This Mediterranean Gull was one of 12 new birds for the year pic@samodonnell25.bsky.social Marsh Harrier, Rock Pipit and the continuing, and increasingly tame, White-fronted Goose were among the highlights of a pretty predictable March. Twelve species - without anything too out-of-the-ordinary - were added to the year list including the first summer visitors in Sand Martin, Wheatear and Willow Warbler.
The additions also included Redshank and Oystercatcher which might normally have been expected before March as well as Avocet, which in recent years has become a regular visitor. Red-crested Pochard, Great White Egret, Rook and Mediterranean Gull, which are more irregular but usually annual, were also recorded. Across March 89 species were seen - three less than last year - while the annual total so far stands 99, the same as in 2024 but five behind 2025.
The Wetlands may have been one of the last sites to attract a visitor fron this winter's mini-invasion of Russian White-fronted Geese into the UK but, unlike most which have already returned east, our immature seems in no hurry to depart. It remained faithful to the grass banks of Lockwood and High Maynard throughout the month and is now almost as tame as the accompanying Greylags and Canada Geese. The flock of Barnacle Geese also remain with at least two pairs continuing to show signs that they will attempt to breed.
The same is true of Shelduck with several pairs around the site. A pair of Red-crested Pochard joined the Sunday crowds on the 22nd. If the past is any guide, their one-day appearance may again be the only record of the year. The female Scaup stayed on West Warwick until at least the 20th. Having been found at the end of January, it is the longest stay by the species in recent years. The wintering Goldeneye may have departed as early as the 6th with just a one-day record, perhaps a bird passing through, on the 16th.
March is always a good month for birds of prey and scarcer corvids. Single Red Kites were seen on five days with two on the 14th and 29th. Two Buzzards were also seen on the 26th with lone birds on three other days. SD picked up the first - and perhaps only - Marsh Harrier of the year on the 8th, the exact same day as he did in 2025. Jackdaws were regular while Rooks were seen on at least three days.
The same consistency was also shown by Avocets wth five flying south on the 18th, the same date as the first sighting last year. They were among the seven wader species recorded with the first Redshank on the 6th and Oystercatcher on the 9th, both later than is often the case. The 9th also saw the only Green Sandpiper of the month while LB picked up the second Curlew of the year on Lockwood on the 25th. Two Common Sandpipers were seen into April while the numbers of Common Snipe roosting on the East Warwick island dwindled away as the month went on.
The only Mediterranean Gull of the year so far was an adult over Low Maynard on the 1st while the first two Great White Egrets flew through on the 22nd, three days earlier than the first record last year. Both species were picked up and photographed by SD. Little Egrets and particularly Grey Herons are already well into their breeding cycle.
Another indication that Spring has arrived is the appearance of the first summer visitors. The first Sand Martins were seen on the 7th - three days earlier than last year - while the first Wheatear was on the 13th, eight days ahead of 2025, It can often be quite a wait for more to come but not this year with single Wheatears on the 16th, 25th, 26th and 30th and two on the 24th, 28th and 29th.
Blackcap song was a familiar sound by the end of the month but we had to wait until the 28th - three days later than last year - to hear the first Willow Warbler. A singing Siberian Chiffchaff was found by CF on thr 22nd and remained until the 24th at least. The wintering pair of Firecrest stayed until the middle of the month.
Single Skylarks passed through on the first and last day of the month while the first Rock Pipit made a brief appearance on the 7th. Both Redpoll and Siskin were more regular than is often the case with Redpoll recorded on at least three days and Siskin on six including a flock of 10 on the 15th.
DB @davidbradshaw1952.bsky.social
