Gadwall

Fairly common winter visitor; breeds in small numbers. Included in 27% of BirdTrack lists. (Amber list).

Confirmed breeding activity was noted at six sites. At Fenlake Meadows there was a pair in display on 21st April. At Blunham Lakes a female had one duckling on 21st May, and at Priory CP there was a pair with two small young on 13th June, followed by two more broods, each of two, on 18th June. A female had seven ducklings during 20th–28th June at Broom South Quarry, with at least five surviving to 10th July, whilst at Broom East a female had two ducklings on 15th July, and a different female had ten young there on 26th July, but there was no sign of the original brood. At Meadow Lane GP there was a female with two young on 16th August. In addition, birds held territory at Willington GP, East Hyde, Rookery South ClP and the River Ivel at Blunham. During the breeding season birds were noted at another 12 sites.

During January to March, the highest counts were from Priory CP, with a peak there of 135 on 26th January. Other good counts in that period were 42 at Broom East on 3rd February, again 42 at Meadow Lane GP on 9th and 17th February, 30 at MCP Wetlands NR on 3rd February, and again 30 at Dunstable WTW on 11th February. Numbers reduced from April onwards, then started to pick up from the end of June, including 25 at Blunham Lakes on 27th June, and 29 at Priory CP and 40 at Broom East, both counts on 31st July. Levels stayed fairly constant for the next few months, then increased towards the end of the year with, in December, 73 at Meadow Lane GP on the 6th, 100 at Broom East on the 7th, 73 on the River Ouse through Bedford on the 24th and 104 at Longholme Lake on the 29th.