The month began with some chilly weather, soon turning mild by the 10th. On the 5th of March, a ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting Claxton Marshes, a welcome year tick and on the day nice to compare this bird with hunting Marsh Harrier. A single Barn Owl was also out and about as the days began to lengthen.
I completed the WeBs counts on the weekend of the 11th, and the headlines here were the distinct lack of wildfowl. Teal were down to 10 at Church Marsh, and the only bird on the rise on the water was the Great-crested Grebe at Rockland Broad, at least 4 pairs here. The 11th was a red-letter day for me, as I recorded my first Butterfly of the year: a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden sunning itself. This was followed by Brimstone, another Small Tort and my wife saw at least 3 Peacock in the village. I really should have put out the Moth trap over this weekend, since then the weather has been wet during the nights of Friday and Saturday, limiting any opportunity.
Having already bagged Short-eared Owl for the year, it was a nice surprise to see another one hunting on Claxton/Rockland Marshes on the 14th of March. There were also 3 Stonechat (2 males) close to the track, and I often find they will do this in Spring before disappearing into the marsh to breed. One male was doing a solid impersonation of both Oystercatcher and Green Sandpiper. I had no idea they mimic. Bird/s of the day though were 2 Grey Partridge, rooting around in some dust and grit near the road in Claxton village. I have never recorded the English Partridge in Claxton, and without checking my records it must be 4 years since the last patch birds in Surlingham.
In February, Debs and I saw a brief ringtail Hen Harrier over paddocks in Ashby St.Mary, and what must be the same bird has no turned up in fields around Ducan's Marsh twice in the last 10 days, although it seems I am not meant to see this bird again! I can rely on Debs to keep me updated though, and one of her views was on the ground down to 10 metres! I went out today with a view to catching up with this seemingly tolerant individual, but instead saw another Raptor species I had been half expecting: finally, a patch Red Kite! With birds on the move over the weekend, I had dared dream of finally catching up with this obvious gap on the patch list. Over Ducan's Marsh, the resident Buzzards were both up high, seemingly marshalling the Kite through at around 11am this morning.
2 Bullfinch and 3 Chiffchaff are now singing in the village. Hare, Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot and the evening song of the Blackbird and Mistle Thrush are all making themselves known. Hopefully by my next update, I will have a Willow Warbler to talk about.
I completed the WeBs counts on the weekend of the 11th, and the headlines here were the distinct lack of wildfowl. Teal were down to 10 at Church Marsh, and the only bird on the rise on the water was the Great-crested Grebe at Rockland Broad, at least 4 pairs here. The 11th was a red-letter day for me, as I recorded my first Butterfly of the year: a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden sunning itself. This was followed by Brimstone, another Small Tort and my wife saw at least 3 Peacock in the village. I really should have put out the Moth trap over this weekend, since then the weather has been wet during the nights of Friday and Saturday, limiting any opportunity.
Having already bagged Short-eared Owl for the year, it was a nice surprise to see another one hunting on Claxton/Rockland Marshes on the 14th of March. There were also 3 Stonechat (2 males) close to the track, and I often find they will do this in Spring before disappearing into the marsh to breed. One male was doing a solid impersonation of both Oystercatcher and Green Sandpiper. I had no idea they mimic. Bird/s of the day though were 2 Grey Partridge, rooting around in some dust and grit near the road in Claxton village. I have never recorded the English Partridge in Claxton, and without checking my records it must be 4 years since the last patch birds in Surlingham.
In February, Debs and I saw a brief ringtail Hen Harrier over paddocks in Ashby St.Mary, and what must be the same bird has no turned up in fields around Ducan's Marsh twice in the last 10 days, although it seems I am not meant to see this bird again! I can rely on Debs to keep me updated though, and one of her views was on the ground down to 10 metres! I went out today with a view to catching up with this seemingly tolerant individual, but instead saw another Raptor species I had been half expecting: finally, a patch Red Kite! With birds on the move over the weekend, I had dared dream of finally catching up with this obvious gap on the patch list. Over Ducan's Marsh, the resident Buzzards were both up high, seemingly marshalling the Kite through at around 11am this morning.
2 Bullfinch and 3 Chiffchaff are now singing in the village. Hare, Lesser Celandine, Coltsfoot and the evening song of the Blackbird and Mistle Thrush are all making themselves known. Hopefully by my next update, I will have a Willow Warbler to talk about.
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