With rising pressure and temperatures many birdwatchers are looking forward to the arrival of the first migrants of the spring. With the sun coming out the reserve is filled with the sound of singing birds. Skylarks can hear over the farmland joined by the display flights of the Lapwings. Around the scrub and reeds the first songs of reed buntings and occasionally Chiffchaffs ring out. As the air temperature rises the possibility of raptors drifting across becomes more likely, buzzards around the site are becoming visible but don’t forget to give them a closer look as they many have been the Marsh Harrier on migration.
However there is still a chance of picking up a winter specialty in these closing winter period. This was the case this week when the gull feast continued. Amongst the Mediterranean Gulls on Pagham Lagoon all splendid in their summer plumage there was a 1st winter Iceland Gull. Also present on Pagham Lagoon two separate Little Gulls. As the month goes on many of our winter visitors will leave to be replaced by many of the warblers and terns which have escaped all the wet in Africa, who knows what, can turn up.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon