Signs of spring are now apparent out on site, with lapwings starting their distinctive courtship displays over the wet grassland fields. The winter flock of lapwings has started to disperse and our breeding birds are now with us for the season. A pair of redshank are now back with us too and have been heard making their courtship calls over the field viewable from the platform - another of our breeders, fingers crossed for a successful year for them.
Wildfowl wise, shoveler and shelduck are both back on site and should breed. Shelduck first bred successfully on site last year, so it is hoped they follow this up again in 2019.
We still have around 150 wigeon still on site, grazing the grassland. The sward is looking in brilliant condition for breeding waders and the 600 strong flock of wigeon we have had this winter have done an excellent job.
A little egret and a barn owl make up the remainder of the good bird sightings for this month.
The volunteers have been busy checking and making repairs to our anti-predator fences that protect the breeding waders in the wet grassland fields from predators such as foxes. The fences are now in tip top condition ready for the breeding season to start.