Spring arrivals were what I was out to find today though, but apart from a couple more CHIFFCHAFFS, and the second BLACKCAP, which was singing in the Scrubby Woods, no others were seen, making March a bit disappointing in this respect, the last March without a Swallow was back in 2008, and the last March without a Wheatear was 2007.
Raptors and Gulls were numerous, and seen in the sky throughout the visit, they included BUZZARD, SPARROWHAWK, and KESTREL for the former, and HERRING, LESSER BLACK BACKED, and BLACK HEADED for the latter. GREYLAG GOOSE, CANADA GOOSE and STOCK DOVE, were other notable flyovers this morning.
Six Canada Geese were also over at the lakes, along with 4 MALLARD, 2 MOORHEN, and the COOT pair, while the surrounding Scrubby Woods, as well as having the already mentioned Blackcap, also had GOLDCREST, BULLFINCH, NUTHATCH, JAY, and LONG TAILED TIT, no Coal Tit, or Treecreeper were found today though.
So the last day of March mirrored march as a whole really, an average type month, with few highlights, these were represented by the Red Kite (11th) and the MARSH HARRIER (15th) both of which have never been recorded in any March before, these take the combined 11 year March total to 89. The average number of species recorded for the month of March is now 63, so that was exceeded by 2 this March :-)
I didn't take the camera out this morning , as it was far too gloomy, but a brighter period around midday allowed some of the now dwindling garden visitors to be photographed.
DUNNOCK in full song |
Dunnock, post song! |
STARLING |
GREAT TIT |