Pochard
A regular winter visitor to Chard reservoir. Flock numbers have greatly declined in recent years.
1929 - Several visit in the winter months.
15/06/30 - Single male.
20/03/32 - 45 birds.
12/02/36 - 25 birds.
27/03/39 - 15 birds.
25/03/40 - 6 males.
10/04/40 - Pair.
17/06/60 - Maximum count of 60 birds.
25/01/62 - 22 birds.
1965 - 'Small numbers'.
27/01/66 - Maximum count of 50 birds.
03/11/66 - 2 birds.
19/01/67 - 34 birds.
10/12/67 - Maximum count of 42 birds.
1968 - Maximum count of 54 birds.
29/11/69 - Maximum count of 29 birds.
??/12/70 - Maximum count of 48 birds.
??/02/72 - 42 birds.
??/12/72 - Maximum count of 65 birds.
??/02/73 - Maximum count of 50 birds.
??/12/73 - 34 birds.
01/12/74 - Maximum count of 95 birds. Record count to date.
??/01/75 - Maximum count of 20 birds.
??/01/76 - Maximum count of 37 birds.
??/10/76 - 23 birds.
??/01/78 - 20 birds.
??/12/78 - Maximum count of 80 birds.
??/01/79 - 40 birds.
??/11/79 - Maximum count of 90 birds.
1980 - Up to 35 during both winter periods.
18/01/81 - Maximum count of 53 birds.
19/12/81 - 36 birds.
16/01/82 - 31 birds.
30/11/82 - Maximum count of 50 birds.
??/02/83 - 12 birds.
17/12/83 - Maximum count of 45 birds.
1984 - Maximum count of 30 birds during February & March.
??/10/84 - 14 birds.
17/02/85 - Maximum count of 25 birds.
1986 - No count?
25/01/87 - 5+ birds.
1988 - No count?
30/06/89 - 3 birds.
08/12/90 - Single male.
13/12/91 - Maximum count of 22 birds.
25/01/92 - 9 birds.
10/01/93 - 5 birds.
14/12/93 - Maximum count of 14 birds.
14/01/94 - Maximum count of 13 birds.
10/04/94 - Single bird.
24/12/94 - 2 birds.
01/02/96 - Maximum count of 23 birds.
15/11/96 - 19 birds.
27/12/96 - 18 birds.
28/01/97 - Single bird.
14/12/97 - Maximum count of 12 birds.
02/01/98 - 2 males.
23/02/98 - Single female.
11/10/98 - 4 birds.
03/01/99 - 2 males.
??/02/99 - 2 birds.
25/10/99 - 2 birds.
31/10/99 - Maximum count of 11 birds.
16/11/99 - 5 birds.
03/12/99 - 2 birds.
2000 - 9 birds on 24/07.Also a few singles in winter.
2001 - Only winter records with max 11 birds on 23/12.
2002 - 1 or 2 in winter with 7 on 07/01 and 5 on 11/01.
2003 - maximums of 5 on 22/01 and 5 on 15/10. Singles through December with 4 on 05/12.
2004 - fewer reports than 2003 with maximums of 3 on 19/01 and 3 on 22/08.
2005 - Just one report of a single on 17/12.
2006 - Just one report of a single on 05/02.
2007 - Just 3 on 18/11