March has begun on a slightly cooler note. It is still nice and sunny out there and it has not put the birds off thinking about the breeding season. The woodpeckers are still drumming and song thrushes still singing. The ducks are still displaying so our wildlife is very much thinking about spring.
Main highlights at the start of March include:
- Good numbers of siskin particular around the blue loop
- Some lesser redpoll can be found with the siskin
- Good numbers of reed buntings feeding at the centre.
- A female marsh harrier has been a regular visitor over the reeds in front of Double Decker
- The ruddy shelduck has been visiting the slough at times.
- A pair of great crested grebes can be seen on the Eastern lakes.
- The female pintail is still around
- Many ducks currently displaying or chasing east other around the reserve including shoveler, wigeon, tufted duck and pochard.
- Look out and listen to shelduck displaying and making strange noises.
Middle of March
- Chiffchaffs are now arriving back from Africa and can be heard singing around the reserve.
- Our first sand martins have been spotted in the last few days
- Our first little ringed plover of spring was seen on the slough today.
- Our male marsh harrier harrier has returned from its winter break and is now displaying over the reeds.
- The great crested grebes on plover lake are now building a nest.
- Lots of ducks are still around like tufted duck and teal.
- Siskin and lesser redpoll are still around.
- The centre water rail is showing extremely well around the feeders.
- Also plenty of reed buntings at the feeders at the moment.
Update on the 26th March 2023
These last few days have seen more birds arriving back from Africa. Plenty of chiffchaff now. The little ringed plover can be found on the slough from time to time. The occasional other wader like dunlin, redshank and curlew also makes an appearance on the slough. Sand martins continue to be seen. Last couple of days have had our first reports of swallow and house martin. Our marsh harriers appear to be busy now over the reeds.
On Thursday 23rd March we had an osprey fly over the reserve which is quite unusual to see a spring record of this species. We normally get them on autumn migration around August or September.
Last few days of March 2023
We continued to see more sand martins, swallows and the occasional house martin over the reserve. Occasional waders these last few days include avocet, whimbrel, curlew and redshank. Blackcap also turned up this week. Marsh harriers continue to be seen, with a little bit of nest building starting to happen. We also had a visit from a red-crested pochard to finish off March.
Next month, will see most of the warblers arrive back so it is an exciting time on the reserve with changes almost daily. Cuckoo should be soon and nightingale towards the end of April so lots to look forward to.