MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor

Transcription

1 MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor Breeding Lancashire s Mute Swan population has been on the increase since the early 1990s. Breeding was proven or probable in 146 tetrads during and increased to 191 during , a 30% range extension and including 20% of the county s tetrads (Fig.1). Birds were present in an additional 62 tetrads without any evidence of breeding (61 in ). Figure 1. Mute Swan: breeding distribution, (Large dots = proven or probable; small dots = possible) Their distribution was heavily weighted towards the west of the county with breeding occurring in just 32 tetrads (17%) in the east, where the largest numbers are found between Blackburn and Burnley mostly on the Leeds- Liverpool canal. Similarly, in north Lancashire many of the upper reaches of the Lune are occupied. Breeding birds are almost entirely absent from reservoirs in the uplands, including the West Pennine Moors. In keeping with their semi-wild status, nesting takes place regularly in most urban areas on park lakes and canals, but productivity is often low due to persecution. Figure 2. Mute Swan: change in breeding distribution since survey (orange = losses, green = gains. Page 1

2 Although both losses and gains have occurred in most areas, there was a cluster of apparently-abandoned tetrads in the area between Southport and Preston although some new tetrads have also been occupied in this region (Fig.2). Clusters of newly-occupied tetrads are apparent in south Liverpool, St. Helens, throughout the Fylde, in Preston and the area between Blackburn and Burnley. Most tetrads supported just one or two and occasionally three pairs, exceptions being four pairs at Brockholes and the Leighton Moss/Eric Morecambe complex, and eight on Southport Marine Lake although many observers did not report the number of pairs breeding. The county population was estimated at 200 pairs in 2000 but is probably around 250 pairs now, around 4% of the British population. The potential breeding population is substantially larger as 200 or more birds are thought to be present in summer without attempting to breed. Nearly 4000 birds were counted during the survey but, allowing for substantial duplication of records within and between winters, the population is thought to be closer to 1000, a little less than 1.5% of the British total. Figure 3. Mute Swan: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Winter Although some Mute Swans remain at their breeding sites all year, many breeding birds and probably a majority of the non-breeding population congregate at a fairly small number of sites, usually on the larger water bodies and often where they are fed by the public, including urban park lakes and canals, but also frequently on saltmarshes (Fig.3). The atlas survey located birds in 328 tetrads, 35% of the county total and 40% more than their total summering range. Their broad winter and breeding distributions were very similar, although there was an even more marked concentration during winter in the west of the county, where their presence increased in urban areas, particularly in Blackpool. Interestingly, they showed an almost solid presence on the Ribble upstream of Preston, an area apparently shunned in the breeding season. The largest counts during the atlas period were 272 on the Lune Estuary at Glasson/Conder Green and Thurnham, 266 on Southport Marine Lake, 115 at Marshside and 101 at Warton Bank/Marsh. A further eight tetrads held more than 50 birds, including Aldcliffe Marsh, Cockerham, Little Singleton and Preesall; 26 in Sefton Park was the largest count in Merseyside away from Marshside and Southport Marine Lake (Fig.4). Page 2

3 Figure 4. Mute Swan: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11 BEWICK S SWAN Cygnus columbianus Bewick s Swans have twice undergone dramatic changes in status in Lancashire, from a major rarity in the nineteenth century to winter visitor in internationally important numbers in the late twentieth. By the end of the 1970s numbers had increased to more than 100, 300 by 1984/85 and 700 by 1989/90. A record 1046 were at Martin Mere in November 1990 but totals slipped back a little over the following two winters before sinking to around 350 in 1997/98 and to in subsequent winters. Figure 1. Bewick s Swan: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Dot size in descending order: ; 25-99; 10-24; 1-10 Page 3

4 This decline continued unabated during the 2007/ /11 atlas survey with peak totals throughout Lancashire hovering around the 100 mark. National numbers have been in decline since the late 1990s as a larger proportion of the Russian breeding population chooses to remain in continental Europe for the winter, probably as a result of climate change, but this decline has been particularly noticeable in Lancashire to the extent that only the north Ribble marshes are currently just of national importance. Figure 2. Bewick s Swan: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11 Dot size in descending order: 70-91; 20-69; 5-19; 1-5 For the past six or more years the largest flocks have been seen on the north bank of the Ribble on Lytham Moss and Warton Marsh; the largest flock seen anywhere during the atlas period was 71 in February 2010 at Lytham. Martin Mere, which used to be the main roost site, is now largely avoided. The south Ribble marshes continue to record double-figure flocks in some cases duplicating records on the north bank of the river as do the arable farmland and coastal marshes in the Pilling and Glasson areas. Bewick s Swans were recorded in 71 tetrads throughout the coastal plain during this survey (Fig.1) but away from the three main areas only small numbers were involved, often accompanying Whooper Swans (Fig.2). WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus Summer Small numbers of injured or sick birds remain in the county fairly regularly, including six at Martin Mere in 2011, but have never shown any signs of breeding. Winter Whooper Swans were found in 167 tetrads during 2007/ /11 (Fig.1), overwhelmingly in the western lowlands. Almost half of these records were of flocks of fewer than 20 birds. The vast majority are found in four main areas: the south-west mosslands, the marshes and mosses on either side of the Ribble, in north Fylde and the Lune Valley (Fig.2). Although migrating flocks are seen regularly at both ends of winter in east Lancashire, almost all records are simply flyovers, with the few that do land typically resting for short periods on reservoirs. By far the largest numbers are seen on the south-west mosses, feeding on a large swathe of farmland between Formby in the south-west and Croston in the north-east and almost all roosting at Martin Mere, attracted by the supplementary feeding and safe roost conditions there. There is probably a significant interchange of birds between the Ribble and mossland feeding sites within winters, so the size of the roost at Martin Mere is the best indicator of total numbers in the south of the county (although some Ribble birds do roost on the marshes). Whooper Swans were scarce at Martin Mere and throughout the county until the 1980s, after which peak counts rose from 100 to 700 in the Page 4

5 mid-1990s and 1500 in Numbers continued to swell during the atlas period, reaching a county record of 2100 in December Numbers have historically been much lower in north Fylde, usually in the region of but there were up to 348 there in November 2010 to January 2011, while after the atlas period 650 were in the Pilling area in December 2011 so it appears that the area s importance continues to grow. Figure 1. Whooper Swan: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Around 2500 birds were present in the county in December 2010, although the average during 2007/08 to 2010/11 was a little lower. These represent nearly a quarter of the entire British wintering population, emphasising just how important Lancashire has become for this species. Figure 2. Whooper Swan: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11 The species status in north Lancashire has remained largely unchanged since the mid-twentieth century with flocks of seen annually, mostly on the Lune and Kent saltmarshes and surrounding fields or in the Lune Valley between Caton and the Yorkshire border. The largest count during the atlas period was 33 at the beginning of March Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; 1-20 Page 5

6 BLACK SWAN Cygnus atratus Singles and occasionally pairs were recorded in 22 tetrads during the breeding season. Most were in the west of the county with just two records in the east, probably involving the same bird, on the Ribble near Ribchester. Examination of these records suggests that no more than five birds were involved in any one year and possibly throughout the survey period. An adult and four juveniles were seen at Green Bank Quarry, Longridge with assorted exotic ducks in September 2010 so may have bred there. Rather more were seen during winter with birds recorded in at least 34 tetrads, including eight together on the Ribble at Thornley in December 2010, presumably the birds that had bred at Longridge. All other records were of ones or twos. Figure 1. Bean Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. BEAN GOOSE Anser fabalis Bean Geese were recorded in 46 tetrads during 2007/ /11, roughly a fifth of those in which Pink-footed Geese with which they were invariably seen were present (Fig.1). All occupied tetrads were in the western third of the county, with the exception of one marginally to the east at Brock, and more than 75% of them were on the Formby mosses or in north Fylde. Of those identified to sub-species there were records in seven tetrads of Taiga Bean Geese (A. f. fabalis) and 39 of the Tundra race (A. f. rossicus). This was a close match to what has always been perceived as the relative frequency of these two sub-species although separation of the two forms is not always straightforward. Trying to discount duplicated records of individuals wandering the county with the Pinkfeet flocks is not easy but probable totals during the atlas period were three in 2007/08, 15 in 2008/09, 20 in 2009/10 and eight in 2010/11, an average of about eleven per winter, slightly above the average winter total of eight since 1999/2000. PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Anser brachyrhynchus Summer Small numbers of sick or injured birds spend the summer in Lancashire fairly frequently, usually at Martin Mere, but have never shown any inclination to breed in the wild. Page 6

