Monthly sightings summary - Mar 2022

March is a funny month in the birding calendar. So much hope and anticipation at spring migration beginning, but often in reality we have to wait for April till the migrant floodgates open. Saying that, there was the expected arrival of Chiffchaffs which at one point late in the month were audible almost wherever you were on the reserve. Other signs of spring during a prolonged sunny spell included Brimstone butterflies and the year's first Sand Martin. Highlights during the month were as follows:

• Sand Martin - one over Middle Fen on 5th - otherwise hardly any around all month
• Water Pipits - two on Ferry north on 7th
• Bitterns - two boomers on 14th
• Great Egret - six in to roost on Elney lake on 14th
• Barn Owl - one hunting along the busway on 14th
• Garganey - a drake on Ferry on 16th - part of a large nationwide influx of this scarce duck
• Avocet - one on Ferry on 16th
• Chiffchaff - 30 heard around the reserve on 17th
• Cetti's Warbler - 10 heard around the reserve on 17th
• Short-eared Owl - one on Middle Fen on 24th
• Pintail - one on Moore on 26th

A Water Vole seen at the Dragonfly Pond on 11th was a good sighting of this priority species.