Gadwall
Anas strepera
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Distribution Britain 357 (126%) Ireland 25 (78.6%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 770 Ireland 30 European status: 23,000 (3% in Britain and Ireland =8) British population trend: excellent prospects How likely are you to record it? 50 squares (1.1%) Ranked 114 |
About 150 years ago pinioned wild-caught Gadwall were first introduced in Norfolk and the population there gradually built up. Wild birds (from the Icelandic population) may have bred in Scotland sometimes but the first birds to breed at Loch Leven arrived about 90 years ago and up to 40 pairs may nest there in some years. There are now populations in several parts of the Lowlands, Caithness and some parts of the Hebrides — probably well under 100 pairs. In Ireland breeding was first proved about 70 years ago and the increasing population may soon reach 50 pairs — mainly at Lough Neagh and in Galway and Wexford. In Wales a handful may breed regularly in Anglesey and there have been sporadic records in other areas. There may now be approaching 1,000 pairs in England. Prospects excellent in many areas.
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead