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March 2010

An Atlantic high spread over the British Isles as the month commenced, producing clear skies and little wind for the first three days, but it became cloudier at times, with a bitterly cold northeast wind. Northerly winds continued to keep the temperature below normal for most of the first two weeks weeks and though the high pressure persisted, diurnal temperatures rose into the low teens from the 15th. It became less settled from the 18th, as Atlantic troughs moved northeast across the British Isles, though relatively little rain fell in the southeast.

The 1st was frosty and still, with a cloudless sky soon after dawn. A male LS Woodpecker called and showed well, as it fed high in Deer Park oaks, having drummed on its favourite post above the Peens Lane kissing gate. Six Greylag Geese flew SW – a first for the year – and three Canada Geese visited the reservoir again, where one BH Gull was seen and eight more flew W; two LBB Gulls also flew N. A short time was spent clearing the nest box of the Jackdaws nest, in the hope that the local pair of Kestrels will not allow them to take over again this year. The lake held surprisingly few duck, with just nine Tufted Duck and eight Mallard, but the lake and marsh alders attracted at least six Siskins, three Goldfinches, several LT Tits and a Coal Tit. A pair of Yellowhammers just below Tanyard helped to kick the month off with a total of 39 species.

The weather was much the same early on the 2nd, though mist kept slipping off the ridge, or drifting from the Weald for the first hour or so. The reservoir came up trumps with the first GC Grebe for the year and close by an adult male Sparrowhawk perched atop a poplar. There were close to 30 Mallard back on the lake, bringing with them the duck Gadwall. A flock of at least 40 Redwings, with just a few Fieldfares fed beneath the oaks northeast of the marsh, four Siskins fed in the alders and two Yellowhammers sang from within two traditional territories.

The visit on the 3rd commenced under a high overcast sky, which later parted a little in a light easterly wind. The GC Grebe remained on the reservoir, a LS Woodpecker drummed above the kissing gate again, a flock of about 50 Fieldfares flew into the Deer Park, about 25 Redwings fed in the sheep pasture and a Skylark called, as it flew NE over the poplar wood.

The moderate strength northeast wind felt bitterly cold early on the 4th, as variable amounts of cloud scudded southwest. A Cormorant flew from the reservoir, where the GC Grebe still graced us with its company and three gatherings of two-six Goldfinches, plus some song were seen and herd. Six pairs of Tufted Duck graced the lake, where four Coot, two Little Grebes but only about a dozen Mallard were present.

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Most interest focused on the latter end of the circuit, when not only a newly born lamb was seen in the sheep pasture, but also about 150 Fieldfares and just some 10 Redwings - plus a Green Woodpecker it appears - and in the lee of the poplar wood a mixed flock of about 35 Yellowhammers and 25 Chaffinches fed.

There was a hard frost at dawn on the 5th, though it was cloudy, but it slowly cleared to the southeast and it was cloudless by 8am. A Grey Heron flew from the reservoir bank but it was a quiet, very cold visit, with a hen Grey Wagtail in the marsh being the highpoint. However, it was interesting to see the three Canada Geese back on the reservoir and the male mating with one of his wives on the water. He gripped the back of her neck and appeared to be drowning her, but she returned to the surface once the act was completed. Three BH Gulls were also present.

As the bitterly cold northeast wind blew variable amounts of cloud overhead, there were occasional sunny periods during another quiet visit on the 6th and there seemed little hope of seeing any early migrants. Only one pair of Tufted Duck was present on the lake, but it was nice to see the duck Gadwall back, with nearly 30 Mallard.

A female Sparrowhawk circled high over the reservoir before dropping into the poplar wood and there was some sub-song from a flock of about 40 Redwings as they flew into the poplars between the sheep and cattle pastures. The body of a Green Woodpecker looked as though it had starved to death and it will be interesting to see how the severe cold has affected the thriving population.

There was just a light wind early on the 7th, when there was a hard frost, an attractive dawn sky, which later was almost cloudless. Several gulls flew N or NE, including totals of 17 Black-headed, nine Herring and one intermedius LBB Gull, and the numbers of Tufted Duck on the lake changed yet again, with nine drake and three duck present in the crisp morning sunlight.

