW; JL), Woolhampton GP with 20 on Jul 30th (JPM), Moatlands GP with 27 on Aug 26th (SG) and Theale Main GP with 31 on Dec 15th (BMA). Breeding: Breeding was reported from Bottom Lane Theale (MBu), Frogmill near Hurley (FMF; SJF), Hosehill Lake (MBu), Lower Fm GP (SG), Midgham GP (NDOC), Old Slade GP (DR), Romney Lock Windsor (WAS), Thatcham Marsh Lakes (NDOC), Theale Main GP (SG), Woolhampton GPs (SG) and Wraysbury GP (JOB). The first chicks reported were at Aldermaston GP on Mar 19th (JPM) and the latest reported at Muddy Lane GP on Sep 4th (GJS). Monthly maxima at regular sites were as follows: 27 Site Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Eversley GPs 7 7 – – 3 7 2 – 9 9 9 6 Lower Fm GP 1 4 2 3 2 2 5 4 3 2 1 2 Muddy Lane GP 24 7 – 4 3 12 21 19 13 9 10 13 Woolhampton – – – 4 – 8 20 19 12 9 9 9 Wraysbury GPs 67 58 14 15 – – – – – – – – SLaVoNiaN greBe Podiceps auritus Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. 2001 The recent run of poor years continued in 2001 with only one sighting. The bird, in winter plumage, was at Theale Main GP on Dec 3rd (MJH; CDRH). BLACK-NecKed greBe Podiceps nigricollis Scarce but regular passage migrant and winter visitor. 2000 Eight records involving at least 8 birds make 2000 a fairly average year. After no first winter reports a pair in s/p was located at Hosehill Lake on May 16th (BU). These birds or another pair were then located at Lower Fm GP on May 27th (IW; JL; JPM; MES) to May 29th (MO). autumn: Passage commenced with a juv at QMR on Aug 22nd (JAS) and was followed by 1 at Moatlands GP on Aug 27th (RCr), 1 juv QMR on Sep 7th and Sep 23rd (JAS). Second winter: There were 2 records in December, 1 at Field Fm GP on Dec 4th (J Simmons) and 1 at Wraysbury GPs on Dec 26th (PNe).