The warmer, drier weather of late February continued into March. No fewer than nine Brimstone and two Peacock butterflies were seen on a short walk that took me across the eastern side of The Heath and back by the side of Royston Hospital on the 2nd - my first local butterflies of the year and the first large insects (other than a few queen bumble bees) that I had seen locally in 2026. Up to 15 frogs were noisily occupying the garden pond and on the 4th the first clump of frogspawn was laid there. At last, I had other wildlife to think about apart from birds!
I made my now monthly visit to Scales Park (Meesden) on the 4th. Crossbills were again seen but, on a very misty morning, the surprise was to see large numbers of Siskins (I estimate 30-35) around the evergreens near the eastern end of the main ride. Were they passing through on their way north? The poor visibility may have forced them down, or perhaps Scales Park is a regular stopping off place in the early spring. A very noisy flock of Redwings had gathered at the tops of the trees. Perhaps they, too, were moving through, or at least preparing to move north.
Male Siskin, Scales Park, 4 March
On my way home I called in at Reed End. Two Little Grebes were seen at Phillup's Lake (a positive sign). All the Canada Geese had departed and just a pair of Tufted Ducks were on the lake - will they stay to attempt to breed, or will the resident pair of Coots chase them off? Towards Therfield, some of the farmland finches and buntings had dispersed, although I did see a flock of around 60 Corn Buntings in flight. One landed next to a male Reed Bunting, giving an interesting size comparison (image).
Corn Bunting (left hand bird) and male Reed Bunting, Therfield, 4 March
A singing Blackcap was heard near the Royston allotments on the morning of the 6th. Two Chiffchaffs were singing when I did a walk in the Fox Covert and Church Hill area on the 10th. There has been a steady increase in this warbler locally and nationally as a summer visitor over the last ten years, whilst the similar Willow Warblers have declined to the point of extinction in the local woodlands. Despite its plain appearance and monotonous song, I rather like the Chiffchaff, particularly as a harbinger of early spring. Just three Pasque Flowers were seen on Church Hill.
An Early Pasque Flower, Church Hill, 10 March
On the same day I made an afternoon visit to Amwell Gravel Pits. A pair of Oystercatchers were flying around excitedly and I was a little surprised to see two Herring Gulls mating on one of the tern rafts. A few Herring Gulls do breed in Hertfordshire and there was a report of an occupied nest at Amwell in 2024, so perhaps this pair will stay to breed. The Black-necked Grebe was still around, although I didn't see it on this visit.
Mating Herring Gulls, Amwell NR, 10 March
Another walk in the Church Hill and Fox Covert area on the 16th produced my second Peregrine sighting of the year, this time a young bird (some brown feathering seen in the tail), unsuccessfully chasing a small flock of Fieldfares. I didn't have my big lens with me, but I did get a couple of distant photos of the Peregrine, to confirm the ID. Several patches of flowering Dog-violets (the food plant of the caterpillars of both Dark Green and Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies) were seen and several more Pasque Flowers were blooming on Church Hill.
'Record Shot' of a young Peregrine over Thrift Farm, Royston, 16 March
Violets in Flower on Therfield Heath, 16 March
On the 17th, at the start of a spell of warm (for March), sunny weather, I went on my 9 mile 'round the villages' walk, taking in Hatchpen Farm, Reed village, Phillup's Lake (Reed End), the outskirts of Therfield village and the stretch of the Icknield Way between Therfield and Therfield Heath. At least 44 bird species were recorded (39 seen), as well as Brown Hares, Fallow Deer, Brimstone and Peacock butterflies, bumble bees and my first bee flies and hoverflies of the year. A pair of Canada Geese at Hatchpen Pond were the first for my 'Local Patch' list this year (Phillup's Lake is outside the two mile radius), but the chief interest was in a motley assortment of around 80-100 larger gulls that were sitting on a recently ploughed field. I took a few photos of them at rest before they flew farther away. At least one adult Great Black-backed Gull, something of a rarity in Hertfordshire, was standing a little way away. I managed to get a flight shot of this bird. When a helicopter flew over, the gulls flew up and wheeled around, enabling me to get some more flight shots, that I am now poring over and comparing with images of gulls in flight in 'Britain's Birds' (Hume et. al.), in order to try to improve my ID knowledge of these species - but enough of that 'anorak' activity for the moment.
