Teal

Fairly common winter visitor, sometimes in large numbers; a very rare and infrequent breeder. Included in 14.3% of BirdTrack lists. (Amber list).

Although there were no signs of breeding activity, one or two were at MCP Wetlands NR, Broom East and Dunstable WTW during June, including 12 at the latter site on the 28th. 

During the fi rst quarter there were 125 at MCP Wetlands NR on 3rd January, rising to 150 on 3rd February, with still 100 there on 4th March. There were 90 at Broom East on 20th January, 100 at Broom South Quarry on the 21st and 160 (the highest in this quarter) at Meadow Lane GP on the 22nd. In February, peak counts were 140 at Grovebury SP on the 10th, 70 at Dunstable WTW on the 11th and 62 at Luton Hoo on the 12th. Th e highest number in March was 60 at Radwell Lakes on the 21st. In April, there were peaks of 20 at Broom South Quarry and 22 at Grovebury SP, both on the 2nd, and 25 at MCP Wetlands NR on the 4th. There were no records in May and the few June records are mentioned above. In July, the highest count was of six, at Dunstable WTW on the 4th, with smaller numbers at Broom East, Broom South Quarry, Harrowden WM, MCP Wetlands NR, Meadow Lane GP and Priory CP. In the August to September period the highest numbers were 24 at Broom South Quarry on 27th September and at least 45 at Broom East three days later. In early October at Broom East, numbers rapidly increased, with 112 on the 6th and 146 on the 10th, but then dropped again with just five there at the month’s end. Th e peak elsewhere was just 45, flying over Priory CP on the 10th. During November, numbers stayed relatively low, with highs of 69 at Broom East on the 2nd, 78 at Meadow Lane GP on the 10th and 63 at MCP Wetlands NR on the 17th. In December, matters improved, with peaks of 160 at MCP Wetlands NR on the 20th and 300, the highest count of the year, at Grovebury SP on the 22nd.