Gadwall

Originally an annual winter visitor, often as paired birds, mostly staying just one day. From August 2015 virtually resident.

No records between 1924 & 1961.

15/11/62 - Single male. (DEP)

02/01/64 - Single male. (DEP)

29/04/65 - Single bird. (DEP)

17/03/66 - Single male. Seen again on 24/03

06/03/69 - Pair

28/12/70 - 2 birds

09/12/71 - Single male

19/09/73 - Single bird

22/03/74 - Single bird

1984 - 1 or 2 birds between February & May

22/02/85 - 4 birds

31/12/85 - 4 birds

01/12/86 - 4 birds

22/04/91 - 2 birds

13/12/91 - 12 birds. Record count to date

10/01/92 - 2 males

07/01/93 - 3 birds

25/11/93 - 3 males & 1 female

29/01/96 - 9 birds

??/02/96 - 2 birds

28/12/96 - 8 birds

28/01/97 - Single bird

04/12/98 - 4 birds

??/12/98 - 2 birds. (AJB)

21/02/99 - 2 males & 1 female

??/11/99 - 2 birds. (AJB)

08/04/00 - 3 birds

16/10/00 - 1 male

20/01/01 - 2 birds

01/12/01 - Pair

11/12/01 - Pair

01/01/02 - 1 male

21/03/02 - 3 birds

19/09/02 - 1 male

21/11/02 - 3 birds

18/10/03 - Pair

24/10/03 - 1 male

06/01/04 - Pair

14/02/04 - Pair

07/03/04 - Pair

18/12/05 - Pair

24/10/06 - Pair

10/02/07 - Pair

28/11/10 - 6 birds

03/12/10 - 4 birds stayed 2 days

16/02/11 - 3 birds

06/11/11 - 1 bird

24/12/11 - 2 males

28/01/12 - 1 pair

04/11/12 - 1 male

12/12/12 - 1 pair

17/01/13 - 3 birds

07/06/13 - 1 male

16/10/13 - 1 male

07/12/14 - 1 pair

19/12/14 - 1 very healthy female released by RSPCA (raised at West Hatch from apparently abandoned chick found in Dorset) not seen next day.

2015 - An exceptional year with Gadwall reported on 55 dates. A single bird on 13/03 was the only record in the first 7 months. But then a male arrived on 27/08 and remained possibly until the end of the year. On 25/10 there were 5 birds present (probably 2 pairs joined the lone male) and these stayed for at least 2 weeks. From 09/11 the records were regular, but not quite daily with up to 5 seen for the remainder of November and up to 4 seen in December. Prior to this even a 2 day stay was unusual with poor feeding presumed to be the reason.

2016 - An even better year with Gadwall reported on 78 dates including through the summer, with max 8 on 3 dates and 6 reported on 13 dates. They have gone from being one day visitors to effectively resident.

2017 - Reported on 95 dates with max of 7 on 3 dates in January. Also 6 on 2 dates in January and one date early February.

2018 - Reported on 60 dates with max of 8 on 13/02

2019 - Reported on 58 dates (none April to August inclusive) with max of 7 on 6 dates and 5 on 12 dates through the period

2020 - Reported on only 15 dates through the year mostly one pair with 3 present on 09/08

2021 - Reported on 19 mostly winter dates with max of 8 on 22/11 and 8 on 26/12. The non winter records were 5 on 26/08 and 2 on 29/04

2022 - Reported on 62 dates (none April to August inclusive). Max of 5 pairs on 03/03 and again 12/03. Otherwise 1-6 birds seen

2023 - Reported on 40 dates. 1-6 birds seen, none from February to July inclusive.