Cormorant

A common bird at the reservoir that can be seen throughout the year. Numbers steadily increased to peak in 2000.

cormorant, baz stevens

No records between 1924 & 1951

25/10/52 - Single bird. 1st record (DEP)

16/01/65 - Juvenile bird. Seen again on 23/01

27/12/60 - 2 birds. Single birds were reported throughout the year

1961 - Single birds noted between January & March. Often shot by game keepers

1962 - Single birds recorded

1963 - Single birds recorded

16/04/64 - 2 birds

12/03/70 - Maximum of 6 birds

10/01/71 - 4 birds. Again on 14/01

25/01/71 - 2 birds

13/04/71 - 2 birds

09/12/71 - 2 birds

28/09/74 - Dead bird found. Had been 'ringed' at St. Margarets Island, Tenby on 28/07/74

1984 - Maximum count of 10 birds

23/05/87 - 2 birds

20/12/91 - Maximum count of 15 birds. Up to 5 birds have been normal

28/03/92 - 10 birds

13/09/92 - 8 birds

10/01/93 - 14 birds

09/07/93 - 15 birds

18/12/93 - 17 birds

27/12/94 - Maximum count of 18 birds

21/03/95 - 20 birds, including 2 of the 'continental' type, sporting a whitish head

24/08/95 - Maximum count of 24 birds

26/02/96 - 30 birds

13/03/96 - 38 birds

25/12/96 - 40 birds

23/01/97 - Maximum count of 30 birds

11/12/98 - Maximum count of 38 birds

27/01/99 - 43 birds. Highest count to date

30/01/00 - 49 birds a new highest count

07/12/01 - 32 birds

17/01/02 - 33 birds

26/12/03 - 28 birds

01/01/04 - 31 birds

25/02/05 - 20 birds

12/11/06 - 23 birds

07/02/07 - 18 birds

03/12/07 - 18 birds

13/11/08 - 26 birds

22/12/09 - 43+ peak of good numbers through December cold weather

10/02/10 - 33 birds

2011 - The previous record of 49 was beaten on 9 dates in December 2011 with max 56 on 11/12/11

2012 - 44 on 02/01 and 19/01 with a more normal max of 30 in December

2013 - 42 on 06/12

2014 - 22 on 20/11

2015 - 26 on 18/02

2016 - 37 on 15/11. 2 colour ringed birds were present in November. One had come from Holland (red ring marked BR) and one from Cornwall (orange ring TB6). The Cornish bird was seen into December

2017 - 45 on 05/12. The 2 colour ringed birds from last year were seen again. The Dutch one (red ring BR) just on 16/10, but the Cornish one (orange ring TB6) was seen throughout January and February

2018 - 27 on 08/02. Otherwise mostly 1-20 throughout the year

2019 - 34 on 21/11. 33 on 04/12, otherwise mostly 1-20 throughout the year

2020 - 29 on 08/01, otherwise 1-26 seen daily

2021 - Max 32 on 22/12. Otherwise seen daily often in single figures but with up to 28 in January and December

2022 - Max 38 on 15/12. Otherwise seen daily often in single figures, but over 30 in February and December. Two birds with Orange/Red rings were seen. Ring numbers 097 and 111, both ringed this year in Cheshire.

2023 - Max 54 on 21/11. Otherwise seen daily often in single figures, but over 30 in January and February. Red ringed 111 was seen again in January, February, March, September and December