7 Winter Pink-footed Geese have probably always been the most numerous of Lancashire s wintering geese and numbers have been increasing sharply in recent years. They were recorded in 258 tetrads during 2007/ /11, covering 27% of the county total (Fig.1). Only a handful of these were in the east of the county and the overwhelming majority were in the western third. Figure 1. Pink-footed Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Their distribution was largely solid from north Fylde southwards, but with some gaps in south Fylde, South Ribble, parts of West Lancashire and much of St. Helens. Figure 2. Pink-footed Goose: relative abundance, 2007/ /11 Page 7 Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; 25-99; 1-24 Wintering numbers were relatively uniform with nationally-important flocks recorded throughout the core areas of the south-west and Rainford mosses, the Ribble Estuary and south-west and north Fylde, as they moved

8 between feeding areas both within and between winters (Fig.2). Peak counts of birds grounded in east Lancashire (where many more are seen flying over on migration at both ends of the winter) were 18 at Stocks Reservoir and 24 at Foulridge Reservoirs. Internationally-important numbers (3600 or more) were recorded in 77 tetrads during the survey (Fig.2). The largest of these were at the traditional roost sites: at Pilling, at Martin Mere and on Banks Marsh, but some very large feeding flocks were also recorded, for example at Stalmine Moss and Eagland Hill. In the south of the county birds feeding on the southern Formby mosses tend to roost on Taylor s Bank off Formby Point, and those feeding in the Rainford area at Simonswood Moss. WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifrons White-fronted Geese were recorded in 72 tetrads, almost all in the western third of the county, in the Fylde, on the Ribble Estuary and the south-west mosses, where all were seen in the company of Pink-footed Goose flocks (Fig.1). Away from the main sites birds were seen in the Chorley area, at and near Rishton Reservoir and at Lee Green Reservoir. Figure 1. White-fronted Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Figure 3. Pink-footed Goose: Lancashire peak winter counts, 1999/ / / / /10 We have a very precise picture of the size of the Lancashire population from the coordinated roost counts that have been carried out each winter for many years (Fig.3). Numbers increased hugely during the last three winters of the survey, averaging (16% of the British population) over the four years and reaching a record peak of in 2008/09. Page 8

9 There were six records of birds of unspecified race but 49 tetrads held Greenland A. a. flavirostris and 47 European A. a. albifrons White-fronted Geese, with 29 tetrads recording both sub-species at some time during the survey period. The geographical distribution of the two sub-species did not differ to any significant degree. The estimated number of individuals seen annually averaged 22 and varied between 16 and 19 in three out of the four winters with 32 recorded in 2008/09. These involved a total of 84 birds (removing apparent duplication within but not between winters), of which 46 were Greenland birds and 39 European. Greenland birds outnumbered European ones in 2007/08 and 2008/09 but the reverse was the case in 2010/11 and numbers were roughly equal in 2009/10. BAR-HEADED GOOSE Anser indicus Birds were recorded in eight tetrads during the breeding season, summering at Marshside, Fairhaven Lake, Lea Gate in south Fylde, Leighton Moss and Preston Dock but successfully breeding in Knowsley Park. Several remained in Knowsley Park during winter when birds were also recorded at Lea Marsh and Pilling Marsh. GREYLAG GOOSE Anser anser Breeding Feral Greylag Geese were found in suitable breeding habitat in 123 tetrads during but were only classified as probable or proven breeding in 82 of these (Fig.1). As with Canada Geese it is likely that many of the 41 possible breeding records related to summering, non-breeding birds and if these are excluded then the breeding range covered just 9% of the county s tetrads, very much less than that of Canada Geese. Nonetheless, this indicates that the breeding range of Greylags has increased by nearly 300% since , six times more than that of Canada Geese, and it is possible that they are in the process of spreading very gradually throughout the range of Canada Geese. Figure 1. Greylag Goose: breeding distribution, (Large dots = proven or probable; small dots = possible) However, the main distribution of the two species remains radically different. Greylags are found predominantly in the north of the county and scarcely register in the core area of Canadas in the south-east of the county. Page 9

10 Only seven tetrads had apparently been abandoned since 2000 but most of these were adjacent to newly-occupied tetrads and perhaps merely represented small shifts in breeding sites (Fig.2). The 67 newly-occupied tetrads were spread throughout the county but were overwhelmingly in the north, supporting the view that the species is consolidating its breeding range rather more than spreading widely for the time being at least. Figure 2. Greylag Goose: change in breeding distribution since survey(orange = losses, green = gains) elsewhere probably averaged about 1.5 pairs per tetrad, producing a very rough county population estimate of 150 pairs. Winter Birds were recorded in 318 tetrads, 23% of the county total and very significantly more than in summer (Fig.3). Figure 3. Greylag Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. For the same reasons as for Canada Geese a combination of potentially large numbers of summering, non-breeding birds and very few counts of breeding pairs being supplied it is impossible to provide an accurate estimate of the county population. Around 40 pairs bred annually at Leighton Moss and probably 20 pairs at Knowsley Park but numbers Their distribution was also markedly different with a huge concentration of occupied tetrads in the northern part of the Fylde as well as more in the outer Ribble area and in north Lancashire. Page 10

11 Numbers were highest in north Fylde and north Lancashire, together with Southport Marine Lake/Marshside and Foulridge, Whitemoor and Slipper Hill Reservoirs in east Lancashire (Fig.4). Figure 4. Greylag Goose: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. the size of this latter population were published during the current survey period but it has been previously estimated at about Fifteen tetrads recorded 200 or more birds with the largest counts 1400 at Foulridge and nearby reservoirs, 1135 on Aldcliffe Marsh/Lune Estuary, 680 at Martin Mere and 560 at Preesall/Pilling; combined peaks in the Silverdale area (both feral and wild) totalled more than 500. Away from the main sites tetrad population estimates averaged twelve but the combined total of peak counts was close to 12000; taking the larger counts into account and allowing for some duplication of records between and possibly within winters, the winter population is perhaps around 5000, only a little lower than that of Canada Geese. SNOW GOOSE Anser caerulescens Four, presumably escapes, were with feral Greylags in the Eric Morecambe complex area and on Aldcliffe Marsh during 2009/10. ROSS S GOOSE Anser rossi An adult was at Martin Mere, various sites in the Fylde and Colloway Marsh during 2007/08, and another was at various sites in West Lancashire and Merseyside in late Dot size in descending order: ; ; 10-49; 1-9 Wintering birds are a combination of resident breeders, feral immigrants from elsewhere in the country and a small number of presumed wild birds at and around Leighton, probably from the Scottish population. No estimates of CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis Breeding Canada Geese were recorded in suitable breeding habitat in 373 tetrads during the four summers of the atlas survey but were thought only to be possibly breeding in 92 of these with probable or proven breeding recorded in 281 (Fig.1); this compares with 147 probable or proven records out of a total of 249 in Since there are known to be considerable numbers of non-breeding birds in the county, most of which are likely to be found in potentially suitable breeding habitat, it is more accurate to judge changes in distribution solely on probable/proven records. Page 11