Canada Geese and Moorhen, Hatchpen Pond, 17 March
Great Black-backed Gull in Flight, Hatchpen Farm (Reed), 17 March
Further on, as I approached Phillup's Lake, I could see a couple of smallish, dark birds feeding over the lake. Could they be very early swallows on passage? I'll never know, because by the time I got close enough to identify them they had gone - a mystery never to be solved. On the lake, Canada Geese (apparently three pairs) had returned, but the Tufted Ducks had gone. Two Little Grebes, starting to develop their summer plumage, were still present (but at opposite ends of the lake). Redwings and Fieldfares were noticeable by their absence (had they departed for Scandinavia?). The only summer visitors definitely recorded were half a dozen Chiffchaffs.
Little Grebe, Phillup's Lake, Reed End, 17 March
Red-legged Partridge, Hatchpen Farm, 17 March. Hundreds (Thousands?) of these birds are released every year at Hatchpen for shooting during the autumn and winter. This is one of the lucky survivors.
I made a return visit to Hatchpen on the 20th. There was no sign of gulls and the Canada Geese had gone, but in their place was a single Grey Heron - a bird which, like the Canada Geese, is generally widespread and common but which I rarely see on my local patch.
Grey Heron, Hatchpen Pond, 20 March
Two local fields, including one that is directly to the south of my housing estate, have been acquired by a holding company that has submitted plans to build 280 houses on the land. These plans have been vigorously contested locally and the planning application has been turned down. However, the developers have submitted an appeal that will be heard in May. Hopefully, the appeal will be lost and the land spared. Whilst this has been going on the land has been left to form 'weedy fields' and this has encouraged a flock of Yellowhammers to move in and take advantage of the seeds provided. I estimate that 30-40 birds have been present from February onwards on 'my' field - always a delight to see. Long may they continue here! On the morning of the 28th at least three newly-arrived Blackcaps were singing from the bushes around the field.
I made my first visit since last autumn to the Tring Reservoirs on the 26th. I was hoping to see some early hirundines there, but had no luck. The car park at Wilstone was still closed due to ongoing construction work (although it appeared that this was nearly finished), so I had to park at Drayton Beauchamp and walk across a couple of fields to the hide. Two pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were seen (they nest here), but little else until I was about to leave, when a pair of Mandarin Ducks appeared from the inlet at the side of the hide. They were chased further away towards the reed bed by an aggressive Coot (well, most Coots seem to be aggressive in the spring). The next thing I knew the male had a Common Frog in his mouth and was attempting to swallow it which, after much effort, he eventually did - head first! Needless to say, I hadn't witnessed this behaviour before. The frog didn't appear to put up much of a fight: I wonder whether it had been found deceased? Anyway, this kept me entertained for an extra 20 minutes.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Pair, Wilstone Reservoir, 26 March
Male Mandarin about to swallow a Frog, Wilstone Reservoir, 26 March
I made a brief visit to Phillup's Lake on the 27th. The only 'ever-presents' there appear to be pairs of Coot and Little Grebe, a few Mallards and Moorhens. Tufted Duck numbers (three on this occasion) and Canada Goose numbers (two) oscillate wildly, suggesting (in particular for the Tufted Ducks) that the lake serves as a brief stopping off point during these birds' travels. One bird that I don't normally see there was a Cormorant, which flew off as soon as I pointed my camera at it.
Cormorant, taking off from Phillup's Lake
After a wet January and February, March proved to be a dry month and, after a few spells of light rain to the 29th, a long, dry spell commenced in Royston, stretching well into April.