A LS Woodpecker drummed from the usual spot, a Common Snipe flew from the marsh to the lake, but the find of the morning was the first Red-legged Partridge for two years, which ran across the sheep pasture and disappeared to the south of the poplar wood.

Also, I saw my first Treecreeper for the month and a Fieldfare perched obligingly for a photo to be taken.

It was cold enough overnight for the lake to partially freeze on the 8th, with thick enough ice to support waterfowl. The duck Gadwall flew back to the lake on her own, to join just 15 or so Mallard and eight Tufted Duck. Though it was still and frosty early on, by 9am the cold northeast wind was blowing again and the visit proved extremely quiet. The LS Woodpecker drummed at length on the favoured post, totals of just nine Herring and nine BH Gulls flew N, the GC Grebe remained on the reservoir and small numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings were scattered around the area. 

A moderate strength, cold northeast wind blew under a mainly cloudy sky on the 9th. A Common Snipe flew from the marsh again but otherwise it was a fairly uneventful early visit.

In similar weather conditions on the 10th, a Kestrel hovered by the reservoir, a Common Snipe again flew from the marsh but not one gull was seen and just eight Mallard were present on the lake, with the Gadwall and four pairs of Tufted Duck. The only other significant sighting was a flock of about 35 Yellowhammers, which flew around the Greensand Way stubble fields. After a long delay, the first apple saplings were being planted in the new reservoir orchard.

It remained cloudy, with a cold northeast wind, during an early visit on the 11th, when a stoat was seen in the northeast corner of the Deer Park – the first sighting for some time. The lake scored again, with the presence of a drake Wigeon, as well as 12 or so Mallard, seven drake and four duck Tufted Duck and four Coot, which were disputing territorial rights. A flock of 20 Yellowhammers was present on the ridge stubble, a Treecreeper sang and was seen near the lake, a pair of LT Tits appeared to be on territory and a female Sparrowhawk circled high near the reservoir.

The 12th was overcast, misty and still, with light rain come sleet early on. A Grey Heron flew from the reservoir bank again and another flew high N later. Few duck were present on the lake, with just seven Mallard, the duck Gadwall and three pairs of Tufted Duck. Three Siskins fed in the alders, a LS Woodpecker drummed and called from the usual spot, before flying into an oak in the Deer Park, a Common Snipe again flew from the marsh and a Sparrowhawk flew W towards Darnolds Wood. Also, two Skylarks called as they flew W over the reservoir paddock. Later, Bob saw the first Goldcrest for over a month in the spruce copse.

It was again overcast and still on the 13th, with light rain at times. An early start at ‘woodpecker corner’ was rewarded with drumming of both Lesser and Greater Spotted and yaffles from a Green Woodpecker, and later a Goldcrest was again seen in the spruce copse. At least 50 Woodpigeons flew from the Spindlewood orchard, a similar number of Fieldfares fed in the Deer Park but no more than 20 Redwings were noted during a relatively quiet visit.

It was dry, with sunny periods and a light northwesterly breeze, for the census on the 14th - pleasant conditions, as shown above. Starting at 5.30am, it was too late to hear a Tawny Owl and only one Little Owl called at that time. A Greylag Goose flew NE and a pair of Canada Geese visited the lake, where the Gadwall was still present, along with five pairs of Tufted Duck but just a few pairs of Mallard.

The LS Woodpecker drummed frequently between 6.30 – 7am but only eight Green Woodpeckers were noted, the same number as GS Woodpeckers. Two different Sparrowhawks and two Kestrels were seen, the Common Snipe obligingly flew from the marsh and sightings of two Treecreepers and the Goldcrest brought the total to a respectable 50, equal to the March mean, but not one summer visitor had arrived. During Bob’s circuit he noted just two additions, a Grey Heron flying over and the first two Reed Buntings for the year – number 70 for the year. The two cock birds were with a flock of about 25 Yellowhammers by the Peens Lane arable, which had disappeared when I walked that stretch. He also noted rather more Fieldfares and Redwings than I did in my total of 557, which is lower than the March mean of 668. Further chestnut coppicing was underway in the northwest corner of the area.

With the forecast that the 15th was going to be the warmest day of the year, so far, I had hopes that a Chiffchaff might appear, but it wasn’t to be and another visit passed without the first summer visitor. A male LS Woodpecker drummed for some time in the traditional area and it or another was later heard calling from poplars in the northeast corner of the Deer Park. The Common Snipe was inadvertantly flushed from the marsh by an early visitor, who was indulging in good views of the LSW, and I disturbed, presumably the same bird, from the edge of the reservoir an hour or so later.

Nearby the pair of LT Tits had commenced building their nest and moss was being collected. About 30 Redwings flew into the rarity hedge and a few sang from the oaks nearby, but no more than 10 Fieldfares were noted. Two Yellowhammers sang from traditional territories and a flock of 10 was present along the Greensand Way, but the flock with Reed Buntings was nowhere to be seen.

One of a pair of Treecreepers appeared to carry nest material into a hole in a dead alder, so some birds believe that spring is in the air.

The warmer weather continued on the 16th, when it was still, with sunny periods. The male LS Woodpecker put on a fine performance again but there was no sign of a mate during the relatively quiet visit. About 40 Redwings were present but no more than 15 Fieldfares were noted. On the lake there were three pairs of both Mallard and Tufted Duck and the duck Gadwall was still present. 

It was interesting to observe Jackdaws fighting but the light was poor under the trees and the photos weren't sharp.

The 17th was another fine, still morning and a Skylark called, as it flew NE over the LS Woodpecker's drum post, where the male returned shortly afterwards, called and continued to drum. It was interesting to note the absence of duck Mallard, there were two drakes on the reservoir and seven drakes, with just three ducks on the lake. A flock of about 20 Redwings was present but only a handful of Fieldfares was noted. Otherwise it was another quiet visit. 

There was an overcast sky for much of the visit on the 18th, when the male LS Woodpecker was active between 7am and 10am, in the poplar wood late on, where he appeared to be testing trunks for a quality suitable for chipping a nest hole.

The LT Tits nest was beginning to take shape, though a little high in the bramble to provide much protection, until the leaves form, and though the first primroses were in flower, the bramble leaves will be some while coming. Only one Fieldfare was heard but about 20 Redwings were still present.

After light overnight rain, it was overcast, dull and damp, with a light southwest wind, during the visit on the 19th, when the male LS Woodpecker called and drummed above my head at 6.30am. Frogspawn in the marsh and osier buds were further signs of spring but still no Chiffchaff. The winter thrush tables were turned, with a flock of about 40 Fieldfares and a total of only 15 Redwings noted. A cock Pheasant was seen with 11 hens by Bishop’s Wood and brief snatches of Treecreeper song were followed by the sight of three chasing each other. Bardsley’s farm workers had completed the planting of some 10,000 apple trees in the new reservoir orchard.

Following overnight rain, a moderate to strong southwest wind blew and there were light showers during the visit on the 20th. While searching unsuccessfully for the LS Woodpecker, Mark Hollingworth saw the first Chiffchaff of the spring and later one was seen and heard singing from a traditional territory at the southern end of the rarity hedge. I also added two more firsts for my year on the patch, with a cock Reed Bunting singing by the reservoir and a pair of Pied Wagtails feeding among the cattle. The obvious reason for the absence of duck Mallard was confirmed, when one was observed sitting in her usual oak nest hole. While Bob was leading the local RSPB group on a field meeting, he had the good fortune to show them a Peregrine, as it flew W over the Deer Park, and he also noted four Siskins, as they flew into the lake alders but there was no sign of the Gadwall on the lake, just four pairs of Tufted Duck, two pairs of Coot and the pair of Little Grebes. A flock of about 80 Jackdaws suddenly rose above the Deer Park, but there was no sign of Bob’s Peregrine, just a Kestrel among them. It was also interesting to hear the three-note sequence of the Bullfinch song repeated several times, but not the rarely heard full song.

The visit on the 21st was under another overcast sky, with a cool northwesterly breeze and occasional light rain as the cold front passed over. The male LS Woodpecker called and drummed a little early on, the pair of Pied Wagtails returned to feed with the cattle, a pair of Canada Geese circled low around the area and four Greylag Geese called as they flew low W. A Chiffchaff sang from the barn dell and it was interesting to see five Jays moving about together and a flock of 24 Goldfinches, but only about 10 Fieldfares and six Redwings were noted.

