26th Mar 2023: Early spring migrants

It was a fairly mixed week, but spring migrants are definitely moving in. As well as Chiffchaffs singing from seemingly every direction there's also been a steady trickle of Sand Martins passing through.

Tuesday morning I had a pair of Shelduck drop in briefly, which flew off as soon as the Mute Swans were on to them, and a single Lesser Redpoll along the river. Later on Sandra had 35 Tufted Ducks at the Borrow Pit pool, far more than I had at the weekend, and Mark had a Barn Owl hunting in the U.C.V. 

Thursday evening Mike P had a Raven over. Friday evening I found our first Little Ringed Plover of the year.

Saturday morning there was 6 Lesser Redpolls along the river, just into the wood, and several Siskins. Two flocks of Fieldfare flew over east totalling c.180 birds and there was an impressive number of Common Gulls passing through (I assume from the Boddington roost) with c.450 birds by 8:30.

Sunday morning John found our first Swallow of the year with 2 Sand Martins, which stayed around most of the day being joined by several more Sand Martins.

19th Mar 2023: Sand Martins

On Wednesday Mike found our first Sand Martins of the year, with 3 and then 4 feeding over the reservoir. There was also a/the male Stonechat and a Peregrine over. Ian had a group of 12 Meadow Pipits drop in during the rain too.

Thursday morning John had 4 to 6 Sand Martins again and a few Chiffchaffs along the river, almost certainly the first new ones in from wintering further south. Later in the morning Adrian had 30+ Sand Martins, a good early arrival of multiple birds.

Friday morning Ian had 5+ Chiffchaffs and 25-30 Siskin.

Saturday morning I had 9 Sand Martins through and 10+ (probably over 20) Chiffchaffs. 3 Redpolls were feeding in the Alders along the river and 4 flew past me a bit later. There were 5 Gadwall up at the Borrow Pit pool. 

On Sunday morning I had 3 Coot on the reservoir, which is odd for here, but not a lot else. A little later Clive had a Peregrine over.

Courtesy and copyright of Mike Pollard

Courtesy and copyright of Edwin Barson

12th Mar 2023

Very quiet this week. Adrian had a Chiffchaff on Monday and the male Stonechat was still around on Thursday and Saturday at least.

Photos courtesy and copyright of JFT

5th Mar 2023

It's been another fairly quiet week, but there has been a few bits and bobs to keep the interest levels ticking over. 

On Tuesday a male Stonechat was along the western path, which seems likely to be a migrant bird away from the usual wintering locations, and was still present up to Saturday at least. Two Peregrines were seen flying over on Tuesday and a single bird also went over on Saturday.

Up to two Lesser Redpolls were seen a few times this week and on Saturday John had c.10 Siskins. Four Ravens flew over on Saturday too.