March Catch-up

April is nearly over. There's a cold northerly wind and hail. Sounds about right. But before I gather notes from last weekend and dream of nice weather, I should write up March's visit.

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th March

Mute Swan - 40 incl 26 together at Foston
Greylag Goose - 72 in several groups
Canada Goose - 4
Wigeon - 90+
Gadwall - 8
Teal - 20
Mallard - 30+
Shoveler - 6
Red-legged Partridge - 4
Grey Partridge - 7
Cormorant - 5
Little Egret - 1 at Wansford
Grey Heron - 25
Sparrowhawk - 2
Buzzard - 35+ easily the highest spring count
Kestrel - 10
Peregrine - 1 probably an immature bird
Oystercatcher - 4
Golden Plover - 140 near Harpham
Snipe - 10+
Redshank - 1 at Wansford
Green Sandpiper - 2 both wintering birds still present
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1
Kingfisher - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3
Fieldfare - 280 in one flock in Kelk
Redwing - 14
Chiffchaff - 24
Jay - 1

First butterflies of the year - 17 Small Tortoiseshells.

This Oystercatcher has ring on its leg. It's always interesting to speculate where visiting birds have come from. My bet would be this bird was born in Holderness, perhaps here even, and wintered on the Humber or Wash, and that that's where it was ringed. Prove me wrong!

Frog spawn in a woodland pool.

Four further March additions to the yearlist...

079 Chiffchaff
080 Oystercatcher
081 Lesser Black-backed Gull
082 Peregrine