Mallard

The most common water bird at Chard Reservoir. Mallard used to be reared on site.

30/12/00 - 400 birds

05/01/01 - 400 birds

23/12/01 - 340 birds

27/09/02 - 306 birds

16/11/03 - 280 birds

13/02/04 - 270 birds

06/02/05 - 250 birds

13/12/06 - 221 birds

2007 - present but no counts

02/02/08 - 127 birds

11/01/09 - 118 birds with the reservoir part frozen

09/10/10 - 150 birds

13/12/11 - 165+ birds

10/08/12 - 120+ birds

12/08/13 - 143 birds

2014 - Nested. No large counts

2015 - 2 broods of 8 and 7 ducklings. The brood of 7 first seen on 01/07 were reduced to just one in a month. Max 97 on 15/11

2016 - At least 3 broods. Max 107 birds on 04/11

2017 - Several pairs bred. Max 93 birds on 17/09

2018 - At least 2 pairs bred

2019 - At least 2 pairs bred. Max 85 on 13/11

2020 - Probably 4 pairs bred. Many large counts with 10 counts of over 100 through the year. Max 250+ on 30/07 with notably 225 on 21/07, 207 on 01/10 and 172+ on 03/12

2021 - At least 2 pairs bred. 6 counts of over 100 in autumn and winter with max of 170+ on 01/10 and 150+ on 05/01

2022 - Several pairs bred and there was a brood of 18 chicks seen in April and May. Max of 143 on 10/12 with 3 other counts over 100

2023 - Bred this year, but just 7 ducklings seen on 39/06. Max 144 on 24/07 with 100+ on 01/02 and 103 on 17/10