12 Figure 1. Canada Goose: breeding distribution, (Large dots = proven or probable; small dots = possible) They are widely distributed across the county but are most common in the West Pennine Moors and the rest of the south-east, where there appears to have been significant colonisation in the past ten years (Fig.2). They have also flourished in urban parks in Liverpool but less so in other urban areas. Figure 2. Canada Goose: change in breeding distribution since survey (orange = losses, green = gains ) On that basis, their range increased by 90% in the first decade of this century, while if possible records are included this increase was 50%. Either way, it seems clear that there has been a dramatic range expansion, and Canada Geese are now likely to be breeding in 30% of the county s tetrads or 40% if possible records are included. Page 12 Because of the unknown number of non- and post-breeding birds that were included in counts it is impossible to assess breeding densities with any degree of accuracy. The number of breeding pairs was only given for eleven tetrads and most of these were for known major sites, for example 16 pairs at Fairhaven Lake, 20 pairs at Brockholes and 20+ pairs in Knowsley Park. Densities elsewhere are perhaps closer to two pairs per tetrad which would

13 give a very approximate population estimate for Lancashire of 600 breeding pairs, roughly 1% of the British total. Winter 349 tetrads were occupied in winter covering 37% of the county total (Fig.3). Figure 3. Canada Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 The largest numbers were found on the inner Ribble marshes, on the Lune and at Stocks and Foulridge Reservoirs (Fig.4). Figure 4. Canada Goose: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11 Although their distribution was broadly similar to that of summer with most recorded south of the Ribble, there was a discernable movement away from the east and towards a broad strip following the coast northwards from Southport and along the Lune Valley. Dot size in descending order: ; ; 30-99; 1-29 Twenty-four tetrads recorded peaks of 200 or more with largest counts of 700 at Freckleton Naze, 695 on Lea Marsh, 650 on Longton Marsh, 550 at Foulridge Reservoirs, 428 on Newton Marsh, 363 at Arkholme/Higher Broomfield, 352 at Stocks Reservoir and 343 at Rishton Reservoir. Page 13

14 Tetrad population estimates provided by surveyors averaged 36 so a total population of 6000 is probably reasonably accurate. This would represent 3% of the British winter population and, being roughly ten times higher than the breeding population, gives some indication of the scale of immigration into Lancashire in winter and the number of non-breeding birds in summer. BARNACLE GOOSE Branta leucopsis Breeding Feral breeding Barnacle Geese have been established in Lancashire for several decades at least but, unlike feral Canadas and Greylags, they have never extended their breeding range for any length of time beyond their original sites of escape or introduction (Fig.1). There was a small breeding population at Belmont Reservoir during the 1980s which disappeared during the 1990s and very occasional pairs have bred in east and north Lancashire in the past. However, the current population is confined to just two sites: Knowsley Park, where released birds have been established for many years, and Blackpool, where birds from a free-flying flock from Blackpool Zoo are seen regularly at Stanley Park and Marton Mere. Possible pairs were also seen at Stocks Reservoir during the survey but with no evidence of breeding. An estimate of the number of breeding pairs is hard to come up with. Up to 40 were seen in summer at Stanley Park and up to 80 at Knowsley Park and surrounding areas but it is thought that only a small proportion of these ever actually breed. flocks of Pink-footed Geese around the south-west, causing some confusion as to their origins. The county s winter population of resident feral birds is around 130 with peak counts during the survey of 80 for the Merseyside and West Lancashire population and 46 for Blackpool s but others, presumably from other parts of the country, are seen with some regularity at Stocks Reservoir and other sites in the east of the county, with a peak count during the survey period of 34 at Stocks. Figure 1. Barnacle Goose: breeding distribution, (Large dots = proven or probable; small dots = possible) Winter The species is more common and widespread in winter and was recorded in 79 tetrads during 2007/ /11 (Fig.2). The bulk of the population is made up of feral birds from the two established Lancashire populations. The Blackpool Zoo/Stanley Park population is largely sedentary but does wander to some extent around the Fylde, while those from Knowsley Hall usually leave in autumn to spend much of the winter at Martin Mere, although they do at times get seen with Page 14

15 Figure 2. Barnacle Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 BRENT GOOSE Branta bernicla Brent Geese of both sub-species were recorded in 76 tetrads during the winter survey periods of 2007/ /11 (Fig.1), although a few more would have been added if spring and autumn passage birds had been included. All records were in the western third of the county with the exception of one pale-bellied bird at Cowm Reservoir in Rossendale on 5-6 November Most records of both races were in north Fylde or on the Lune Estuary with, uniquely for Lancashire s wild geese, relatively few sightings in the south-west. In comparison to the other scarcer species of geese Brent Geese, Figure 1. Brent Goose: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 Wild birds are almost always seen with flocks of Pinkfeet and most records are in north Fylde, on the Ribble and the south-west mosses. Their numbers were remarkably consistent during 2007/ /11 with an estimated 47, 47, 38 and 48 individuals seen in each winter. Page 15

16 especially it appears dark-bellied birds, are less frequently seen in the company of Pink-footed Geese and do not follow flocks of the latter around the county to the extent that Bean, White-fronted and wild Barnacle Geese do. In fact, most Lancashire Brent Geese are seen on the coast or flying offshore. During the atlas survey period at least 66% of all 136 birds (including those in early spring and autumn) were recorded in strictly coastal habitats records on saltmarshes being excluded as these may have been with Pinkfeet. The distribution of Pale-bellied (B. b. hrota) and Dark-bellied (B. b. bernicla) Brent Geese did not differ to any significant degree during the atlas years, thus contradicting what was published in the county avifauna on the basis of a much longer series of records that more than 80% of records in both north Lancashire and north Fylde are dark-bellied, while south of the Ribble numbers of the two sub-species are roughly evenly split. Numbers of birds seen each year during the survey period ranged between 18 and 70 with an average of 34 a year; 60% of all birds recorded were pale-bellied and 40% dark-bellied. RED-BREASTED GOOSE Branta ruficollis A first-winter was with Pink-footed Geese at several sites in the Fylde in October 2010 and then from 5-31 January The same bird was seen at Marshside, Martin Mere and Eccleston, St. Helens in the intervening period. A feral adult that has been seen for several years moving with a flock of feral Barnacle Geese between Knowsley Hall Park in summer and Martin Mere in winter was seen regularly in all four years of the atlas surveys. EGYPTIAN GOOSE Alopochen aegyptiaca Although small numbers were recorded throughout the atlas survey period at all times of year there continued to be no evidence that any have ever attempted to breed. It also seems likely that all are fairly recent escapes rather than originating from established feral populations elsewhere in the country, although their regular presence at Knowsley Park, that Mecca for dodgy geese, might suggest that breeding is just a matter of time. Away from Knowsley, most records were in the north of the county, mostly around Leighton Moss and north Fylde. The largest count was three at Withnell Fold in April SHELDUCK Tadorna tadorna Breeding The Shelduck s range in Lancashire and North Merseyside increased massively during the twentieth century as from the 1950s onwards breeding birds moved progressively inland, increasing their range by 25% between and from 20 to 26 10km squares. During the survey proven or probable breeding records expanded into a further three 10km squares. However, it appears that their spread is losing momentum as the number of tetrads in which birds were found did not change between and the present survey with totals of 259 and 258 respectively, although the number of proven/probable tetrads did increase slightly from 174 to 181 (Fig.1). This accords with the national situation the British population increased by just 2% between 1995 and The vast majority breed in the western half of the county with essentially only a handful of outposts in the east but with the exception of a significant concentration in the Lune Valley. The other eastern sites are all close to wetlands but there is no similar constraint in the west, where, in addition to traditional breeding sites on the coast, Shelduck nest throughout the agricultural lowlands, with virtually complete occupation of tetrads on the south-west mosslands. However, they have disappeared from many areas of farmland throughout inland Fylde (Fig.2). Within their breeding range Shelduck can be fairly thinly spread and breeding densities are not high away from a few favoured sites such as Martin Mere and the Ribble Marshes, where 20 or more pairs breed annually. The last full census of the Lune Valley was carried out a year prior to this survey in 2007 when 35 pairs were located between Skerton Weir and Kirkby Lonsdale, but numbers appear not to have changed since then. The Page 16

