I made a full patch walk for the last day of the month, in which the four hour visit produced a very good 51 species, with just the Bullfinch of the more regular species not being recorded. My early visit around the sheep pasture and paddocks of Migrant Alley may not have produced the anticipated Wheatear, but a pair of flyover EGYPTIAN GEESE (75,69) was an acceptable substitute, helping the years and months list along nicely, the latter has finished on 69, which is the same tally as 3 other March totals, those of 2009, 2011 and 2014, all just two species of the record March species count of 71, which was achieved back in 2010.
Also seen at Migrant Alley were a good selection of Gull species, with around 20 BLACK HEADED GULLS, 9 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULLS, 2 COMMON GULLS and 4 HERRING GULLS all feeding on the sheep pasture.
Three raptor species were again on the days list, as usual they were KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK and BUZZARD, plus there were a mix of winter and spring species present, for the former, LESSER REDPOLL and SISKIN were seen in the Small Holding area, and for the latter there were 2 CHIFFCHAFFS singing in the Scrubby Woods, plus a SWALLOW over the Greenhouse Grounds.
Flyovers from CANADA GEESE, GREYLAG GEESE, a CORMORANT, a SKYLARK as well as the mentioned Egyptian Geese all made for a healthy list of species for the visit. Meadow Pipit, Redwing and Fieldfare were all noticeable by their absence, now they have started to move back north, but will I get them on the April list ?
Canada Goose x Greylag Goose hybrid at the lakes today, which yet agin was disturbed by fisherman
Common Buzzard going over, one day i'll get one good and low, allowing for a proper photo !
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