Still no change in the weather for the first full patch walk of March, the overcast and dull conditions made it feel dank and cold in a cool north wind.

It didn't take long to add a new species to the March list this morning, when a CORMORANT (41) flew over heading south west, then ten minutes later, as I was approaching the Wet Woods a LITTLE EGRET (42) was also added as it flew low over in the opposite direction, a good species to record on my patch  :-)

On the Lakes 18 CANADA GEESE, the COOT pair and a few MOORHEN were all that was to be seen, whilst around the Scrubby woods SISKIN, BULLFINCH, COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, a pair of LONG TAILED TITS and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER were about the best of it.

A SPARROWHAWK zipped through the Wet Woods as I returned through them, but the STOCK DOVE there carried on singing regardless, whilst all around the GREAT TITS, BLUE TITS, WRENS, and BLACKBIRDS called in alarm.

I reached the Greenhouse grounds and found my first PIED WAGTAILS (43) for the month, but only two GOLDFINCH were found in the Alder trees this morning, maybe everything else was put off by the KESTREL pair perched up on the greenhouse rooves.

Crossing Migrant Alley, two SKYLARKS got up from the sheep pasture, where around 150 BLACK HEADED GULLS were also feeding, along with a single LESSER BLACK BACK GULL (44) On the adjoining paddocks a mixed flock of around 300 birds comprised approximately 50/50 STARLING and FIELDFARE, although my first REDWING (45) of the month, just a single bird, was also with them  :-)

The College Grounds was uninspiring today, a bit too much disturbance really, but a GREY HERON (46) joined the months list as it flew up from one of the small garden ponds, a pair of MISTLE THRUSH seen feeding on the sports pitch are no doubt going to breed somewhere in the gardens. Walking back home, I added a COMMON BUZZARD (47) to the March species list, it was perched up in the lone fir tree at the Tree Nursery.

The daylist of 45 species was about average for early March, and the seven new species for the month takes the March tally to 47, not too bad, but still 24 off the record March total ........and it will be tougher tomorrow!

A few very brief glimmers of light around midday allowed me to try and get some garden photo's, but it was hard going, just these two were snapped with any clarity.

Siskin

Blue Tit

At last the final proper winter month passes, and the first spring month arrives, with it comes the hope of the first spring migrant bird species, plus a few early Butterflies and Bumble bees, however before all that happens the weather needs to warm up a bit, something that doesn't look like happening until next week  :-)

With the new month comes a new species list, the challenge for this month will be to better the best species total for March, which is 71, achieved back in 2010, i'll be happy with finding the average number of species recorded in the last 5 Marches though, which is 67  :-)

I kicked the new months list off on the way to work this morning, out the door at 06:45hrs, I soon picked up the calling JACKDAWS and GREAT TITS, plus the singing ROBINS, DUNNOCKS and WOODPIGEONS, if the Woodpigeon effort can be described as a song, which I think does, especially on a hot, still summers day  ;-)  MAGPIE, STARLING, BLACKBIRD, and GREENFINCH, all quickly found their way onto the list, as did a drumming GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER, and a flyover HERRING GULL.

WREN, SONGTHRUSH, BLUE TIT, CHAFFINCH and KESTREL were all seen at the Greenhouse Complex, and the sheep pasture/horse paddocks at Migrant Alley added the usual ROOKS, and CARRION CROWS. Passing through the College Grounds HOUSE SPARROW, GOLDCREST, GREEN WOODPECKER, MISTLE THRUSH, and COLLARED DOVE took the list to 23 species, before I had to get to work.

The walk home was much quieter, the same route providing just a few flyover BLACK HEADED GULLS and a singing GOLDFINCH.

Whilst at home eating lunch, my garden feeders were visited by no less than 19 species, of which JAY, SISKIN, COAL TIT and LONG TAILED TIT were added to the March tally, but more noteworthy was the occurrence of a House Sparrow, just the second in the garden this year! After the short lunch, I walked over to the lakes, hoping for a bonus duck species for March, but only the CANADA GEESE, COOT and MOORHEN obliged with an appearance. A small party of FIELDFARE, and a pair of BULLFINCH were in the Scrubby Woods, as were another 4 Goldcrest and a TREECREEPER.

A brief look in the Wet Woods added MALLARD, and the sound of a singing STOCK DOVE, then whilst exiting the woods a SPARROWHAWK flew low over the sheep pasture, once it had passed a SKYLARK rose and quickly flew off east. A last look around the Tree Nursery added just one more species for the month when 4 female PHEASANTS flew up and dropped down further into the vegetation.

Forty species to kick of the month, with plenty left to add then for my first 'Full Patch walk' of March, bright and early tomorrow morning ( or more likely Dull and early!)

There was very nearly no photo for today, but this Jay on my garden 'Blog Log' had me reaching for the Camera, despite the dire light and double glazing, not too bad a shot considering  :-)

Jay on the 'Blog Log'

Jay