17 Lancashire population was estimated at 400 pairs in 2000 and has probably changed very little in the past ten years. Figure 1. Shelduck: breeding distribution, (Large dots = proven or probable; small dots = possible) Figure 2. Shelduck: change in breeding distribution since survey (orange = losses, green = gains ) Winter The winter range is similar in broad terms to that of summer; although most birds, if not all, undertake a post-breeding moult migration it seems that they return to the breeding grounds once moult is completed (Fig.2). However, these residents are joined in winter by large numbers of migrants from further afield, swelling the county population up to five-fold. Page 17

18 Shelduck were located in 221 tetrads during the current survey, only 36 fewer than in the breeding season, but were very heavily concentrated in coastal areas (Fig.3). Morecambe Bay is the third most important site in Britain for Shelduck outside of the breeding season and, although birds winter throughout the bay, the north Fylde coast is by far the county s most important area (Fig.4). Close on its heels, though, is Martin Mere, where a peak count of 1290 was made during the survey period. All coastal tetrads Figure 3. Shelduck: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 between Pilling and Cockerham also recorded peak counts in excess of 950. The largest counts on the Ribble between 400 and 720 were at Marshside, Banks and Hesketh Out Marshes, and on the Alt 400 at Hightown. Figure 4. Shelduck: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11 Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; 10-49; 1-10 Until the last years of the twentieth century the Ribble Estuary held the largest numbers but Morecambe Bay has done so ever since, presumably because of subtle changes in habitat and food availability. However, overall numbers were remarkably stable throughout the atlas period, varying only by Page 18

19 500 or so annually perhaps a sign of their fidelity to wintering sites. Based on the WeBS counts on the coast and at Martin Mere the county s current wintering population was estimated at 7700, 12% of the British and 2.5% of the north-west European totals. RUDDY SHELDUCK Tadorna ferruginea Ones and twos were seen throughout the year in all survey years at Martin Mere, Marshside, Leighton Moss and Chipping all were escapes. Figure 1. Mandarin Duck: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata Breeding Two tiny populations were established at the time of our first atlas survey in , on the Rufford Branch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and at Ince Blundell. The former originated in releases from Martin Mere and the latter was sustained by regular releases of captive birds; neither was thought to be selfsustaining. Probable breeding on the Knowsley Hall estate in the 1970s had apparently fizzled out. This situation remained essentially unchanged in 2005 although annual records were increasing and breeding was suspected at Cliviger near Burnley. However, this assessment has had to be revised substantially as a result of the current survey. Mandarin Ducks were found in a total of 25 tetrads scattered throughout the county, and breeding was either proven or thought probable in eleven of these (Fig.1). As many as ten pairs may have attempted to breed during but it remains uncertain if any of these potential populations can be sustained without further releases or escapes from captivity. Breeding was proven on the canal at Burscough and at Cliviger, two areas that probably have the best claim to hold a permanent population, and at Foulridge Reservoirs and at Thatto Heath in St. Helens. Pairs were seen at Formby Hall and in Blackpool, Woodplumpton, Newton-in-Bowland and Burnley, and at Bashall Hall. Page 19

20 Figure 2. Mandarin Duck: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Winter The winter distribution closely matches that of summer with the exception of the large number of records on the Fylde coast (Fig.3). Figure 3. Mandarin Duck: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Figure 2 shows that the vast majority of new breeding season records compared with were in the north and east of the county; the losses were at Rufford where it appears that the birds shifted slightly towards Burscough, and at Ince Blundell where it seems likely that releases have ceased. The explanation for this is unclear, possibly it was because birds were missed during the breeding season or moved to the Fylde from other areas, or perhaps more likely the result of a small number of birds wandering between various wetland sites. Page 20

21 WOOD DUCK Aix sponsa A pair bred at Mere Sands Wood in 2008 and were present until More recent escapes were seen at Leighton Moss and two sites in the Lancaster area throughout 2008 and one at Bank End in May Figure 1. Wigeon: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. WIGEON Anas penelope Winter Until very recently, when they were overtaken by Pink-footed Geese, Wigeon were by far the most abundant of the wildfowl species wintering in Lancashire; the main site, the Ribble Estuary, holds about a quarter of the British wintering population, almost three times more than the next-ranking location, the Somerset Levels. Birds arrive in numbers from breeding areas in Iceland, Fennoscandia and northern Russia in October and peak counts on the Ribble are usually recorded in December; quite large flocks are maintained during January and February, with a massive departure in March. The data from the present survey replicate a picture that is of longstanding. The winter distribution map shows presence in 180 tetrads, 19% of the county total (Fig.1). Wigeon occur quite widely on inland waters but in very small numbers compared with the massive coastal flocks, as the relative abundance map clearly shows. (Fig.2). Counts at Stocks Reservoir, by far the most prolific inland site, peaked at 300 birds in December 2008; in the same month surveyperiod peaks of were present on the Ribble and 6179 in Morecambe Bay. The winter population is estimated at individuals, based on the mean WeBS total during 2007/ /11; 3.63% of all the birds recorded during the winter survey were Wigeon. BM Page 21

22 Figure 2. Wigeon: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. AMERICAN WIGEON Anas americana Single wintering males were recorded at Cockerham and Glasson in January and February 2010, and at Martin Mere in March GADWALL Anas strepera Breeding The British breeding population originates mainly from released or escaped birds, probably supplemented more recently by lingering winter visitors. Figure 1. Gadwall: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; ; 1-24 Page 22

23 There is little reason to believe that the situation in Lancashire is any different. Breeding first occurred at Leighton Moss but it not clear when: in 1989 Marsh knew of no confirmed breeding as late as 1988, while in 2001 Rigby believed it was likely that a small population may have become established as early as the 1960s, a decade which saw large-scale releases in south Cumbria. During the 1970s and 1980s escaped or released birds produced two further feral populations around Martin Mere and in Crosby. The breeding population grew steadily during the 1990s and has increased from an estimated 25 pairs in to 75 pairs during the current survey (out of a British population of pairs). Figure 2. Gadwall: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). During the same period the species distribution increased by around 65% from 23 to 38 tetrads (Fig.1), with most of this expansion radiating out from the original areas of colonisation in north and West Lancashire and spreading on the Ribble and in Knowsley and St. Helens (Fig 2). Just two sites account for roughly two-thirds of the population: the largest totals during the survey period were 40 pairs at Leighton Moss and the Eric Morecambe Complex, and 13 at Marshside. Winter Figure 3. Gadwall: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Page 23

24 Gadwall were rare visitors to Lancashire throughout the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century but increased from about 100 in the late 1980s to 200 by 2000 a trivial proportion of the national total of during 2007/8-2010/11. Figure 4. Gadwall: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. The longer-term trend has been very different in the two main wintering areas, Leighton Moss/Eric Morecambe complex and Martin Mere and surrounding sites, with numbers since the 1990s doubling at the former and halving at the latter. During the current survey these two areas accounted for more than 75% of all records with peak counts of 190 at Leighton Moss/Eric Morecambe complex and 32 at Martin Mere/Mere Sands Wood, while Brockholes attracted up to 55. Four other sites, Marshside, Mere Brow, Hesketh Out Marsh and Marton Mere recorded more than 25 in at least one winter. Although Gadwall may be found on any large water body throughout Lancashire, they show a marked western bias with birds found in only nine tetrads in the east of the county out of a total of 84 (Fig.3). This concentration is accentuated in terms of abundance with no eastern site recording more than two birds (Fig.4). TEAL Anas crecca Breeding As in Britain as a whole, breeding Teal numbers have been in decline for many years; they were found in 20 10km squares in Lancashire during , falling to twelve during and eight during the present survey. Their proven/probable breeding range has declined by 20% since 2000 from 21 to 17 tetrads, but if possible breeding records are included this decline is closer to 40% (Fig, 1). As has always been the case they nest in two distinct habitats in Lancashire, on coastal and mossland marshes and by upland streams and pools in the east and north of the county. In the lowlands breeding was at least probable on the Ribble Marshes at Marshside and Lytham, Martin Mere, Hoscar Moss/Low Meadows, Knowsley Park and Leighton Moss; and in the uplands at Belmont and four nearby tetrads on the West Pennine Moors, Catshaw/Abbeystead Fell, north of Clitheroe and Champion Moor. Dot size in descending order: ; 20-39; 5-19; 1-4 Page 24