High cloud soon drifted away early on the 22nd, in a light to moderate south-southwest wind. It was more spring-like with the warmth from the sun, but the only summer visitor noted was the barn dell Chiffchaff. The 17 Tufted Duck were dominant among the lake waterfowl, with 10 drake and seven duck present, the five Jays had become six, chasing each other among the tops of the oaks in the same southwest corner of the Deer Park, where about 50 Fieldfares were also perched high in the oaks, with relatively few Redwings.

There was thick fog during my visit on the 23rd, when a male Canada Goose and his two wives visited the lake briefly, the male LS Woodpecker drummed for much of the visit and called as well. The barn dell Chiffchaff sang, silhouetted against the fog, three Nuthatches were seen and another called, a Treecreeper sang and a second bird was also seen. Back home by late morning it was sunny and relatively warm.

Though it was overcast early on the 24th, the cloud soon cleared in a light southerly wind and it felt warm in the sun. Two more Chiffchaffs had arrived and three, possibly four were heard singing. There were still 17 Tufted Duck on the lake, the LT Tits continued to build their nest and several Bumble Bees were seen. It was misty and mild, with a light southerly wind and variable amounts of rain early on the 25th, when my presence was rewarded by the sight of three adult Mediterranean Gulls, in breeding plumage, flying NE – number 72 for the year. A pair of Canada Geese visited the reservoir and then the lake, where a peak year total of 30 Tufted Duck was noted. There was no sign of the GC Grebe but two Chiffchaffs sang from new territories, with at least four in song during the visit. A flock of 55 Redwings, a number of which were singing, though not the attractive minor key phrase,  were seen by the Spindlewood orchard, with another 15 or more with about 20 Fieldfares in the southwest corner of the Deer Park, and a hen Reed Bunting was present in the Peens Lane hedgerow.

After heavy rain the previous evening, it was generally cloudy on the 26th, with a light to moderate southwest wind. It was a relatively quiet visit, with only three of the Chiffchaffs singing, but it was pleasing to relocate a Goldcrest in the spruce copse and to see a pair of Mistle Thrushes nest-building. Just five pairs of Tufted Duck remained on the lake, an intermedius LBB Gull and four Canada Geese flew NE, and five Greylags S.

During the dry, early visit on the 27th, there were variable amounts of cumulous cloud drifting slowly northeast and the GC Grebe had returned to the reservoir, still alone and the LT Tits were carrying feathers with which to line their nest. Six Chiffchaffs sang and a lone bird was also seen in the spruce copse but the only other additional sign of spring were a few white violets in flower and possibly the absence of any winter thrushes.

I ‘pished’ in an attempt to attract a Coal Tit a little closer and within seconds I was surrounded by Great and Blue Tits, another Coal Tit, Nuthatches, Chaffinches and a Tree Creeper, but it wasn’t until 8.30am that I heard the LS Woodpecker call and return to drum on its favourite post.

It was misty, mild and damp on the 29th, when just three pairs of Tufted Duck were present on the lake and, unusually, the lone GC Grebe appeared to be resting and preening on the bank of the reservoir. A male LS Woodpecker was observed drumming in an oak at the southern end of the rarity hedge, with the same or another in an oak by the lake, near which a flock of 26 Goldfinches was seen in the top of an oak. Eight Chiffchaffs were heard singing but no other migrants were noted.

Variable amounts of rain fell for much of the 30th and little was seen during the brief visit to both waters. Two pairs of Canada Geese flew onto the reservoir, from which three Cormorants flew. A pair of Tufted Duck flew down to the lake to make it six drake and five duck there. During a later visit, when the rain had eased, Bob saw the first Swallow of the year, nine days earlier than the mean. A wet and windy day, the 31st took the month’s end close to the proverbial “out like a lion” conclusion, though the southeast suffered little compared with north-western regions of Britain. A brief look at the reservoir revealed a Grey Heron but no sign of the GC Grebe and just six drake and three Tufted Duck were noted on the lake, before the cold wind and rain brought the last visit to a disappointing end, with no chance of seeing any migrants, though two Chiffchaffs did sing bravely.

The weather appeared to improve in the afternoon, so I took a break from decorating for a final visit, but showers continued and the only changes were a first sighting of Bluebells and a couple of Wood Anemones coming into bloom. By the end of the month a total of just 66 species had been noted, four below the March mean and the annual total was on 74, three below the end of March mean.