31st Mar 2024

Quite a lot of visitors and news this week and I think I've got everything, but I apologise if I've missed anything. 

On Tuesday Bruce Hendrie saw our first Shoveler of the year, with five birds present (4 drakes). Ian also saw a Little Ringed Plover, 2 White Wagtails and a Willow Warbler.

The next morning there were 2 Shoveler and a Little Ringed Plover still and 1 Swallow and 7 Sand Martin later in the day.

John recorded our first (?) Blackcap of the year as well as Willow Warbler and c.9 Chiffchaffs, and later in the day Ian had a Swallow and 3 sand Martin and Sandra had a Little Ringed Plover. 

On Saturday John and I had our first Heron of the year, believe it or not! and today Clive had 12 Swallow, 6 Sand Martin, Little Ringed Plover and a Willow Warbler.

24th Mar 2024: early spring arrivals

There was a nice flurry of early spring migrant arrivals this week. 

Ian Rowe found our first Little Ringed Plover of the year on Friday and on Saturday John Beak saw the first Sand Martin. This morning JFT also had a Willow Warbler and Swallow.

17th Mar 2024: Rock Pipit

Tuesday afternoon there was a Peregrine over, mobbing the Buzzards, and 5+ Chiffchaffs with a few singing birds.

Wednesday morning I found a Rock Pipit (Scandinavian littoralis) on the eastern shore which was good as we tend to get autumn birds instead of spring birds. There was also several Chiffchaffs. John also spotted a ringed Black-headed Gull (EMK1) which we've had here a few times before.

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

Courtesy and copyright of JFT

10th Mar 2024: Red-legged patch rarity!

This week I managed to get out a few times and there's definitely more signs of spring being close. On Wednesday there were 12 Siskins in the Alders near the entrance with constant singing. There was also a Chiffchaff singing further along the river. On Thursday there were 5 Gadwall on the reservoir.

Saturday morning JFT had 2 Chiffchaffs and later I had singles of Yellowhammer, Raven and Lapwing over.

Today JFT was out early before the rain started and was rewarded with a Red-legged Partridge in the the cattle field. This is a big rarity for the patch!

3rd Mar 2024

Pretty quiet week again. Clive had 25 Siskins this morning. Also a Stonechat in the cattle field, which is likely a bird moving through.