25 Figure 1. Teal: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). Teal are extremely difficult to locate during the breeding season, especially in the uplands only four pairs were proven to be breeding (five pairs in ). Figure 2. Teal: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). So it is uncertain if the cluster of records in the West Pennine Moors genuinely signifies a breeding hotspot or is to some extent the result of a high level of survey effort there. There are similar concerns elsewhere but the preponderance of lost tetrads in the north of the county suggest there has been a real decline in upland areas other than the West Pennine Moors and that more pairs are now probably to be found in the lowlands (Fig.2). Breeding has not been confirmed in Rossendale since Page 25

26 The county population was estimated at 25 pairs in 2000 and it seems likely that this has now declined to 20 or so. The extent of the long-term decline is illustrated by Leighton Moss, where up to ten pairs bred during the 1960s but only one or two pairs nowadays. Winter Teal were located in 313 tetrads, approximately a third of the Lancashire total, mostly in the western half of the county (Fig.3). Figure 3. Teal: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. areas: both banks of the Ribble Marshes, Martin Mere and the north Fylde coast between Pilling and Cockerham, all of which held internationallyimportant numbers during 2007/08 to 2010/11 (Fig.4). Seaforth and Marton Mere were the next most important sites, both supporting flocks in excess of Figure 4. Teal: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; ; 1-19 They were present on virtually all wetland habitats of any size at some time during the present survey but their distribution was heavily weighted towards coastal and lowland marshes. The largest numbers occurred in three Producing a county population estimate is confounded by the species mobility in winter; it is likely that around were present in 2004/05 and 2005/06 but counts averaged at the four main sites during the atlas Page 26

27 period. Allowing for 50% duplication of birds between Martin Mere and the Ribble Estuary, is probably a more realistic total, equating to roughly 7% of the British and 3% of the north-west European winter populations. Over the past 20 years numbers using Morecambe Bay (mainly on the north Fylde coast) have more than doubled, while those on the Ribble and at Martin Mere have fluctuated wildly but have dropped sharply at Martin Mere since 2005 and on the Ribble during the present survey period. GREEN-WINGED TEAL Anas carolinensis Figure 1. Green-winged Teal: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. five recorded annually. On average three are seen every winter, equating to more than 10% of the British winter population. Green-winged Teal are essentially winter visitors but they have remained, paired with Eurasian Teal, throughout the summer on at least two occasions but not during the current survey. Birds were seen in eleven tetrads (eight sites) during 2007/08 to 2010/11: at the Eric Morecambe complex, Stocks Reservoir, Barnaby s Sands on the outer Wyre, Newton Marsh, Hesketh Out Marsh, Marshside, Martin Mere and Seaforth (Fig.1). MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos Breeding It is very difficult to say how many Mallard are breeding in Lancashire as the picture is clouded by the release of probably thousands reared for shooting, and by no means all of the summer population breed. It was thought that some 3500 pairs bred in the county during but in truth this was not much more than an informed guess and numbers were probably similar during the current survey. Mallard are present in the breeding season virtually everywhere in Lancashire and were recorded as probably or definitely breeding in about 80% of the county s tetrads in both (750) and (745), and as possibly breeding in a further 101 tetrads during (Fig.1). They frequent wetland habitats of every type and size, from saltmarshes, reservoirs, rivers, large lakes and reedbeds to urban parks and small rural ponds. They are absent only where these habitats do not exist, principally on the very highest ground of Bowland and the Pennines, but they favour the eutrophic conditions of lowland wetlands with plentiful marginal vegetation, being much less numerous on the oligotrophic reservoirs in the uplands. Unsurprisingly, all Lancashire records have been of males. The first was at Leighton Moss in 1979 and birds have been recorded annually amongst the county s flocks of wintering Eurasian Teal every year since 1987 with up to Page 27

28 Figure 1. Mallard: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). Figure 2. Mallard: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). They do, however, nest on the fringes and lower ground of the uplands. Indeed, the most concentrated range expansion over the past decade has been in north-east Bowland (Fig.2). They also appear to have increased in the Liverpool conurbation, urban Preston and north Fylde. Losses were scattered haphazardly across the county. Up to 400 pairs bred annually at Martin Mere in the early 1990s, 300 of these in the 10ha Waterfowl Gardens; the population was not monitored during but large numbers continued to be present during the breeding season. Numbers at Leighton Moss increased throughout the second half of the twentieth century to roughly 100 pairs and the highest total during this survey was 79 pairs in Marshside/Crossens supported a peak of 51 pairs in 2008, when 158 territories were counted on the Lune between Skerton Weir and Kirkby Lonsdale. Page 28

29 Winter The national winter population has been in decline since the early 1990s but has stabilised more recently, a pattern broadly reflected in Lancashire. Figure 3. Mallard: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. period. As in summer, numbers are very hard to estimate but a total of may not be too far off the mark. The winter range of Mallards is remarkably similar to the breeding range, albeit with larger gaps in the uplands, especially the Forest of Bowland (Fig.3); birds were found in 800 tetrads compared with 846 in summer. Figure 4. Mallard: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Average winter WeBS peaks at the county s main sites fell from around 6500 at the turn of the century to a little over 5000 during the current survey Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; 1-99 Page 29

30 However, this apparently relatively uniform distribution disappears once numbers are taken into account. Figure 4 shows that the major concentrations occur mainly near the coast with just two eastern sites, Stocks and Belmont Reservoirs, holding more than 500 birds. Martin Mere is by far the most important site with a peak count of 2320 during the atlas period, followed by the Preesall Flashes with 1200, and Barnacre Reservoir and the Scorton Pits with 800. Figure 1. Pintail: Winter distribution, 2007/08 to 2010/11 PINTAIL Anas acuta Breeding Pintail are thought to have nested in Lancashire on at least eight occasions during the twentieth century, most recently at Anglezarke Reservoir in 1999, but most and perhaps all of these records have involved birds of dubious provenance. Although one or two summered at both Martin Mere and Marshside there was no hint of breeding during the present atlas period. Winter Pintail have a predominantly coastal distribution in winter. They were recorded in 95 tetrads, 70% of them on the coast or estuaries (Fig.1); only two inland sites, Martin Mere and Stocks Reservoir, are of significant importance. The Mersey Estuary was the most important site in Britain for Pintail during the 1980s but they have since shifted to the Dee Estuary and numbers barely exceed double figures there now, down from a peak of in More recently the Ribble Estuary, Martin Mere and Morecambe Bay have been the most important wintering sites in Lancashire. Both the Ribble Estuary and the Lancashire section of Morecambe Bay regularly support more than 600 birds and are internationally important for Pintail, while Martin Mere is nationally important. Stocks Reservoir, where 100 or more are seen annually, had a peak count of 326 during the survey period and is close to being of national importance. Page 30

