Pochard (Common Pochard)
Aythya ferina
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Distribution Britain 511 (-0.2%) Ireland 40 (-21.6%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 380 RBBP Ireland 30 European status: 220,000 (0% in Britain and Ireland) British population trend: increasing How likely are you to record it? 30 squares (0.7%) Ranked 129= |
These birds, the larger of the two widespread diving ducks, started breeding in England about 1800 and, by 100 years ago, had colonies in Norfolk, Hertfordshire, Essex and Yorkshire. There was scattered breeding elsewhere, mainly in eastern counties, and throughout Scotland. Here, in recent years, the Lowlands and Orkney are most regularly occupied but there are probably less than 50 pairs in the country. In Ireland they nested sporadically in the first 70 years of the century but, more recently, have increased to become regular at half a dozen or more sites. Up to 20 pairs may now breed in Wales — mostly Anglesey. In England the increase in water bodies from the building of reservoirs to the digging of gravel pits has been very good for these birds. The winter population is much inflated by birds from the extensive breeding grounds to our east through Europe and well into Asia. Non-breeding birds regularly summer but, even allowing for this, there could be as many as 600 pairs breeding in a good year. Precise figures are difficult to gather systematically for widespread and not uncommon species. Set to carry on expanding.
The following Bird On! picture is available:
Pochard (35mm Colour Slide by Roger Tidman)
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead