Tufted Duck
A common winter visitor to Chard reservoir & a rare breeder. Winter counts have declined in more recent years.
16/03/26 - "Many". Pair still present on 20/04 & a female on 04/06.
1929 - "Winter visitor".
15/06/30 - Pair.
20/03/32 - 15 birds.
01/04/33 - Approx. 16 birds.
30/01/35 - Maximum count of 30 birds. 2 pairs bred this year.
12/02/36 - 6 birds.
25/03/36 - Maximum count of 20 birds.
06/04/38 - 2 or 3 pairs.
27/03/39 - 20 birds.
10/04/40 - 9 birds.
21/04/41 - 6 birds.
12/01/51 - Maximum count of 40 birds.
04/12/55 - Maximum count of 35 birds.
13/12/56 - Maximum count of 71 birds.
03/01/57 - 61 birds.
20/01/57 - Maximum count of 80 birds.
13/12/59 - Maximum count of 125 birds. Record count to date.
17/01/60 - Maximum count of 109 birds
. 1962 - "Fewer than normal"
10/07/66 - Female bird with 7 ducklings, having bred this year.
17/11/66 - Maximum count of 30 birds.
19/03/67 -15 birds.
17/12/67 - Maximum count of 31 birds.
1968 - 20 birds recorded.
19/01/69 - 21 birds. Pair remained until at least 01/05.
30/09/71 - Maximum count of 15 birds .
1972 - 15 birds in March-April & September-December.
10/05/72 - Single male.
??/01/78 - 5 birds.
??/02/78 - 15 birds.
15 remained in March, rising to 17 in April.
??/10/78 - 12 birds.
??/11/78 - Maximum count of 36 birds.
1979 - 20 birds in January-April period. Pair remaining in June.
29/09/79 - 42 birds.
13/10/79 - Maximum count of 51 birds. Decreasing to only 8 in November-December.
??/12/79 - Single bird shot. Ringed as nestling in Lake Engure, Latvia (57.15N, 23.07W) in June of this year.
15/03/81 - 26 birds.
11/07/81 - Pair with young.
09/08/81 - Maximum count of 60 birds.
13/02/82 - Maximum count of 35 birds.
??/04/83 - 50 birds.
??/11/83 - Maximum count of 53 birds.
??/02/84 - Maximum count of 31 birds.
??/11/84 - 13 birds.
17/02/85 - Maximum count of 98 birds.
28/12/85 - 30 birds.
??/02/86 - Maximum count of 60 birds.
??/11/86 - 17 birds.
1987 - Maximum count of 39, until 14/04.
1987 - 11 birds from November, onwards.
1988 - Brood recorded. No winter counts took place?
1989 - Brood recorded.
23/07/89 - 32 birds. No winter counts took place?
??/03/90 - 8 birds.
??/12/90 - Maximum count of 21 birds.
??/02/91 - 25 birds.
??/05/91 - Pair present but did not breed.
??/12/91 - Maximum count of 53 birds .
??/01/92 - Maximum count of 50 birds.
??/12/92 - 9 birds.
??/01/93 - 35 birds.
??/12/93 - Maximum count of 42 birds.
??/01/94 - Maximum count of 52 birds.
??/12/94 - 46 birds.
18/01/95 - Maximum count of 27 birds.
01/05/95 - Pair.
12/01/96 - Maximum count of 28 birds.
27/12/96 - 19 birds.
28/01/97 - 11 birds.
31/10/97 - Maximum count of 21 birds .
06/12/97 - 11 birds.
10/01/98 - 15 birds.
06/09/98 - 5 birds.
05/10/98 - 7 birds, rising to 12 on 12/10.
02/11/98 - 28 birds, rising to maximum count of 41 birds on 12/11.
11/01/99 - 5 birds. 4 birds on 25/02, 5 on 06/03. Pair present on 26/03 & 26/04.
12/06/99 - 3 males.
28/09/99 - 12 birds.
17/10/99 - Maximum count of 19 birds.
19/11/99 - 16 birds.
28/12/99 - 6 birds.
2000 - Regularly seen throughout the year with max of 40 birds on 30/12 and 31/12.
2001 - Recorded on 89 dates with max of 26 on 03/11
2002 - Recorded on 72 dates with max of 26 on 22/10 and 22/11. 3 pairs and some young seen in summer.
2003 - Recorded on 74 dates with max of 20 on 10/11.
2004 - Recorded on 72 dates with max of 28 on 01/11.
2005 - Recorded on 37 dates with max of 18 on 18/04.
2006 - Recorded on 59 dates with max of 23 on 16/02.
2007 - Recorded on 34 dates with max of 23 on 03/04.