31 Figure 2. Pintail: Relative Abundance in winter, 2007/08 to 2010/11 not at Stocks Reservoir, but our four main sites together supported an average of about 3900 birds between 2007/08 and 2010/11, around 13% of the British and 6.5% of the north-west European totals. GARGANEY Anas querquedula Breeding This, our only summer-visiting duck species, is at the north-western edge of its breeding range in Britain and the small population is quite fickle in its choice of nesting locations. Sporadic nesting has been recorded in Lancashire since 1965, with the great majority of confirmed and possible occurrences at Leighton Moss. Figure 1. Garganey: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). Dot size in descending order: ; ; ; 1-24 Figure 2 highlights where the largest numbers were seen during the current survey: on the outer reaches of the Ribble, particularly from the north bank; on the Lune Estuary between Cockerham and Sunderland Point; and on the Carnforth/Silverdale Marshes. Nationally, wintering Pintail have shown a sharp decline after reaching their peak in 2005/06 and are now at their lowest for 30 years. This decline has been reflected at the main Lancashire sites although, perhaps surprisingly, Page 31

32 Proven or probable breeding pairs were found in only one tetrad, at Leighton Moss, with possible nesting recorded in another four, there and at Marshside and Marton Mere, an apparent 50% decrease in range (Fig.1). During the Lancashire Atlas survey Garganeys were recorded in ten tetrads with confirmed or probable breeding in five, at Leighton Moss, Marton Mere, Stocks Reservoir and on the River Lune near Arkholme; thus there has been a complete loss in inland tetrads (Fig.2). As with all ducks it is difficult to demonstrate breeding unless the young are seen, but it seems likely that on average two pairs at least attempt to nest in Lancashire annually. Figure 2. Garganey: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Winter Although the great majority of Garganeys leave our shores in autumn to winter in West Africa, overwintering by ones or twos in Lancashire, though infrequent, is by no means rare, with records from Leighton Moss and a number of wetlands in the south-west since the early 1980s. The present survey recorded two birds in the Fylde in early November, at Mythop near Marton Mere in 2009 and on Newton Marsh in 2011, but there was no evidence of actual wintering by either. BM SHOVELER Anas clypeata Breeding Figure 1. Shoveler: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). Page 32

33 This duck s rather restrictive breeding habitat requirements, open shallow eutrophic waters with dense marginal vegetation, have limited its Lancashire range to a very few sites in the lowland west. Figure 2. Shoveler: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Peak counts during the survey were 24 pairs at Marshside, 22 at Leighton Moss and eleven at Martin Mere. The population is estimated at 70 pairs. Winter Described as a scarce visitor to Lancashire in winter during the late nineteenth century, the Shoveler s passage and winter populations grew steadily during the twentieth, with many counts of up to 150 birds and a few of up to 400 at wetlands in the west; numbers have tended to peak between Figure 3. Shoveler: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. A few pairs nested at Leighton Moss from the 1940s, increasing fairly steadily to around 20 pairs there by the early 1990s. In the 1980s a second major breeding nucleus developed at Marshside, consolidated by habitat improvements there to about six pairs annually by the late 1990s. Fairly frequent nesting by up to three pairs has also been recorded at Martin Mere, Marton Mere and Newton Marsh since the 1970s. The species was found to be proven or probably breeding in 15 tetrads during , an increase in range of 25% since (Fig.1). All were at or close to established breeding sites, indicating local range expansion in the core breeding areas with the exception of a new site at Simonswood Moss, near Kirkby (Fig.2). November and January. Inland occurrences, although these had become more frequent by the 1980s and 1990s, have rarely exceeded single figures. Page 33

34 The winter distribution map shows Shovelers were present in 117 tetrads during 2007/ /11, 12.4% of the county total (Fig.3). These were heavily concentrated in coastal areas with the greatest number north of the Ribble Estuary, while the relative abundance map clearly indicates the species overwhelming preference for coastal and lowland marshes (Fig.4). Figure 4. Shoveler: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. The population is estimated at 500 individuals, based on mean WeBS totals, slightly less than 3% of the British wintering population. BM POCHARD Aythya ferina Breeding The Pochard is a relatively recent colonist in Britain, first recorded nesting in the early nineteenth century. It remains a scarce breeding species nationally with a fairly marked eastern bias and an estimated pairs this century. Figure 1. Pochard: breeding distribution during Dot size in descending order: ; 20-74; 5-19; 1-18 Fifteen tetrads recorded counts of 50 or more during the atlas period, the highest being 195 at Marshside, 182 at Marton Mere and 160 at both Martin Mere and the Eric Morecambe complex. Page 34 It first nested in Lancashire at Leighton Moss in 1941 and, after shortlived nesting attempts at Marton Mere in , a small population, thought to have originated in released birds, became established in West

35 Lancashire in the late 1980s at Martin Mere, Mere Sands Wood and Nuck s Wood in Holmeswood. The Lancashire breeding range has remained stable since the atlas with nesting still confined to the two core areas of Leighton Moss and Martin Mere (Fig.1), although there have been some minor distribution changes in the West Lancashire area (Fig 2); none nested at Mere Sands Wood during the present atlas period. Figure 2. Pochard: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). bird was seen in suitable breeding habitat at Simonswood Moss, Kirkby. The best estimate of the current Lancashire breeding population is 25 pairs, up a little from the pairs estimated in , with the bulk of any increase occurring in the Leighton Moss area. Winter It is not known if our small breeding population remains in the county over winter but from late autumn migrants from Russia and eastern Europe begin to arrive in moderate numbers. As shown below Pochard occur fairly sparsely throughout the county but predominantly fairly close to the coast (Fig.3). Figure 3. Pochard: winter distribution, 2007/ /11 As with all ducks, confirming the number of potentially breeding birds is extremely difficult unless broods are seen. The number of males seen during the breeding season in the Leighton Moss area varied between 13 and 30 during and it seems likely that at least 15 pairs nested. A maximum of seven pairs bred at Martin Mere and single pairs probably nested at Nuck s Wood and Mere Brow Leisure Lakes; in addition a single Page 35

36 They are found only on large freshwater bodies lakes, meres and reservoirs, both in the lowlands and on the upland fringes. They are largely absent where suitable waters do not exist: throughout the Forest of Bowland, much of the Pennines and in Rossendale. The only record on the sea during the present survey period was of two at Ainsdale in January 2011 during the very severe winter that froze over many inland waters. Numbers wintering in Britain increased from fewer than in the mid-1960s to around in the late 1970s and by the mid-1980s, but have undergone a dramatic 50% decline since the 1990s. The trend in Lancashire has been broadly similar, although inexplicably lagging behind the national trend by a few years. The county s wintering flocks peaked during but annual totals at major sites, which account for more than 75% of the Lancashire total, began a continuous fall thereafter, declining by two-thirds by 2011 (Fig.4). Figure 4: Pochard: annual peak counts of at regularly-monitored sites (Martin Mere, Leighton Moss/Dockacres complex, Marton Mere, Marshside, Stocks Reservoir and Seaforth combined) 2000 more also came from Mere Sands Wood, Fairhaven Lake and Marton Mere (Fig.5). Figure 5. Pochard: relative abundance in winter, These national and local declines seem likely to have been caused by climatic changes which have allowed more birds to winter in central Europe. The county population in 2007/08 was around 1000 but has declined significantly since. The highest counts during the atlas period were made at Pine Lake/Dockacres some in November and December 2007 but several other sites were also of importance: Martin Mere (peak 288), Stocks Reservoir (peak 156), Southport Marine Lake (peak 120), Marshside (peak 120), Prescot Reservoirs (peak 118) and Seaforth (peak 75). Totals of 60 or Dot size in descending order: ; 20-74; 10-19; 1-9. Page 36

