March Sightings

Early summer migrants have arrived at the reserve. The first warblers were chiffchaff (8^th.), blackcap (21st.) and towards the end of the month several singing males of both species could be heard. The hirundines arrived late in the month with sand martin, house martin and finally swallow (31^st.) being seen.

 Other visitors were redshank (14^th.), dunlin (4^th.), a little ringed plover (16^th.) joined later by another and a pintail for a few days. The oystercatcher pair seems established on the main island and was joined by a third bird for a while. About 40 lapwing were spread across the marsh and the islands, some becoming territorial and showing signs of aggression. On a corner of the island a pair of mute swan have created a huge nest after being observed treading down the area.

 Several winter visitors were still with us all month including up to 30 wigeon, 20 goosander, 3 goldeneye and the occasional redwing was noted.

 Some human visitors, those with lots of patience and good telescopes, were sometimes able to watch 2 water rails preening themselves in the reedbed opposite the hide. Other water birds included about 18 gadwall, 4 pochard, 61 tufted, 10 shoveler, 17 teal, 2 little grebe, cormorant and a pair of great-crested grebe as well as common snipe and jack snipe and up to 5 grey heron.

 The new bird table by the hide has already attracted reed bunting, bullfinch, long-tailed tit, greenfinch, dunnock and robin.

Other notable sightings around the reserve were siskin and lesser redpoll, willow and marsh tit with more than 20 great tit near the feeders, pied and grey wagtail, flocks of goldfinch, coal tit, song and mistle thrush, green and great-spotted woodpeckers, kingfisher, goldcrest, jay and ring-necked parakeet.

 5 buzzard were seen in the air at the same time (24^th.), kestrel and sparrowhawk were regular sightings and a raven flew over (3^rd).

Compiled by Colin Sedgwick