37 RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina One or two escaped birds were seen regularly at all times of the year from at least 2009 to 2011 at Southport Marine Lake, Marshside and Martin Mere, with perhaps different birds at Prescot Reservoirs and Brockholes. Figure 1. Tufted Duck: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). RING-NECKED DUCK Aythya collaris A male was at several sites in the Fylde during the winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11, and later put in an appearance at Seaforth in March TUFTED DUCK Aythya fuligula Breeding The first breeding record in Lancashire was in Blackburn in 1884 and few nested during the 1900s until an apparent increase in the second half of the century when the county population was estimated at 20 pairs. A steady increase followed with breeding recorded in 13 10km squares during , in 16 squares during and in 25 during , increasing slightly to 26 during the present survey. However, although their breeding range measured at the 10km square level has remained effectively stable in the past ten years, distribution within that range increased by almost 60% from 56 to 88 tetrads between the two atlas surveys (Fig.1). As previously, nesting is concentrated in the west of the county with probable/proven breeding recorded during in just 15 eastern tetrads. Breeding is almost entirely confined to the lowlands or, as is the case with the cluster of records in the West Pennine area, upland fringes. Unsurprisingly in the light of the limited amount of suitable breeding sites in the east, there is no indication that these geographical differences are changing: breeding took place in eight new tetrads in the east during this survey compared with ten years ago and were lost in five, while the comparable figures in the west were 45 gains and 17 losses (Fig.2). These losses showed no particular pattern, with the exception of five tetrads in the upper Wyre area around Grizedale and Barnacre Reservoir. Page 37 The population was estimated at 125 pairs in 2000 but appears closer to 200 pairs currently. Although most occupied tetrads support only one or two pairs, several larger wetland sites hold considerably more. Peak counts during

38 the atlas period included 23 pairs on the RSPB Morecambe Bay reserves, eleven pairs at Brockholes, ten on the Dockacres complex, nine on Fairhaven Lake, seven at Marshside and six at Martin Mere and on the Lune between Leck Beck and The Snab. Figure 2. Tufted Duck: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Winter Tufted Ducks are considerably more abundant in winter as migrants from Fennoscandia and eastern Europe join the resident population. They are also more widespread, being found in 192 tetrads during the present survey and in all bar five 10km squares (Fig.3). Figure 3. Tufted Duck: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Page 38

39 Birds gather primarily on large freshwater bodies and few if any are seen at sea. Although their winter distribution does not show the same western concentration as in summer, numbers are significantly lower in the east (Fig.4). Figure 4. Tufted Duck: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Estuary and Pine Lake/Dockacres recorded 100 or more. The largest peak count in east Lancashire was 92 at Stocks Reservoir. Allowing for movements within and between winters, the average winter population is about 1500 birds, about 8% of the British wintering population although this may be a significant underestimate in some years. SCAUP Aythya marila Scaup were recorded in 47 tetrads during 2007/08 to 2010/11 although there was undoubtedly a fair degree of duplication involved (Fig.1). Numbers vary considerably between years but the current winter population probably averages around 50 birds. Figure 1. Scaup: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Dot size in descending order: ; 25-99; 5-24; 1-4 Very few counts have exceeded 200 anywhere in the county and these tend to occur in autumn rather than deep winter. There were two counts of 300 or more during the survey period: 388 at Seaforth and 383 at Southport Marine Lake but another seven sites, Prescot Reservoirs, Eccleston Mere, Ainsdale Sands Lake, Mere Sands Wood, Martin Mere, Glasson/Conder Page 39

40 The majority of sightings were of birds on the sea or coastal lagoons, but there were also eleven records at considerable distance from the coast. These latter all involved one or two birds with the exception of five at Dean Clough/Parsonage Reservoirs in December Coastal records were also all in single figures, the exceptions being peaks of 14 at Cockersand in 2010, 39 at Seaforth in 2009 and an exceptional 116 on the sea off Formby Point in EIDER Somateria mollissima Breeding Small numbers of summering birds began to be noted on the major estuaries from the early 1980s and breeding was first proven on the south Ribble marshes in The population was slow to increase but breeding was first Figure 1. Eider: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). considered probable on the Wyre marshes in 1997 and Carnforth Marsh in 2000 at the end of the first Lancashire atlas survey. At this time the breeding population was estimated (something of a guess) at ten pairs in five tetrads. Numbers steadily increased in the early years of this century and as a result of the present survey it is thought that there were perhaps as many as 25 pairs breeding in up to 18 tetrads (Fig.1), although the difficulty of locating incubating females added to the dispersal and crêching of broods after hatching makes it possible that both figures are overestimates. However, it seems clear that the population has increased in the past ten years and that their distribution has spread (Fig.2). Unsurprisingly, given the species requirement for saltmarshes, this extension has taken place within the same broad areas, the Ribble, Wyre, Lune and Carnforth marshes, that were occupied a decade ago. Figure 2. Eider: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Page 40

41 Winter Numbers seen from the main seawatching stations in the north of the county began to expand enormously from the early 1980s, culminating in a county record of 2500 off Rossall Point in December Smaller but significant numbers were also seen during this period from the coastline between Heysham and Jenny Brown s Point. However, numbers fell sharply during the first few years of this century, presumably linked with the decline of the breeding population on South Walney in Cumbria, which is assumed to have been the source of the majority of Lancashire s wintering Eider. Figure 3. Eider: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. The largest winter counts during the current survey were 388 off Rossall Point and 225 off Morecambe, although 625 on the Morecambe Bay WeBS count in April 2009 were also presumably wintering birds. Numbers fluctuated between years and the best estimate of the Lancashire population is 500. Figure 4. Eider: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Page 41 Dot size in descending order: ; 30-99; 10-29; 1-9 Eider were seen in (or more accurately from) 45 tetrads during the survey years (Fig 3), all of them on the coast with the exception of singles on the Ribble on the western edge of Preston and on Foulridge Reservoirs. They were, however, largely concentrated around Fleetwood and Morecambe. Sightings were fairly regular on the south Fylde coast but numbers were significantly lower there, perhaps largely composed of Ribble breeding birds; south of the Ribble Eiders are essentially rare wanderers (Fig.4).

42 LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis Birds were recorded in eleven tetrads during 2007/8-2010/11 (Fig.1) but several coastal sites reported multiple records during the four winters. There was just one inland record, at Roddlesworth Reservoirs in November Figure 1. Long-tailed Duck: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. COMMON SCOTER Melanitta nigra Summer Liverpool Bay is an important site in late summer for birds moulting off the Fylde and Merseyside coasts. August numbers were estimated in 2005 in the region of birds, based on aerial surveys. More recent counts from land from Blackpool have been in the region of this population estimate. In the absence of recent offshore aerial surveys it is not known if this is due to the moulting flock increasing in size, or residing closer inshore than previously. Winter Figure 1. Common Scoter: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. All records were of singles except for five off Formby Point in November 2008 and three off Blackpool and Rossall Point the same month. The majority of records were in November and mostly involved birds flying past offshore, the only longer-stayer in addition to the Roddlesworth bird was one at Seaforth/Crosby Marine Lake in winter 2008/09. The distribution map reflects the main flocks of this species on the sea off the Fylde and Southport to Formby coasts. Of the 45 tetrads from which birds Page 42

43 were recorded during 2007/ /11, two-thirds involve these feeding flocks with the majority of the rest at other coastal sites (Fig.1). The six inland reports related to typical overland passage birds with the exception of one at Belmont Reservoir in January Aerial surveys have shown that a large proportion of the wintering population is often out of view of land, and this needs to be borne in mind in assessing actual distribution from the map. The wintering population of the Lancashire section of Liverpool Bay is estimated at birds. The accuracy of this estimate is probably high given it was based on boat and aerial surveys in , particularly over the favoured area offshore of Shell Flat that had been threatened by a windfarm development. However, no surveys have been undertaken during the period of the atlas fieldwork, so any changes in the population since 2005 are not reflected in these data. SD from shore, regular seawatching has shown that Velvet Scoters remain uncommon in winter. More records occur during spring and autumn passage. Figure 1. Velvet Scoter: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. SD SURF SCOTER Melanitta perspicillata The county s third record was an adult male with Common Scoters on the sea off Starr Gate, Blackpool on 16 and 18 November This species has proved to be regular in the Common Scoter flocks off North Wales, sometimes even in small groups. Presumably, Surf Scoters are more regular off the Lancashire coast than confirmed records suggest, but finding them is difficult given how far offshore the majority of Common Scoters usually feed. SD VELVET SCOTER Melanitta fusca Records of wintering Velvet Scoters in Lancashire are generally of birds with Common Scoter flocks off the Fylde and Sefton coasts. Passage and wintering birds may also be seen from other coastal watchpoints. The map reflects this, with five of the nine tetrads on the Fylde coast, one at Southport and a further two at Formby (Fig.1). The inland dot relates to a bird at Barrow Lodges, Clitheroe in December 2009, only the third truly inland record of this species in the county. The average wintering population is estimated at five birds. Although more may lurk in larger Common Scoter flocks that may not be observable Page 43

44 GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula Breeding A full-winged feral breeding population was established at Martin Mere during the 1980s but did not persist there; however some moved to Mere Sands Wood where small numbers bred unsuccessfully in nest-boxes from at least 1988 to Goldeneye was thus recorded as a breeding species during the atlas survey, but the last birds were seen there in 2003 and the species is now extinct as a breeding bird in Lancashire. Winter Until the mid-1990s a large proportion of the county s wintering birds were found on the sea, feeding around sewage outfalls, especially at Morecambe. Figure 1. Goldeneye: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Since the closure of the outfalls they have rarely been seen on the sea, mostly as migrants, but are found on a variety of wetland habitats throughout the county. Goldeneyes were recorded in 191 tetrads during the present survey, with around a third of these on or near the coast and the rest mostly on the main rivers and eastern reservoirs (Fig.1). Both the Lune and Ribble appear to have been virtually fully occupied but generally speaking numbers are low on these rivers and individuals do a deal of wandering within and between winters, so it is likely that this picture is somewhat exaggerated. Figure 2. Goldeneye: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Dot size in descending order: ; ; 10-19; 1-9 Page 44

45 The Lancashire population was estimated at roughly 400 in 2005, some of them inland and near the coast. On the basis of this present survey it is thought that this should be revised down to the lower of these estimates, giving a total of 300 birds, although there is no indication that there has been any significant decline. Figure 2 indicates that the most important area is at Glasson/Conder Estuary, as has been the case since the coastal sewage outfalls were closed; the largest count in this area during the survey period was 235. No other site had a peak count of more than 100 but 45 or more were seen at Seaforth, Ainsdale Sands Lake, Alston Reservoirs and Arkholme, with peaks of more than 20 also recorded at Prescot Reservoirs, Brockholes, the Bay Horse section of the Lune, Carnforth, Pine Lake and Ribble at Balderstone. One was at Leighton Moss in February 2008 then one at various sites on the Ribble east of Preston from December 2010 to January 2011, when another was on the Ribble at Lytham. There were then three at Brockholes and surroundings in February 2011 and one at Martin Mere the same month. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator Breeding Figure 1. Red-breasted Merganser: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). SMEW Mergus albellus Smews were recorded in 17 tetrads (Fig.1) but some of the birds involved were very mobile. Figure 1. Smew: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Page 45 Red-breasted Mergansers are a fairly recent colonist in north-west England and breeding was first confirmed within the current boundaries of Lancashire at Stocks Reservoir in However, unlike Goosanders which are a more recent colonist, they have never flourished and it is thought that competition

46 with Goosanders may have limited their spread to the lower reaches of our main rivers. Nesting pairs at Stocks appear to have reached a maximum of seven between 1978 and 1982 but declined to one to three pairs annually thereafter; many, perhaps most, breeding attempts have been unsuccessful. Three pairs probably attempted to nest there and on adjacent stretches of the River Hodder in 2008, five in 2009, four in 2010 and five in Figure 1 shows probable or proven breeding in two other areas: on the River Wyre at Hawthornthwaite in 2010 and on the Hodder at Langden Bridge in 2008 and In contrast to , no likely breeding was reported on the Ribble above Ribchester or in the Pine Lake area in the north of the county. This suggests a county population of seven pairs, an apparent increase from four in 2000, but this is not an easy species to monitor and it is probably safer to assume that the population is roughly stable. Winter Red-breasted Mergansers were found in 76 tetrads during the atlas survey; in stark contrast to Goosanders the vast majority of them were on the sea, predominantly in Morecambe Bay but with a scattering of records on the Ribble and Sefton coasts (Fig 2). There were ten inland records, all involving low single figures and perhaps mostly relating to the breeding population. Historically, the largest numbers were seen off Morecambe where winter peaks in the region of in the early 1960s increased to 500 in January 1971, which remains the county record. Numbers in the whole of Morecambe Bay fell by almost half in the late 1970s but peaks remained slightly above 100 in the early years of this century. Counts further south have always been much more sporadic and usually lower. However, the current survey period saw a further dramatic decline in Morecambe Bay where the average peak count was 59, probably as a result of usually warmer winters allowing more birds to remain inland. Numbers were also low off the Fylde and Sefton coasts with peak counts generally less than 25 but with the notable exception of 126 seen off Formby Point in December Figure 2. Red-breasted Merganser: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. GOOSANDER Mergus merganser Breeding Goosanders were first confirmed breeding in Lancashire on the lower Lune in 1973, although nesting had almost certainly occurred before that. By the time of our first atlas survey in breeding was confirmed or probable in 50 tetrads and possible in a further 36 These figures increased to 72 and 47 respectively during , a nearly 40% increase in the breeding range (Fig.1). Breeding was confirmed on the Rivers Lune, Hodder, Calder, Wyre Page 46

47 and Ribble and their tributaries, with scattered records in the West Pennines and Rossendale. This species is not easy to monitor when nesting and its habit of dispersing downriver once the young have hatched makes it difficult to assess numbers fully, but the population was estimated at 150 pairs during the current survey, compared with 100 pairs in Given the certain expansion in their breeding range this population increase is probably quite accurate. Figure 1. Goosander: breeding distribution, (Large dots = probable/proven; small dots = possible). There were 29 tetrads in which Goosanders were recorded in the last atlas survey but were apparently absent this time around (Fig.2). These showed no clear pattern and it is likely that they were the result of the difficulties in pinning down precise breeding sites or that the earlier records were of wandering or summering birds; there is no reason to believe that many represent real losses in distribution. On the other hand there were 60 new tetrads, many of which were probably due to infilling of the breeding area, although there do seem to have been several areas of expansion: on the Ribble between Ribchester and Preston, in the middle reaches of the Wyre, on the Calder and in Rossendale and Hyndburn. Figure 2. Goosander: changes in breeding distribution, to (Green = gains, orange = losses). Page 47

48 Winter Goosanders are very widely dispersed on rivers and reservoirs in winter and most counts are made at communal evening roost sites on eastern reservoirs. Birds were found in 266 tetrads during the present survey, more than twice as many as in summer (Fig.3). Figure 3. Goosander: winter distribution, 2007/ /11. Wayoh, Delph, Clowbridge, Whitemoor and Foulridge Reservoirs. Fifty-one were counted on the Lune in February 2011, a lower total than the average of 80 during but it is not known if this represents a real decline there. The few coastal records were all in low single figures (Fig.4). Figure 4. Goosander: relative abundance in winter, 2007/ /11. Since Goosanders are largely sedentary, and allowing for one surviving young per pair, the winter population is probably around 450 birds. The largest count during the survey period was 104 on Alston Reservoirs, but 30 or more were seen at a further seven sites: at Pine Lake and Rivington, Page 48 Dot size in descending order: ; 20-49; 10-19; 5-9; 1-4